Dec 11, 2020|
One of JD’s Rising Stars Reflects on Countryside Training
by Kelly Dawson
While many young professionals look to the big cities for career advancement, one young member of JD’s “Rising Stars” program for new employees found personal growth and inspiration in the countryside. Six months before graduating from university in Chengdu at the beginning of 2020, Sichuan native Zheng Rui was hired into JD Logistics’ early employment program.
His first post would be in southeast of Guizhou province, 800 kilometers away from home. Passing through winding mountain roads, the drive took a full day. Despite the remote location, his family’s support ensured Zheng that he was making the right decision. “My family always encouraged me to seek adventure,” he said. “There is so much talent in the big cities, we thought perhaps there might be more opportunity in the smaller towns.”
In Guizhou, JD Logistics put Zheng to work in a warehouse, with hands-on experience of front-line logistics, distribution and more. Less than six months later, he received news that he would be promoted to lead a sales department—but it would require that he relocate to an even more remote locale: Danzhai county, an area once known for its high levels of poverty.
“I panicked,” Zheng said. “It felt like it was all happening too suddenly.”
Despite his fears, he made the transition. In his new role he was leading more than ten people—despite being almost the youngest member of the team. Additionally, the impact of relocating to such a rural area was disorienting. The work required that he move around to different towns and villages in the area, but public transportation was slow and spotty, and added uncertainty and inconvenience to his days.
JD’s annual shopping festival “618” (June 18 is the company’s anniversary and a peak sales period) loomed. “I was fresh out of school, I had no experience and my thinking wasn’t clear,” Zheng said.
Gradually, his work superiors helped him settle into the role. As he adjusted, he began to find his footing. First, he strictly enforced JD Logistics’ regulations, which resulted in improved performance for the department, and in turn, better morale. After strengthening team cohesion, he turned to the question of how to grow the business.
Zheng met a fellow Sichuan native in the town, who helped introduce him to local businesses and contacts. He visited a winery two hours away from Danzhai, in hopes of securing their business—but two visits later, and the owner had still not taken the bait. Perhaps it was Zheng’s youth or inexperience, he speculates now. On the next visit, Zheng brought his manager, who helped seal the deal. The winery soon began shipping a thousand orders a day with JD Logistics.
Zheng persevered. He observed that Danzhai’s remote location meant that tourists passing through the area struggled to transport their local gift purchases home, with luggage and parcels piled high on tour buses. He suggested a campaign to encourage tourists to use JD Express to ship their gift packages home—the idea was a hit, resulting in increased convenience for tourists and better business for JD.
During the year in which Zheng worked in Danzhai, Guizhou’s tourism industry underwent a growth spurt, with local poverty alleviation efforts showing positive results. The average income in the area rose, and online shopping increased—leading to higher demand for JD Logistics’ services. When Zheng first arrived in Danzhai, JD couriers handled an average of 30-40 orders each day; by the time he left, couriers were managing 70-80 deliveries a day. It would seem that local progress and growth mirrored Zheng’s own journey.
Looking back on this period of time, Zheng is full of gratitude for the unique experience of living and working in a lower-tier market—and most of all for the people who helped him, he said. His colleagues supported him, and his managers gave him the opportunity to challenge himself.
JD’s “Rising Stars” program recruited more than a thousand fresh university graduates in 2020, for a program that will provide management training, real-world on-site training and experience, and more. Ultimately, they will enter management positions, far better equipped to handle the responsibility.
In 2021, JD has announced that it will hire 15,000 new college graduates, welcoming the largest group of fresh graduates in the company’s history.
Nov 7, 2024|
CIIE 2024: JD.com to Expand Imports of Specialty Brands, Strengthen Healthcare Partnerships, and Enhance Logistics
At the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5, JD Super, the supermarket division of JD.com, announced a major initiative to broaden its selection of imported specialty. Over the next three years, JD Super plans to introduce over 1,000 new international brands to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, diverse imported goods.
Meeting the Growing Demand for Quality Imports
According to JD Worldwide’s “White Paper on 2024 China Cross-Border Consumption Trends,” more than 80% of Chinese consumers are interested in imported products, with many prioritizing authenticity, quality, and fast delivery. In response, JD has significantly expanded its range of international offerings. During the ongoing Singles’ Day Grand Promotion, sales of cross-border products have surged, with more than 600 brands experiencing a sales increase of over 100% compared to last year.
Strengthening High-Quality Food Partnerships
Demonstrating JD.com’s commitment to sourcing high-quality products, JD Super signed a new procurement agreement at CIIE with Huadong Foods and Teys, a major Australian beef brand under Cargill. Under this agreement, JD Super and Huadong Foods will procure $50 million of Teys beef throughout 2025. This partnership underscores JD’s strategy of collaborating with trusted suppliers to provide high-quality, affordable beef to Chinese consumers.
Delivering Authentic Global Goods Efficiently
JD Logistics has built a robust logistics network that spans bonded, direct mail, and overseas warehouses, facilitating fast deliveries of imported items across categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty, food, and baby products. In many major cities, delivery times have been reduced to under 48 hours.
For instance, JD Super’s partnership with Raub of Malaysia enables the import of Musang King durians, which are harvested at peak ripeness and air-shipped with cold chain logistics for delivery within 24 hours. Additionally, JD.com also secured an early supply of Chilean cherries, available since October, which can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes in many areas through JD NOW, its on-demand retail service.
JD.com’s “JD National Pavilions” program, which features over 150 country-themed flagship stores from more than 70 countries and regions, continues to be a cornerstone of its import strategy. Supported by embassies and reputable organizations, this initiative offers Chinese consumers access to premium products and cultural experiences from around the world. In April, JD launched the JD National Pavilion of Mali, introducing popular items like shea butter and garnering over 40,000 followers.
Expanding Healthcare and Logistics Partnerships
JD Health is also making strides at CIIE by strengthening partnerships with leading global healthcare companies, including Merck, Bayer, and Roche. As “China’s premier online health access point,” JD Health is committed to integrating digital and physical healthcare resources to improve access and convenience for patients.
Key collaborations include initiatives with Haleon to promote brain health and anti-aging for the “silver economy,” with MSD China on a digital diabetes management model, and with Teva Pharmaceuticals to provide patient education for conditions such as tardive dyskinesia (TD) and Huntington’s disease (HD).
On the logistics front, JD Logistics announced plans to double its overseas warehouse space by 2025 and expand its network of bonded and direct mail warehouses. JD Express now serves over 60 countries, enhancing cross-border delivery efficiency and supporting both brands and consumers.
Through these efforts, JD.com reaffirms its commitment to sourcing and delivering authentic, high-quality imported products to Chinese consumers, supported by an advanced supply chain that ensures a superior shopping experience.
(vivian.yang@jd.com)
Nov 5, 2024|
JD Logistics Introduces “Zhilang” Intelligent Warehousing Solution at CeMAT Asia 2024
JD Logistics (also known as JINGDONG Logistics) announced today at CeMAT ASIA 2024 its latest Goods-to-Person (GTP) automated warehousing innovation, the “Zhilang” solution. Meaning “Intelligent Wolf”, Zhilang is a proprietary system that improves picking efficiency by over three times compared to traditional methods. This advanced system is already supporting operations during the Singles Day Grand Promotion.
The Zhilang GTP solution combines several technologies, including handling AGVs, lifting robots, and shelving systems, along with automated inbound and picking workstations and an empty tote reflow line. Leveraging warehouse height, Zhilang increases storage density to 2.5 times the industry average for facilities up to 10 meters high.
The system’s modular design enables handling AGVs and lifting robots to operate independently. Powered by JD Logistics’ self-developed “upper tote storage and lower picking scenarios” algorithm and “buffer storage” technology, the network is fully flexible for optimized routing. The high-precision navigation algorithm, dual-direction laser obstacle detection technology, and vision-based verification ensure precise retrieval with minimal error. Additionally, Zhilang’s payback period is 30% shorter than comparable solutions.
Currently, nearly 100 Zhilang AGVs and lifting robots are in operation at an intelligent logistics park in Beijing, handling nearly a million items, from tops to shoes. With a click, pickers receive requested items directly from the robots, enabling a seamless, automated order fulfillment process from inbound to outbound.
JD Logistics continues to advance logistics operations with a wide array of solutions, including the the Tianlang Tote Shuttle GTP system, Dilang AGV GTP system, Four-way Pallet Shuttle Storage system, Auto Remin Wall, and the Aidong mobile data terminal. In terms of software, JD Logistics’ WCS (warehouse control system), WES (warehouse execution system), RMS (robotics management system), 3D SCADA (3D supervisory control and data acquisition), and Lomir intelligent logistics park management platform, are used in over 1,600 JD-operated warehouses and client facilities.
As JD Logistics expands globally, its solutions now serve thousands of corporate clients across dozens of countries and regions, including Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, the United States, and throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
JD Courier Inspires College Graduate to Work for JD
