by Vivian Yang

In appreciation of Swiss brands’ strong performance on JD.com, the Chinese e-commerce company issued the “Friend of JD.com – Excellent Performance Partner” award to the Swiss embassy to China on Jun 18, the final date of the national mid-year shopping festival, known as the JD 618 Grand Promotion.

Mr. Yves Morath, counselor and head of the Swiss Business Hub China accepted the award at JD’s headquarters in Beijing.  Speaking about the potential for cooperation with China and JD.com in the future, Mr. Morath said that: “Switzerland is definitely a very strong country for premium consumer goods, so we are very optimistic that we can benefit from the potential market of the Chinese market with JD.com. What we see is more and more Swiss premium consumer goods are very active in the Chinese market, especially in the e-commerce market. We see a very great potential, so of course we hope that we can strengthen our position also on JD.com, and have even more tight collaboration in the future.”

Mr. Yves Morath (second from the right) received the “Friend of JD.com” award on behalf of the Swiss Embassy

Swiss brands enjoy a high reputation among Chinese customers, as they do in the rest of the world, for their high quality and reliability. Being an e-commerce platform that always puts trust and quality at the core of its business, JD.com is the natural go-to place for Swiss brands in China, with products ranging from luxury, food, and beauty to healthcare products and more available on its platform.

Mr. Yves Morath in an interview during his visit to JD’s big data command center on June 18. 

Swiss watches are a good case on this point. JD Fashion offers over a hundred Swiss watch brands through both the first-party and marketplace models. Most recently, Zenith SA launched an official third-party store on JD.com on May 17. The store is an addition to the brand’s first-party store on JD.com which opened in 2017. Breitling, another time-honored Swiss watch brand operating under both sales models on JD.com, was awarded by the platform as the “Sustainable Development Partner of the Year” on May 20 in recognition of the brand’s efforts to bring environmental-friendly products to JD’s customers.

Sustainability is close to the hearts of many Swiss brands and the Swiss embassy. Nestlé, the Switzerland-based company has been working deeply with JD on many fronts, such as, designing Consumer-to-Manufacturer (C2M) products that are better tailored to Chinese customers’ needs, developing medical purpose baby food while promoting pediatric knowledge and nutrition related content, and collaborating on a greener supply chain and digitally-driven distribution center that reduces waste in fulfillment processes.

During the Sino-Swiss Economic Forum (SSEF) last November, Swiss Ambassador to China Bernardino Regazzoni emphasized Swiss enterprises’ commitment to sustainable development in China: “They are even generating synergies among themselves here in China to bring out sustainable, innovative and creative solutions to global concerns.”

 

(Vivian.Yang@jd.com)

by Hui Zhang and Yuchuan Wang

Dumitru Braghiș, the ambassador of Moldova to China, received the Excellent Growth Partner of the Year award from JD.com in Beijing on Jun. 18, the final day of 618 Grand Promotion, the biggest mid-year shopping festival in the world, in commemoration of Moldovan brands’ successful development on the JD platform.

Photo shows Ambassador of Moldova to China Dumitru Braghiș accepting the Excellent Growth Partner Award from Ling Chenkai, Head of Strategy of JD Retail and Vice President of JD.com

Moldova launched a national pavilion on JD in December 2019, when many customers learned for the first time that Moldova was one of the five founding countries of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The pavilion also introduced Milestii-Mici, the winery that holds a Guinness world record as the largest wine cellar in the world. After joining over 50 offline stores in China, this was the first time for Milestii-Mici to embark on e-commerce to bring their wine to nearly 500 million JD customers.

“This June 18 marks the 18^th anniversary of JD.com and we would love to take this opportunity to thank the Moldova Embassy for promoting the cross-border e-commerce trade with JD.com,” said Larry Lee, vice president and head of global corporate affairs at JD.com “And for its excellent products that makes JD’s 618 Grand Promotion the best destination for shopping international products.”

Ambassadors and senior diplomats from 15 countries were invited to attend an award ceremony hosted by JD at its headquarters in Beijing on Jun 18, in appreciation for their ongoing efforts in enhancing cooperation with JD, and their continuous support in promoting cross-border trade with China.

 

(zhanghui36@jd.com; yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Yuchuan Wang

Products from Thailand including durian, herbal wax, bird’s nest and face masks have seen enormous demands by Chinese consumers during JD.com’s 18^th 618 Grand Promotion, the biggest mid-year shopping festival in the world. Sales of Thai herbal wax products increased over 90 times from June 1 to June 10 year-on-year.

To mark the country’s strong effort in promoting cross-border trade, JD.com presented the Excellent Cooperation Partner of the Year award at its headquarters in Beijing on Jun. 18. H.E. Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the People’s Republic of China received the award.

Photo shows Ambassador of Thailand to China Arthayudh Srisamoot accepting the Excellent Cooperation Partner Award from Xu Hejian, Director of the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government

“This event has been very successful for many years, and 618 is a day that many shoppers look forward to, because JD.com provides so many products from all over the world,” Ambassador Srisamoot said.

Thailand is of critical importance to JD.com. In 2018, JD.com and Central Group, the retail giant in Thailand launched the joint venture JD CENTRAL, which became the first online shopping platform in Thailand to claim to provide 100% authentic products. Its own and third party delivery resources enables its business to cover the whole of Thailand with rapid delivery services.

Products from Thailand also sell remarkably well on JD.com and are hugely popular with the company’s 500 million customers in China. On June 1, JD sold over 80,000 Thai durian on a single day. This April, JD.com announced to implement its cold chain network to help bring fresh durians from Rayong city, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, to China, enabling customers to enjoy durians at their ideal level of ripeness.

“We hope to take this event as an opportunity to express our gratitude for everything that the Thailand Embassy has done to foster a positive trade environment between Thailand and China,” said Larry Lee. “And to contribute to the internationalization of JD’s 618 Grand Promotion.”

Ambassadors and senior diplomats from 15 countries were invited to attend an award ceremony hosted by JD at its headquarters in Beijing on Jun 18, in appreciation for their ongoing efforts in enhancing cooperation with JD, and their continuous support in promoting cross-border trade with China.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Yuchuan Wang

JD.com published its Sustainability Report on Jun. 18 which disclosed the company’s efforts and achievements in the field from 2018 to 2020.

As a company with the mission “Powered by Technology for A More Productive and Sustainable World”, JD.com is committed in leveraging its smart supply chain to continuously create value for economy and social development, and environmental protection.

JD has been making efforts in promoting green logistics, procurement, offices and more to lead a low-carbon operation enterprise. The company’s self-built data center in Suqian, Jiangsu province has been recognized by the country as one of the “2020 National Green Data Centers” by departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce.

JD also innovates in transportation, storage, and packaging among many others of the supply chain to make its logistics fulfillment green. The company has been gradually replacing traditional fuel-combustion trucks with new energy vehicles since 2017 and reduces at least 120,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

As said by Richard Liu, Chairman and CEO of JD.com, in a letter to shareholders on Jun. 18, “A company which stays in awe and stays enthusiastic should not pursue omnipotence in its industry. Instead, such a company should assume responsibility and create value for its users, partners, society, environment, communities and employees.”

 

Click here to read the report in Chinese.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Yuchuan Wang

The Xiaomi Youpin North China Warehousing and Distribution Center powered by JD Logistics (JDL) officially commenced operations on Jun. 11. As an enhancement of the supply chain cooperation between the two parties, the center will provide Xiaomi Youpin one-stop logistics services such as storage and distribution covering all categories of products to its customers in north and northeast China.

During the trial operations at the beginning of June, Xiaomi Youpin’s products were delivered same and next-day to customers in Beijing and Tianjin – the same level that JD’s customers in these areas enjoy – thanks to JD’s advanced logistics management system.

“Our partnership with JDL not only accelerates the delivery of Xiaomi Youpin’s products, but also offers a better customer experience,” said Fang Bai, general manager of Xiaomi Youpin. “We look forward to collaborating with JDL to create the best shopping experience and establishing a new industry benchmark.”

Yunfeng Shi, General Manager of JDL’s North China branch said that the deepened cooperation will further stimulate the potential of technology-powered integrated supply chain services in the e-commerce industry, which will contribute to the reduction of logistics costs and the improvement of industrial efficiency.

JDL and Xiaomi Youpin plan to launch another logistics center in South China in the near future and will collaborate in national warehousing network design, order forecast, smart replenishment and more.

Xiaomi Youpin is a lifestyle e-commerce platform under Xiaomi. JDL started providing logistics services to Xiaomi Youpin since 2018, including opening up its nationwide transportation and delivery network to the brand.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Yuchuan Wang

JD.com was granted the “Annual Model for Low-carbon in 2021” award at the 12^th Forum of Green Development and Low-carbon Life held on Jun. 11 in Beijing. Ling Xu, vice president and head of strategy department at JD.com, attended the forum and made a speech on JD’s thinking and actions for sustainable development.

“JD has incorporated green and low-carbon operations into its corporate development strategy,” said Xu. “By advocating responsible consumption, we collaborate with partners and consumers to promote sustainable development through transforming processes from designing, marketing, to circulation and services.”

As a supply chain-based technology and service provider, JD is contributing to China’s carbon neutrality goal and global climate action by building a cleaner supply chain system with a lower carbon footprint.

In 2019, JD.com’s logistics arm, JD Logistics, became the first Chinese logistics company to join the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), with a commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by 50% between 2019 and 2030. In May, JD.com announced plans to cut carbon emissions by 5% during this year’s 618 Grand Promotion comparing with the same period last year.

Co-organized by China News Service, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and city of Beijing, the 12^th Forum of Green Development and Low-carbon Life attracted nearly a hundred experts and scholars.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Yuchuan Wang

JD Logistics announced adding a new air cargo route from Shenzhen to Beijing since Jun. 8, 2021. Using a Boeing 737 freighter, the all-cargo aircraft will help shorten fulfillment time in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area, and the Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.

The new route is operated by China Central Airlines and travels between the two cities six times a week, enabling consumers in northern China to enjoy fresh fruit such as lychee from Guangdong province delivered to their doorsteps in 24 hours.

Since last year, JD Logistics has been deepening its all-cargo partnerships with airlines including Zhejiang Loong Airlines and Zhongyuan Longhao Airlines. The company also continues to leverage freight resources from China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines. JD Logistics has a total of over 100,000 air routes between cities and its air deliver services can be provided in 300 cities, as of this June.

A representative from JD Express, JD Logistics’ express delivery business, said that the newly launched route will also meet the increased demands from consumers and merchants during the 618 Grand Promotion.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

by Hui Zhang and Yuchuan Wang

Sixteen international Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from 13 countries including America, Britain, France, Brazil, and Thailand visited JD.com’s Asia No.1 Logistics Park in Beijing on Jun. 9 and recorded the high advanced logistics experience through videos to share with their vast number of followers on social media platforms including Youtube, Facebook, Instagram as well as major Chinese social media platforms.

Group photo of KOLs

“To be honest, I got addicted to JD.com because they have fast services, and great after-sales and customer services. They have awesome products that you can order in the morning and maybe get the parcel on the [same] day,” said Jerry Goode, a Youtube Vlogger from South Africa. “It’s like a kid in a candy store. I really like seeing how these guys operate – the ideas, the initiative for the future to get packages faster and faster.”

Jerry Goode

The KOLs were invited by Beijing municipal government together with China Radio International (CRI), an international radio broadcaster of China to visit a series of companies to better understand the capital city’s strong technical capabilities and consumption power.

KOL livestreaming

JD started building its first Asia No.1 logistics park in Shanghai in 2009. As the name indicates, the plan was to build the largest scale and most advanced network of e-commerce logistics centers.

By adopting automation technologies and robots such as shuttle system, AGVs (automated ground vehicles) and high speed sorting system, it enables the company to fulfill over 90% of JD.com’s retail orders from nearly 500 million active customers within 24 hours, a level that no other company in the world at the scale can match.

KOL taking video

In JD’s Beijing Asia No.1 logistics park, 330 AGVs work collaboratively to pick up consumers’ orders, enabling individual pickers to each pick about 250 orders per hour, which is three times the efficiency of a traditional picking approach.

AGV in operation

The company’s Shanghai Asia No.1 logistics park is able to handle as many as 1.3 million orders a day thanks to the application of such advanced technologies.

JD’s Asia No.1 warehouse in Shanghai

“It’s my first time to visit such a big logistics park with front-end technology. I’m so impressed by JD’s Asia No.1 Logistics Park,” said Charunpumhiran Apinya, a Facebook influencer from Thailand.

Charunpumhiran Apinya

“It’s amazing… It’s huge, massive and highly efficient,” said George Doupas, a photographer from Greece.

George Doupas

This automation is extremely helpful during peak periods such as the ongoing 618 Grand Promotion. By 5 pm on Jun. 1, the number of items which purchased on the day and had already been delivered surpassed that of the entire day of Jun 1 during last year’s promotion. As of now, the company operates a total of 32 Asia No. 1 projects, as a part of its 1,000 warehouses across China.

 

(zhanghui36@jd.com; yuchuan.wang@jd.com)