JD Central CEO: Playing the Role of E-Commerce Enabler in Thailand

Posted on by Kelly Dawson

by Kelly Dawson & Martin Li

As Thailand continues its post-COVID recovery, JD’s joint venture in Thailand JD CENTRAL is positioned to support the local industry, said JDC CEO Vincent Yang during the JDC JOYFUL AWARDS held in Bangkok on Feb 25, to honor popular brands on the platform.

 

 

 

 

Yang delivered a key-note speech at the award ceremony. “I believe JD Central is the right partner to become the enabler for all Thai SMEs and brands. They can have this platform helping them to go through digital transformation. Since starting three years ago, we have evolved and so has our mission, because we believe in the transformative power of ecommerce and what can change Thailand for the better,” said Yang.

In addition to investing in ecommerce infrastructure, JD Central is committed to an omnichannel approach. “It’s not just about e-commerce but about omnichannel,” Yang said of the company’s strategy during the ceremony. “More and more brands will think about how to connect online & offline. This is why JD Central doesn’t just focus on e-commerce but also invests in offline retail.”

Even as COVID-19 has caused economic uncertainty, JDC achieved 150% YOY growth in 2020. Additionally, its average revenue per user (ARPU) and basket size continues to increase.

During the ceremony 23 awards were granted to top sellers based on the metric of QPS: Quality, Price and Service. Sellers who were honored will receive supportive measures that go directly toward helping them improve their QPS rating and drive sales.

Along with Yang, JDC CMO Korlap Suwacharangkul and Chatchai Khunpitiluck, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) senior vice president spoke at the event to a room of sellers, and a local and international media audience who joined online.

Read more about the awards, and JD Central’s ongoing expansion here.

 

(kellydawson@jd.com, bjlihao3@jd.com)

JD.ID to Support MSMEs that Empower Women and Minorities

Posted on by Kelly Dawson

by Kelly Dawson

JD.ID reiterated its commitment to support vulnerable groups among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during a meeting with Indonesian government officials.

As COVID-19 has propelled many businesses to go online, JD’s ecommerce joint venture in Indonesia JD.ID met with government officials this week to discuss the empowerment of  MSMEs and in particular those owned by vulnerable groups including women, minorities, elderly and those with disabilities.

“JD.ID as an e-commerce company will make every effort to provide its best support to help all MSMEs who are classified as vulnerable groups, namely women, disabilities, minorities, as well as the elderly, to continue to increase their sales through e-commerce platforms in realizing inclusive economic advancement which requires an evidence-based strategy which in the future can be used as mapping material for the government for economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic,” said JD.ID’s Chief Finance Officer Sandy Permadi.

Speaking of JD.ID’s support for MSMEs during the pandemic, Teten Masduki, Indonesia’s Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises said, “Online sales are a solution for MSMEs who can still run their business to continue to market their products in according with the Coronavirus prevention protocols.”

In order to support MSMEs, JD.ID is providing digitalization support, digital literacy training, learning opportunities for university students hoping to enter the industry, and more.

Additionally, JD.ID is opening opportunities for MSMEs to export products to China and helping connect small businesses with goods and capital suppliers.

 

(kellydawson@jd.com)

 

JD Shares Its Innovative Cooperation with Fashion Brands in New Normal

Posted on by Hui Zhang

by Hui Zhang

Kevin Jiang, president of international business, JD Fashion and Lifestyle, participated in a webinar hosted by the Chinese edition of WWD, and the British Fashion Council on Feb. 23 to discuss how the fashion industry is taking action to digitalize in the new normal.

British designer Anya Hindmarch, Yushan Li and Jun Zhou of Shanghai-based label Pronounce and CEO of Tomorrow Stefano Martinetto were also on the panel.

“JD is at the front of digitalization and has taken advantage of its strength in supply chain and technology to cooperate with brands and designers in innovative ways,”

“JD is at the front of digitalization and has taken advantage of its strength in supply chain and technology to cooperate with brands and designers in innovative ways,” said Jiang.

He introduced how JD helped brands and designers to deal with the impact of the pandemic

He introduced how JD helped brands and designers to deal with the impact of the pandemic, including omnichannel solutions, AR/VR technology, precise consumer targeting and more.

JD opened its omnichannel solutions to Prada and Miu Miu by integrating JD’s inventory with their internal inventories to bring a wide range of products to JD’s consumers in October 2020. Jiang mentioned that JD’s AR/VR technology allows customers to interact with products and have a more personal online experience. JD shared market insights with the brands to help them precisely target their consumers.

When asked about the cooperation with BFC and support of London Fashion Week. Jiang said that JD has always been committed to promoting the exchange of Chinese and British designers at the London Fashion Week. He said JD has supported brands such as Xu Zhi, HLA, HAZZYS, Feng Chen Wang(王逢陈) to attend London Fashion Week. Meanwhile, JD collaborated with BFC in 2020 to launch digital London Fashion Week (LFW) exclusively in China. JD.com became the official digital hub of the LFW platform in China.

The number of viewers watching the webinar live exceeded 260,000. Views have already exceeded 12 million views.

Sir David Beckham, ambassadorial president of the BFC, and Angelica Cheung, a fashion media veteran, also contributed their ideas during the digital event.

 

(zhanghui36@jd.com)

JD Supports DCEP Test Run in Chengdu

Posted on by Ling Cao

by Ling Cao

A total of 200,000 DCEP (Digital Currency Electronic Payment) red envelopes will be issued to Chengdu residents by Chengdu Municipal Government and JD.com. Each envelope equals to either RMB 178 yuan or RMB 238 yuan, and will be issued randomly.

This is the first DCEP consumption envelope test run in western China, with technology and services provided by JD Technology, a business group under JD.com focusing on using technology to serve industrial business.

Residents can apply for the envelopes via a local app servicing citizens or through the JD app from 8:00 am on Feb.24 to 24:00:00 on Feb. 25, and will have opportunities to win the lottery from Feb. 26 to Mar. 2. The envelopes will be officially issued at 00:00 o’clock on Mar. 3 and valid for use until 24:00:00, Mar. 19.

The fund can be used at designated stores online and offline, and JD will provide support for the online channel. Over 12,000 local stores will join the offline initiative, covering popular scenic spots, food and beverage, supermarket chains, as well as JD 5STAR stores, JD’s home appliance, computer and digital experience stores.

Fei Peng, head of the DCEP program at JD Technology said, “By using frontier technologies such as AI, big data, cloud computing, and through omnichannel, stable customer service capabilities, as well as application experience, JD Technology aims to contribute its efforts in the DCEP’s wallet ecosystem building, supporting local governments’ test runs, and exploring more real scenarios.”

JD Technology has already supported DCEP’s three test runs in Suzhou and Beijing, which have gained experience in operations and solutions, as well as offering new shopping scenarios for customers. JD has now cooperated with six state-owned banks and connected with online scenarios. JD has also helped merchants upgrade their cashier machines and connect them with their stores’ ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, improving efficiency and experience.

A representative from Chengdu’s municipal financial regulatory bureau said, “The initiative is a special event for us in 2021. Going forward, we will cooperate with institutions to create and expand more application methods, in order to increase local residents’ benefits, and promote the whole development of the nation’s DCEP development.”

 

(ling.cao@jd.com)

“JD Citywide Shopping” Service increased 180% YoY during CNY

Posted on by Rachel Liu

by Rachel Liu

JD data shows that during the Chinese New Year Grand Promotion, “JD Citywide Shopping” service, JD’s omnichannel fulfillment program which provides instant delivery, increased 180% YoY.

JD announced on Feb.9 that it will provide omnichannel shopping and one-hour delivery service throughout the national holiday. Customers have high demand for fresh food and daily use products during Spring Festival, and many of them chose to use the one-hour delivery service provided by JD. Together with JDDJ (JD Daojia) and over 20,000 supermarkets around China, JD has largely increased the categories of products and shortened delivery speed.

“This year’s spring festival is a little special for us because of the pandemic,” said Mr. Wang , a customer who lives in Beijing. “We try not to go to crowded supermarkets or stores, and JD’s one-hour delivery service is very convenient. The products are all from large chain supermarkets, and delivery is fast. We bought most of the fresh food and cleaning products through [the service] during the holiday.”

JD also provided health-related products, such as medicines and PPE with one-hour delivery through JD Health.

The couriers that provide one-hour delivery service received multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing to ensure the safety of delivery.

“We will further expand the one-hour delivery service and make ourselves to be customers’ first choice,” said a spokesperson of JD Citywide Shopping.

 

(liuchang61@jd.com)

JD’s Champion Wang: Little Actions, Big Impact

Posted on by Ella Kidron

by Ella Kidron

When Wang Guanjun (王冠军), a 33 year-old JD Logistics delivery courier, informed the residents in the compound he covers in Beijing he was returning home just before Spring Festival, he never could’ve imagined what would happen next.

Wang (who hit the name lottery with the last name “Wang” which means king and “Guanjun” which means champion) has served as a courier at the Jinyu Huafu (金域华府) compound in Huilongguan in Beijing’s Changping district for five years. Thanks to the relentless attention and care he puts into his craft, Wang, has become a member of the “big family”, to the residents he serves.

This year would be the first that Wang has been home for the Chinese New Year since he started working at the compound five years ago. Residents did not take the mere thought of his absence lightly, and his story quickly went viral.

Upon his return to the compound on Feb. 19, Wang arrived to a homecoming like no other. The residents hosted an elaborate ceremony for him and awarded him with a certificate for his service. This is not the first time he has been recognized by the residents. In 2017, a group of mothers in the compound organized to give him a “most popular courier” award. JD Logistics has named the delivery station he serves as “Wang Guanjun Station,” in honor of his contribution.

Wang Guanjun holds certificate naming him “The Honorary Resident of Jinyu Guoji Community” given to him by the resident committee of the compound he serves

Wang Guanjun holds certificate naming him “The Honorary Resident of Jinyu Guoji Community” given to him by the resident committee of the compound he serves

Wang told Chinese media: “I honestly never could have imagined that going home for Chinese New Year this time would attract so much attention.” He added that seeing the residents discussing him in their WeChat group and on their WeChat moments  made him feel a great sense of responsibility. “This deep love made me feel incredibly moved, and has motivated me to work even harder,” he said.

Residents welcome Wang Guanjun “home”

Residents welcome Wang Guanjun “home”

Wang, like many JD couriers around China, is known affectionately as “Uncle Guanjun” (冠军叔叔) by the children in the compound. In fact, the children of one family surprised him with an intricately drawn comic book of him when he arrived at their doorstep. Wang embodies the spirit of what it means to be a JDer – to go above and beyond the call of duty to be of service. He may have underestimated his contribution, but his residents did not. He touched their hearts, and in turn they have also touched his.

 

(ella@jd.com)

Hermès’ Shoe Brand John Lobb Launches First Online Store in China on JD

Posted on by Hui Zhang

by Hui Zhang

John Lobb, luxury shoes and boots brand from London under Hermès Group, launched a flagship store on JD.com on Feb. 23, which is the first and only e-commerce platform to partner with John Lobb in China.

To mark the store’s opening and the 75th anniversary of the creation of its memorable shoes, the William double-buckle, the brand will bring JD the William New Standard, which is the new iteration of the classic William double-buckle, to JD’s consumers. The memorable shoes are named after its creator’s son William Hunter Lobb, and popular because of its distinctive double buckles. In addition to the classic leather shoes, the lightweight sole series, casual shoes and accessories are now available on JD as well.

John Lobb, luxury shoes and boots brand from London under Hermès Group, launched a flagship store on JD.com

“For a luxury brand like John Lobb, which has a long history and attaches great importance to the protection of brand values and customer experience, the selection of e-commerce platforms is even more stringent,” said Kevin Jiang, president of international business, JD Fashion and Lifestyle.

“JD’s zero tolerance for counterfeit goods is in line with the spirit of luxury brands and also the reason why an increasing number of luxury brands have chosen to work with JD, especially since the outbreak of pandemic.”

JD’s consumers are loyal, high spenders. As of October 2020, the number of JD PLUS (JD’s paid premium membership program) members has exceeded 20 million. During the third Luxury Shopping Festival from Dec. 18-25, 2020, over 80% of users purchased more than two product categories as a result of the high-quality offerings across multiple categories. The number of the first-time purchase consumers grew over 180% YoY, and purchasing luxury goods.

John Lobb has been in business since 1851 and is known for its craftsmanship, service and style. It creates handmade shoes, boots and leather goods such as wallets, belts ,etc. The brand was acquired by the Hermès Group in 1976 and has developed the John Lobb ready-to-wear shoe brand around the world.

 

(zhanghui36@jd.com)

The Warm Last-mile Delivery under Extreme Temperatures

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

by Yuchuan Wang

Huma, is a small county in the high attitude northern part of China, with its name meaning “the rapids without sunlight in high mountains and valleys” in Daur, a local ethnic minority language. Wei Sun, joined JD in 2018, is the only JD courier in this county, responsible for the last-mile delivery to its over 40,000 residents.

Bordering Russia, the annual average temperature here is only minus 2 degrees Celsius. Just ahead of the 2021 Chinese New Year, the temperature fell to minus 45 degrees Celsius, which can turn water into ice instantly.

Wei Sun, JD courierWei Sun, JD courier

Sun delivers about 120 orders a day, the number would double during the Chinese New Year. “Every time I deliver to customer’s doorstep, the temperature difference inside and outside the house could be as much as 70 degrees (Celsius),” said Sun.

Under such extreme weather condition, he would wear four layers of clothes and stick hot packs on his jacket cuffs, not only for warmth of his hands, but also for his cell phone which gets shut down due to low temps. The cold weather also affects the battery life of his delivery vehicle, while he has to change battery three times a day for his electric tricycle to keep it running.

Sun has never received a negative comment, instead customers would always remind him to take his time and be careful on the slippery roads. “It’s the happiest thing to me to see Humaers’ joyful faces receiving packages,” said Sun.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)