JDD Series: AI for a More Human World: MIT Professor Daniela Rus Speaks at JDD

Posted on by Kelly Dawson

by Kelly Dawson

For many, AI can evoke images of a less human world in which technology reigns— but for MIT professor Daniela Rus, AI actually enables more human experiences, carrying with it enormous potential for good.

MIT professor Daniela Rus, AI actually enables more human experiences, carrying with it enormous potential for good.
Daniela Rus

Speaking at this year’s online JD Discovery conference, which gathered industry experts from around the world in all areas of technology, Rus posed a scenario in which a visually impaired individual dons a smart wearable device to take a walk on a summer day. The device might describe a beautiful window display through a brail buckle that spells out the description, vibrate gently on the user’s left to notify him of an obstacle; or communicate that a friend is walking by—or even alert him to the presence of a small cat. Later the person might find a bench where he can sit and feed ducks.

“Imagine the richness of a user who can take advantage of the AI robotics learning technologies that enable these kinds of capabilities, and how much richer this experience is than walking down the street using a white walking stick where all you get is one bit of information: Is there an obstacle in front of me, or not? This is extraordinary,” she said.

Beyond enriching people’s lives on a daily basis, AI is also playing a key role in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, she said. A team of students in her lab is currently developing ways to use robots to fight the spread of infection by disinfecting spaces and ensuring food security, an essential task during a pandemic. One project developed by the team is a robotic system that traverses the warehouse for the Greater Boston Food Bank, neutralizing any potential virus particles with UVC light. Computing its own speed and trajectory in order to cover every surface of the space, the robot is ensuring the safety of not only warehouse workers, but everyone who receives food from the project.

In this way AI actually enhances our humanity, opening the way for safer, more enriching experiences. But the public understanding of these technologies has often lagged, said Dr. Bowen Zhou, president of JD Cloud & AI, in an essay touching on similar topics earlier this year.

Some of this lingering squeamishness around AI is rooted in unfamiliarity, Zhou said. “Many people lack full understanding of AI, and therefore are more likely to view AI as a nebulous cloud instead of a powerful driving force that create a lot of value for society,” he said.

Additionally, the technology is proliferating faster than regulations can keep pace, he said.

Rus echoed Zhou’s thoughts, noting that it will be up to scientists and AI experts to proceed with deep consideration of how the technology should develop.

“We have to be thoughtful about the consequences of our work,” Rus said. “We have to ensure that advancements serve the greater good, and that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from [such] a future.”

Zhou believes that as long as the AI community is willing to face these concerns head on, there is little to fear about the development of these technologies. Making AI more accessible through education and communication about its benefits will be key to helping people understand the potential value of AI, he said. JD is already focused in this direction, with research in visual IoT that enables AI to be more explainable and accountable, among other efforts, he said.

“[Building] trustworthy AI is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “But if we embrace AI innovation and regulation with an open, inclusive, principle-based and collaborative attitude, the value AI can create can far exceed our expectations.”

Rus noted that in light of the broader difficulties and challenges facing humanity—COVID-19, climate change, disease, inequality and more—it would be easy to feel disheartened.

“But I don’t,” she said. “I feel hopeful, because when I look around I see the many ways in which technology in general and AI in particular have made the world better. There are so many ways in which tech can help us with our greatest challenges, whether those are challenges faced by individuals or challenges faced by society.”

Rus envisions a future in which routine tasks are increasingly offloaded to machines, so that people can focus on cognitive, strategic tasks that allow them to do critical and strategic thinking.

“I imagine the doors that AI will open for the future,” she said. “It is so wonderful to be part of this revolution at this point in time.”

 

(kellydawson@jd.com)

JD Health and CTTQ to Explore Cooperation On Pharmaceutical Industry

Posted on by Hui Zhang

by Hui Zhang

JD Health signed an agreement with Nanjing Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical (CTTQ) on November 23rd to establish cooperation in pharmaceutical supply chain, Internet hospital and pharmaceutical poverty alleviation.

Leveraging its supply chain advantage, JD Health will help CTTQ better reach downstream pharmaceutical stores through its B2B business, JD Medicine Procurement．The platform is of the largest third-party pharmaceutical wholesale platforms in China. Through JD’s pharmacy business, CTTQ will have access to JD’s over 440 million active users and will bring them high-quality drugs. CTTQ will also share its professional physician resources with JD Health so as to provide professional medical advice to patients, especially on cardiovascular disease.

Both sides will initiate public welfare programs in the near future to provide subsidies on drugs for cardiovascular disease treatment, and provide free consultations as well.

“JD Health will open its capabilities in areas such as pharmaceutical supply chain, Internet hospital, health management, and intelligent medical development to provide better, more convenient, efficient and safer pharmaceutical health services for all users,” said Xinyuan Zhou, head of JD Pharmaceutical Procurement and general manager of Channel Innovation at JD Health.

CTTQ, founded in 1969, is a multinational pharmaceutical company with integrated R&D, manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution capabilities. It is ranked 16th on the list of the “Top 100 Pharmaceutical Enterprises in China” in 2019, and among the top 5 most innovative Pharmaceutical Enterprises, and top 10 fastest-growing pharmaceutical manufacturers in China.

 

(zhanghui36@jd.com)

JD and Beijing Truelore Help Renmin University Build Smart Procurement Platform

Posted on by Rachel Liu

by Rachel Liu

JD and leading smart bidding service provider Beijing Truelore worked together to help Renmin University of China (RUC) build a smart procurement platform, making the procurement of office supplies more efficient, announced on a conference in Wuhan on November 19th.

As smart procurement for enterprises has become increasingly common, more universities and colleges have also increased their demand for smart procurement platforms. However, it’s very challenging to build smart platforms for universities, as the procurement system for universities and enterprises have many differences. In the past, RUC tried to build a smart management system with other service providers, but the result was not ideal.

Now JD Industrial Technology, leveraging its experience on digital procurement, has built a smart procurement platform for RUC that covers the whole process of procurement work, including bidding, procurement management, contract management, finance management, asset management and more, which can largely save time for procurement application and improve the efficiency of procurement. The system can automatically recognize products that meet the requirement of government regulation, and is carefully designed to ensure the procurement staff learn to use it easily.

Bidding is an especially important part in the whole procurement process. Traditional offline bidding has often faced trust concerns on the fairness of bidding, as the government cannot effectively trace and review the transaction data. Without smooth data sharing, the bidding process may become slow and tiring. JD and Truelore jointly designed the smart bidding system to make bidding more transparent and efficient for RUC. “Building a smart bidding system requires deep understanding on the product and technology. This is why we choose to work with a leading service provider like Truelore to improve our ability in this area,” said Ning Hai, general manager of business development at JD Industrial Technology.

 

(liuchang61@jd.com)

JD Launches First Three Smart Offline Stores for Industrial Products in Suzhou

Posted on by Ling Cao

by Ling Cao

JD has launched first three smart offline stores for industrial products in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on November 23rd. The new model aims to help existing traditional industrial products stores go digital via smart management solutions and increase efficiency.

The launching ceremony for the JD industrial products store in Changshu, Suzhou

Industrial products stores are unique in terms of number of stock keeping units (SKUs), a high number of nonstandard items, as well as the need for professional after-sales services, all of which provide challenges for store management.

To address these problems, JD Industrial Technology has integrated resources and provided in-store digital solutions such as cloud based shelves and digital price tags. In addition, JD supports omnichannel delivery services. JD’s Jing Gong Bang  (京工帮, which literally means JD Industry Helper) can connect big companies with industry-leading service providers for manufacturing-level omnichannel service solutions.

JD also leverages smart in-store management systems to help store owners realize digitalized management through procurement, sales and accounting support. One of the stores is 200 square meters and operates over 10,000 SKUs hitting the upper limit of its manpower. By installing the smart system, the store managed ten times SKUs, and efficiency has greatly improved.

Cheng Liu, general manager of a company in Suzhou which owns the store said, “The pressure is obvious for Suzhou’s industrial products stores to make a digital transformation.” He explained that GDP for industrial products in Suzhou reached over RMB 1 trillion yuan, the highest among cities in the area.” Whether to make digital transformation is a key for local companies.

Zhuang Han, general manager for smart retailing at JD Industrial Technology said, “JD’s solutions can not only help traditional stores digitalize their business, but also integrate resources in the market, providing more valuable services for enterprise clients.”

He added that JD will continue to build up infrastructure and connectivity across all processes via digital solutions, creating an efficient industrial chain for all clients.

 

(ling.cao@jd.com)

JD Courier Honored as National Model Worker

Posted on by Kelly Dawson

by Kelly Dawson

Among a group of model workers awarded across China by the Chinese government in this year’s National Model Workers and Advanced Workers awards announced on Nov. 24th is a humble courier from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia named Song Xuewen. Since joining JD in 2011, he has covered 320,000 kilometers and delivered 300,000 packages—with zero errors, zero complaints, and zero safety incidents.

Today, Song, aged 38, heads one of 21 delivery stations in Beijing’s Zhongguancun neighborhood, managing 17 couriers who just like him, are a part of China’s courier work force of more than 4 million workers, who all together now handle an annual parcel volume of 74 billion across China.

Today, Song, aged 38, heads one of 21 delivery stations in Beijing’s Zhongguancun neighborhood

Song is soft-spoken but decisive. Each morning he assesses the massive haul of packages that will be delivered across Zhongguancun, first piling the goods according to size, largest at the bottom and smallest at the top—but what looks like a straightforward process is anything but simple. As “Beijing’s Silicon Valley”, Zhongguancun is home to about 20,000 companies. Song knows each and every company in his area—their location, what time their offices close, their package delivery preferences and most frequent purchases, and even the names of some employees.

It is precisely this meticulous attention to detail that has netted Song multiple awards over the years: In 2017, he won the National May Day Medal awarded by the National Union, , and in 2018, he won third place in a national competition for “most beautiful courier”, an award for beauty in character and diligence.

“The most important thing in this role is to be attentive,” Song said in an interview at JD’s headquarters in Beijing. “You have to pay attention to customers, and observe your fellow couriers to see what they do well, and learn the correct process.”

On any given day, JD couriers might encounter a range of challenges that go far beyond the normal work scope one might expect from a courier, he said. As JD couriers are assigned to work in one designated area, they often form bonds with their regular customers. In the past year alone, JD couriers have unexpectedly helped put out a fire, assisted an elderly customer in ordering ingredients and then making moon cakes, and more. It’s common for JD couriers to assist elderly or handicapped people with various tasks, Song said.

“I think that among couriers, JD couriers have a higher responsibility,” he said. “Being a courier is not always simple. Our work plays a role in society. As a part of society, we all have a natural responsibility, but as a courier, there’s an additional layer of responsibility we feel.”

Indeed, the role of couriers during the pandemic earlier this year has been well recognized, hailed as a “lifeline” during a time when most of China’s population remained indoors. China’s couriers were also recognized last year, when Song himself was invited to participate in the National Day parade.

“It was very exciting and a big honor,” Song said of the parade. “Maybe sometimes we think of the job of being a courier as mundane or easy work, to transport packages daily. So to be recognized by society and our country, it felt like our hard work had paid off. Additionally, to be able to represent couriers in the National Day parade and receive this honor, I think it was a recognition that our role in society and the services we provide are significant.”

 

(kellydawson@jd.com)

CEO of JD Logistics Awarded One of Top 10 Logistics Leaders of China

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

by Yuchuan Wang

Zhenhui Wang, CEO of JD Logistics (JDL), was awarded as one of China’s Top 10 Logistics Leaders in 2020 during the 18th China Logistics Entrepreneurs Annual Conference held on November 21st. JDL was also awarded as the Advanced Enterprise in Fighting against COVID-19.

The global logistics and supply chain has encountered unprecedented challenges due to the impact of COVID-19. According to the organizer of the annual conference, there have been a number of entrepreneurs and enterprises that helped lead the industry’s recovery and development during the pandemic.

Certificate of China’s Top 10 Logistics Leaders 2020

Under Wang’s leadership, over 200,000 employees at JDL stayed on duty at the peak of the pandemic and transported over 70 million medical supplies to the frontlines of the fight against the virus. JDL has also been continuously delivering daily necessities to consumers across China, all based on the company’s agile and enormous logistics and supply chain network.

In a previous interview with China’s national TV, CCTV, Wang said, “Logistics cannot be suspended for a single minute during the pandemic. It is not an issue of whether to make money, but a matter of social responsibility.”

According to JD.com’s Q3 2020 earnings, by September 30th, JDL operated over 800 warehouses, which covered an aggregate gross floor area of approximately 20 million square meters.

 

(yuchuan.wang@jd.com)

In-depth: JD Boosts the PC Industry with All of Its Competitive Edges

Posted on by Kelly Dawson

by Kelly Dawson

In recent years, the global market for PCs has steadily declined at a rate of 2% since 2011, thanks to the rise of smart phones and tablets and a longer product life cycle. In this context the global pandemic and associated economic decline could have dealt a fatal blow to the PC industry—and yet many PC brands are seeing a resurgence in 2020, helped by both a renewed need for home office tools and in great part by cooperation with e-commerce platforms like JD.com.

According to the latest data from global market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC), global PC market shipments reached 81.3 million units in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, an increase of 14.6% YoY.

These figures were reflected on JD.com during this year’s Singles Day Grand Promotion: During the first ten minutes of the promotion, sales for ThinkPad and Huawei laptops increased by more than 3 times YoY; and sales of high-end gaming desktop PCs achieved a YoY increase of 120%. Additionally, during the first 30 minutes of this year’s National Day holiday (October 1st to 8th), sales of laptops increased 23 times YoY; and sales of gaming computers increased 400% YoY. When Intel launched a super brand day during that period, the brand sold 10,000 Intel laptops within one minute of opening the sale.

These figures demonstrate how JD’s cooperation with PC brands and other partners are contributing to the real economy, during a period of global economic uncertainty.

 

C2M Model

Driving this impressive turnaround for the PC industry is the adoption of the Customer-to-Manufacturer (C2M) model, which JD has embraced for its focus on the customer. JD’s C2M initiative leverages the company’s big data insights to jointly develop tailored products with brand partners based on exactly what customers want, as revealed through their shopping behaviors and preferences.

During this year’s Singles Day, more than 60% of PC sales on JD.com were for devices developed through the C2M program. Some successful examples of JD’s C2M cooperation with PC brands include the Dell Inspiron 7000 laptop for designers, which was co-developed by JD and Dell to address a clear customer demand for notebooks with powerful performance at a reasonable price point. JD leveraged big data to identify specific pain points related to other laptops for designers, and worked with Dell to address those issues. Since its launch on JD, the device has been consistently popular.

As Professor Xu Xianchun, director of Tsinghua’s China Data Center (CDC) said of the electronics market, “Whoever has a better understanding of the market and future trends will rise to the top.”

 

Lower-tier Markets

JD is also focused on expanding into lower-tier markets and rural areas, where China’s internet penetration is 46.2%, more than 30% lower than in urban areas, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) earlier this year.

In these areas, consumers have been slower to warm to an online-only model for electronic devices, preferring to test products first before purchase. In response, JD opened the first computer and digital products experience stores at a university in 2018. Two years later, there are around 700 such JD stores across China, with 90 offline stores opened in April alone. Of these stores, 533 are in 3rd to 6th-tier cities, covering 30 provinces，municipalities and autonomous regions.

 

Omnichannel

JD’s offline computer stores are part of its commitment to omnichannel, which the company believes will likely be the key to long-term success in a rapidly evolving industry. While customers are turning more and more to online shopping, there has also been clear indication that an online-only model is not enough to satisfy customer needs, especially for higher-end electronics products.

One PC brand that has benefited from cooperation with JD’s offline store network is Honor, which saw a sales increase of 200% YoY in JD Computer and Digital experience stores. The stores have created special on-site experience sections showcasing Honor devices. Additionally, JD has leveraged its omnichannel advantages to promote online and offline events on university campuses in lower-tier markets.

JD has also leveraged big data to appeal to consumers in these markets, creating customized products for series including Lenovo’s AIO business-integrated desktop PCs.

Weichang Li, general manager of Lenovo’s PC consumption department, said that Lenovo’s cooperation with JD felt significantly more hands-on than with some previous partners.

“What we talked about the most with foreign supply chain partners was just the price, while the cooperation between JD and Lenovo has always focused on consumers’ demands,” Li said. “That has helped us co-develop products that truly meet consumers’ needs.”

“Additionally, the data analysis provided by JD has brought great help to Lenovo’s product design, and has helped us target consumers more accurately and provide the right products for them,” Li added.

 

Individual ownership

The combination of C2M products specifically targeting this demographic and JD’s offline digital experience stores have proved to be a winning match, enabling JD to give full play to its omnichannel advantages in order to gradually increase penetration in lower-tier markets.

Another way in which JD benefits the real economy is through its individual ownership model for JD Computer and Digital Experience stores, with owners benefiting directly from JD’s enormous resources, including an advanced logistics network, digital marketing tools, livestreaming platform, and more. During JD’s Singles Day promotion, JD Computer and Digital Experience stores reported a sales growth of 207% YoY, effectively boosting consumption in lower-tier markets.

The association with JD also brings brand awareness and a quality guarantee for the offline stores. According to a survey released by iResearch consulting firm earlier this year, JD is rated the most trustworthy e-commerce brand, thanks to product authentication and a highly efficient, reliable logistics network that ensures timely, safe delivery of higher-end products. Global data analysis firm identified JD as the first choice for consumers to buy 3C products (computer, consumer electronics and communication products) during this year’s Singles Day.

 

Logistics advantages

Access to offline stores for post-purchase services has also provided peace of mind for consumers who are still acclimating to the online shopping model.

Thanks to these many resources, of JD Computer and Digital Experience stores were able to smoothly navigate the economic slowdown at the height of the pandemic earlier this year. While many PC stores and online channels across the industry saw an uptick in purchases due to an increased need for home office devices, customers soon realized that JD’s self-built advanced logistics network was a major advantage during a time when many companies were experiencing disruption to supply chain and logistics networks.

JD’s logistics network not only ensures reliable delivery—it also increases the speed of deliveries. For example, JD Daojia’s crowdsourced logistics resource Dada Now enables JD’s offline computer stores to offer ultra-fast delivery of high-end products to consumers within a radius of three kilometers. Earlier this year, one store was able to achieve delivery of a Lenovo notebook within 11 minutes of the customer’s purchase.

One individual store owner who benefited directly from JD’s resources during the worst of the pandemic is Zhiling Dou, the owner of a JD Computer and Digital Experience store in Hunchun, Jilin province in northeast China. At the height of the outbreak she turned to livestreaming on JD Live, ultimately increasing her sales to RMB 3.6 million yuan in July, seven times higher than her previous average monthly sales.

“The biggest change after cooperating with JD is that I am delighted see repeat customers who come to my [computer and digital experience] store often, whether they are buying a computer, a mouse, a pair of headsets or even non-relevant categories such as nuts,” another store owner said. “Better yet, now we can always meet their demand quickly because of JD’s comprehensive inventory and fast supply chain capability.”

JD’s successful cooperation with both PC brands and small business owners in its network of JD Computer and Digital Experience stores are a testament to its commitment to integrating the digital economy with the real economy.

 

(kellydawson@jd.com)

 

 

 

JD Wins China Mobile’s Best E-commerce Ecosystem Partner Award

Posted on by Rachel Liu

by Rachel Liu

JD joined China Mobile’s 2020 Global Partner Conference in Guangzhou from November 19th to 21st, and won the Best E-commerce Ecosystem Partner Award for its deep partnership with JD Mobile for the past over 10 years. JD’s booth at the conference exhibited products related to 5G, Consumer-to-Manufacturer (C2M) and special services provided for mobile users.

“JD will continue to work on innovative 5G projects with China Mobile, and provide more comprehensive 5G-related services for our customers,” said Qi Zheng, a section GM at JD Mobile Devices.

JD’s booth showcased various kinds of products and services related to 5G. For example, if customers order phone cards on JD, JD couriers can go to customers’ doorsteps to help customers finish the certification process, eliminating the need to go to a store. A model of a JD Home store, JD’s offline experience store for electronic products, was also built in the exhibition hall for visitors to explore.

JD Home’s fast service can now deliver product to customer in as few as 36 minutes. During the past Singles Day Grand Promotion, the number of customers who used the service increased four times. Visitors were also able to experience JD’s livestreaming on site. JD Home’s livestreams received over 100 million views on JD, WeChat and Kwai (known to Chinese consumers as Kuaishou) during the past Singles Day, and its offline customers contributed at least 40% of views.

JD’s cooperation with China Mobile began in 2011. In 2014, the two sides jointly launched a contract phone for iPhone 6. In 2017, JD opened a JD Home store inside a China Mobile service store in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. In 2019, China Mobile joined JD’s 5G Ecosystem Alliance to provide customers with better communications services at a lower cost. With 5G getting more and more popular in China, JD and China Mobile will continue to provide customers with omnichannel services and customized products.

 

(liuchang61@jd.com)