New York Luxury Fashion Comes to JD.com with Launch of DKNY Official Flagship Store

Posted on by Hui Zhang

Iconic New York-based fashion brand DKNY is expanding its presence in China with an official flagship store on JD.com, China’s largest retailer. Launched January 16, the partnership makes DKNY’s classic and cool New York-inspired looks accessible to more than 300 million Chinese consumers.

As a leader in technology-based e-commerce solutions, from marketing to logistics, JD.com’s big data analysis, smart logistics, and supply chain management will strengthen DKNY’s online sales in China. The partnership also opens the door for JD.com and DKNY to explore boundaryless retail solutions, enabling both parties to provide a more seamless and integrated shopping experience, no matter whether consumers choose to shop online or offline.

“This partnership puts DKNY in the spotlight, leading the future of the fashion industry,” said Steve Shen, CEO of DKNY Greater China. “Working with JD on cross-channel marketing will help us exceed consumers’ expectations and enable us to combine the best of the online and offline retail experience. JD is the right destination for us to make the latest clothing and handbag trends from New York readily accessible in the Chinese market.”

“Shoppers today expect more access to global luxury brands, especially online,” said Kevin Jiang, vice president of JD.com. “Our partnership with DKNY fits well with our strategy to give JD customers access to premium brands while having a top-notch shopping experience. By combining JD’s logistics and e-commerce expertise with DKNY’s iconic fashion offerings, we are helping the brand continue to make a lasting impact on China’s luxury fashion consumers.”

DKNY was launched in 1989 when fashion designer Donna Karen was inspired by her teenage daughter’s fashion demands. Since then, DKNY has been synonymous with New York, interpreting the city’s different cultures and unique styles into fashion. DKNY is one of several luxury brands to launch on JD.com in the last several months.

With Tech, Brick-and-Mortar Retail is Here to Stay

Posted on by Rachel Liu

Smart consumption, smart supply chain, and smart logistics are transforming the consumer experience. Brick-and-mortar retailers are in the know about what exactly is happening in their stores. Not only that, but their knowledge about a range of things, from customer behavior to traffic flow, enables them to continuously optimize the customer experience. These techniques provide huge opportunities for brick-and-mortar retailers.

The aforementioned reality is in stark contrast to what most people believe about traditional retail, namely that it is slowly dwindling down and being replaced by online retailers. However, even though e-commerce penetration has grown rapidly in the last few years – it currently accounts for roughly 8.5% of retail in the U.S. and 15% in China – the future is still bright for offline stores.

JD is China’s largest retailer with an existence that spans across more than a decade. During that time, the company has established collaborations with several offline partners, and it has built a nationwide logistics network capable of covering 99 percent of China’s population. It also can deliver approximately 90 percent of its orders in the same day or day after they’re ordered. Now, JD is making its technology, as well as other capabilities, available to other retailers as a service and, as such, vastly contributes to making this optimized brick-and-mortar business experience a reality.

This points to one important shift in perspective about technology and retail. The former is no longer a support for retail but a vital instrument for retailers to stay ahead in the market. Let’s look at the contributions of smart consumption, smart supply chain, and smart logistics in a bit more detail.

Smart consumption, with a goal to enhance customer retention and loyalty, is fusing the concepts of online and offline for both retailers and customers. Virtual or augmented reality, for example, enables the consumer to virtually try on items and forego the fitting room. Along those lines, items can be virtually placed into a home to test for fit. Customers also have the ability to purchase items from their cars, thanks to IoT.

At the same time, smart supply is enabling retailers to markedly enhance operational efficiency. It’s driven by AI and big data that provide retailers with information such as customers’ preferences, how many of each individual item they’ll want to buy, and over which time period. Essentially, smart supply removes much of the guesswork that traditionally went into optimizing brick-and-mortar retailers. Now, armed with precise information about sales, pricing, and inventory, brands can improve their time to market, inventory control, and product design, and retailers can make smarter decisions about their offerings.

And yet, none of these developments matter unless they are combined with an ability to provide products to customers as quickly and cost effectively as possible. In other words, smart logistics are the last piece of the puzzle that make it all complete. This encompasses a range of things from smart warehousing, which ensures that products get moved out and on their way to the customer as fast as possible, to autonomous delivery vehicles, which make urban delivery more efficient by effectively avoiding traffic and following scheduled routes.

Overall, one thing is certain: If you are a business that wants to stay ahead in the market and outperform the competition, you must be prepared to embrace innovative technology with open arms.

Chen Zhang is Chief Technology Officer of JD.com. A version of this article appeared on TechCrunch.com: https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/09/its-the-golden-age-of-traditional-retail-not-its-end-days/. 

JD.com Teams up with Paramount and Hasbro for New TRANSFORMERS Movie BUMBLEBEE

Posted on by Rachel Liu

JD.com, China’s largest retailer, has joined forces with Paramount Pictures and global play and entertainment company Hasbro to celebrate the Chinese release of the new TRANSFORMERS movie BUMBLEBEE.

On the run in the year 1987, BUMBLEBEE finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers BUMBLEBEE, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

JD first partnered with Hasbro and the TRANSFORMERS franchise in 2017, releasing a MISSION RED mini short that showed Optimus Prime and Red Knight – a special JD exclusive TRANSFORMERS character – fighting to protect the energon fuel source. This year’s celebration will be accompanied by a series of three mini shorts featuring Panasonic and Chinese menswear brand HLA in which Red Knight protects energon.

JD and Hasbro are also bringing Red Knight to life by creating an action figure of this TRANSFORMERS bot. Released on Dec 29, 2018, the exclusive action figure is only available on JD.

JD also launched a “Super BUMBLEBEE Day” sales promotion to coincide with the Jan 4 premiere of the film in China.

JD also launched a “Super BUMBLEBEE Day” sales promotion to coincide with the Jan 4 premiere of the film in China. During the promotion, JD’s more than 300 million customers were able to purchase BUMBLEBEE movie-themed merchandise from Hasbro, Panasonic, HLA, and more. JD has outfitted multiple delivery vans and delivery boxes across China with BUMBLEBEE-themed designs.

JD Delivery Stations Get Smart ahead of CES Debut

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

With just a few days until China’s largest retailer makes its debut at the world’s largest consumer electronics show, JD has launched two smart delivery stations in the cities of Changsha and Hohhot, strengthening the e-commerce giant’s autonomous logistics capabilities.

The stations are carrying out R&D, testing and personnel training to solve issues related to last mile delivery. JD’s delivery robots can be loaded with up to 30 parcels before autonomously delivering them within a 5-kilometer radius. The vehicles can plan routes, avoid obstacles and recognize traffic lights. Facial recognition technology enables users to easily and securely collect their parcels. Running at full capacity, the delivery stations, operating with a half-half split between robots and couriers, can deliver up to 2,000 packages a day.

 

The opening of the smart delivery stations comes days before JD attends its first Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada – the world’s largest event for the latest technology, innovation and creative thinking.

As a global pioneer in developing advanced technology for e-commerce, JD will showcase the cutting edge technology that is already transforming the way consumers shop in China, and which will revolutionize global commerce. Visitors will be able to see how JD uses its drones to deliver consumer goods and medical supplies to remote areas in China, and catch a glimpse of the world’s first fully-automated fulfillment center. They will also see how underground urban logistics will make shopping more convenient than ever, and fundamentally alter how cities work.

This year, CES attendees will be able to see JD’s futuristic technology up close and even try some of it for themselves at the company’s interactive booth.

Aside from drones and delivery robots, visitors will be able to experience drone flights in virtual reality, as well as JD’s augmented reality fitting and styling software. They will also see how JD is developing Internet of Things technology that enables consumers to remotely control the smart devices in their homes, even from their cars.

JD will also give people the chance to try a special exoskeleton worn by staff in JD warehouses that makes lifting heavy objects easier.

Many of JD’s innovations are designed to realize the company’s Boundaryless Retail vision, in which consumers can buy whatever they want, wherever and whenever they want it.

“As China’s largest retailer, JD is in the unique position of being able to research and develop, and commercially deploy, innovative new technology that is shaping the future of shopping worldwide,” said Chen Zhang, JD.com’s Chief Technology Officer.

“As JD opens its technology up to other companies and industries, the features that we’ve already rolled out in China from automated warehouses to virtual shopping are going to be enjoyed by consumers everywhere,” Zhang said, referring to the company’s Retail as a Service, or RaaS strategy.

JD started in 1998 as an offline electronics retailer, launching its online business following the SARS outbreak in 2004. At that time, China didn’t have well-developed logistics infrastructure, so JD made the bold decision to develop its own nationwide, in-house logistics network. Today, that network can deliver over 90% of orders same- or next-day, and covers 99% of China’s population.

With more than 300 million active users, JD is China’s largest retailer, online or offline, and is the world’s third largest internet company by revenue. It counts Tencent, Walmart and Google among its strategic partners in revolutionizing global commerce.

Delivering the Future of Shopping – JD.com at CES 2019

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

E-commerce giant JD.com is participating in CES for the very first time. JD’s booth, #30329, “Delivering the Future of Shopping”, showcases not only the innovations that enable China’s largest retailer to deliver to customers at staggering speeds all across China via its nationwide logistics network, but also features the latest retail technology, which JD is using to empower other partners, online or offline.

The future of retail is “Boundaryless Retail” – the idea of enabling consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it, online, offline, or even virtually.

All of this is enabled by the most advanced retail technology in the world, from a drone delivery network for rural shipments to unmanned delivery vehicles in dense urban areas. Behind the scenes, AI and robotics make JD’s supply chain modern and powerful. When combined, and shared with other retailers and partners all over the world, JD’s technology makes up the infrastructure for the future of shopping.

Come and visit us in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall 3, Booth #30329. All of JD’s updates from CES can be found on this page. If you have any questions or would like to get in contact with us, please email press@jd.com.

cof

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Jan 6, 2019: JD Delivery Stations Get Smart ahead of CES Debut

With just a few days until China’s largest retailer makes its debut at the world’s largest consumer electronics show, JD has launched two smart delivery stations in the cities of Changsha and Hohhot, strengthening the e-commerce giant’s autonomous logistics capabilities.

The stations are carrying out R&D, testing and personnel training to solve issues related to last mile delivery. JD’s delivery robots can be loaded with up to 30 parcels before autonomously delivering them within a 5-kilometer radius. The vehicles can plan routes, avoid obstacles and recognize traffic lights. Facial recognition technology enables users to easily and securely collect their parcels. Running at full capacity, the delivery stations, operating with a half-half split between robots and couriers, can deliver up to 2,000 packages a day…[Read more]

Nov 8, 2018: JD.com Delivers the Future of Shopping to CES Unveiled New York

E-commerce giant JD.com today kicked off its participation in the run up to the 2019 International Consumer Electronics Show with a sample of the advanced technology the company is using to change the way people shop in China.

JD, China’s largest retailer, is a global pioneer in the use of advanced technology for e-commerce. The company uses drones to deliver consumer goods and needed medical supplies to remote areas of China, operates the world’s very first fully autonomous e-commerce warehouse, and is researching future underground urban logistics that will fundamentally alter the way consumers buy, order and receive everything from diapers to fresh food and luxury fashion…[Download the full release]

 

REMARKS FROM JD TECH LEADERS:

 
 

FACTSHEETS & LEAFLET:

JD.com factsheet CES booklet

JD.com CES leaflet

 

VIDEOS:

JD Changsha Smart Delivery Station

Smart Logistics Charting the Future of Retail

JD Drones Deliver Aid to Village in the Mountains

JD.com’s Fully Automated Warehouse in Shanghai

JD.com’s Vision for Futuristic Automation Technology for Urban Logistics in Smart Cities

 

FOLLOW US ON:

Twitter: @JD_Corporate
Instagram: @JD_Corporate
Facebook: @jd.cominc
LinkedIn: JD.com

 

 

JD Offline Experience Stores Put High-tech Retail on the Schedule for Travelers

Posted on by Hui Zhang

JD.com has opened two new innovative stores at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) and Hohhot East Railway Station in Inner Mongolia, further expanding China’s largest retailer’s Boundaryless Retail strategy, which is enabling consumers to buy what they want, whenever and wherever they want.

The stores leverage JD’s latest retail technology in order to make it easier and more enjoyable for travelers to make purchases on the go. JD has expanded its retail offering to convenience stores, supermarkets, partnerships with hotels, and now airports and railway stations.

Located in the departure lounge of Terminal 3 at BCIA for the next three months, the pop-up store will offer popular travel items including daily necessities, clothing, mobile accessories, beauty products, and bags and suitcases. The store utilizes JD’s smart store technology to understand how customers interact with products as well as which products to offer them. The integrated JD Zu Chongzhi platform can analyze customer behavior and traffic flow, such as generating heat maps, in order to assist with product selection and inventory management, ensuring smooth store operations.

JD.com has opened two new innovative stores at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA)

“Beijing Capital International Airport is delighted to be hosting one of JD’s pop-up stores,” said a spokesperson from BCIA.

“Outfitted with items popular among travelers, the new shop will not only offer the products they want to buy most on their journeys – it will also allow them to personally experience what shopping of the future will be like, brought to them by China’s largest and most innovative retailer.”

China Railway Express and JD have cooperated at Hohhot East Railway Station to open a 100-square-meter unmanned convenience store. It also exploits JD’s technological capabilities, with features such as facial recognition payment, and smart vending machines, which automatically process payments once customers select their products and close the door of the machines. Later, the store will use a Mini Program in WeChat so that customers can choose to buy on the spot and take their purchases with them or shop online and have them delivered to a convenient location, in line with JD’s Boundaryless Retail vision – empowering consumers to be able to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it.

China Railway Express and JD have cooperated at Hohhot East Railway Station to open a 100-square-meter unmanned convenience store.

JD Logistics and China Railway Express have cooperated in logistics transportation since 2014 and have worked together to help facilitate the JD Luxury Express “white glove” delivery service as well as fresh food delivery via high-speed rail.

Bing Zhang, general manager of JD Social E-commerce and Retail Innovation, said he was thrilled the company’s cutting-edge store technologies are being rolled out in the travel market.

“Many of our customers enjoy shopping while traveling and we’re determined to make sure they benefit from the convenience of JD wherever they are.”

“The new stores in Beijing and Inner Mongolia will provide them with a truly seamless experience that is unrivaled anywhere,” he added.

JD.com Partners with Brands to Raise Money for Left-behind Children

Posted on by Hui Zhang

JD.com, China’s largest retailer, has partnered with top brands on its e-commerce platform to raise money for China’s millions of left-behind and disadvantaged children.

Working with Wardrobe of Love, a charitable foundation, JD launched a “Season of Giving” event ahead of the New Year, from Dec 20 to 25, in which the company partnered with consumer brands to donate a portion of their sales to deliver clothing, books, school bags and other much needed items to children living in remote areas with harsh environments.

JD launched a “Season of Giving” event ahead of the New Year

As China has undergone a period of rapid urbanization, many parents have been forced to move away from their rural hometowns to find employment in cities, leaving their children behind, often to be raised by their grandparents. While the numbers of left-behind children have declined in recent years, there are still almost 7 million left-behind children in China, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Together with its charity affiliate, JD Foundation, JD worked with some 1,500 brands such as Mentholatum and Zippo, to donate 0.1% from every sale to children living in remote and extremely cold areas. In addition to the donations, approximately 30,000 items have been delivered to schools in remote areas of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Hebei provinces.

The donations were enabled by Aixin Dongdong, a JD-powered technological function that conveniently facilitates micro-donations. Brands that use the function are able to allocate a select amount of their sales revenue toward the NGO they aim to support. Since August, 12 million products have signed up to enable Aixin Dongdong, raising more than RMB 5 million ($725,172.11). The function is expected to raise RMB 20 million within its first year.

“We are delighted to have worked together with JD.com on such a heartwarming and innovative project,” said Ying Qiao, general secretary of Wardrobe of Love Foundation.

“Wardrobe of Love is committed to warming the hearts of children from remote and extremely cold areas, so as to raise public awareness to their issues. By partnering with China’s largest retailer, we’ve been able to raise money from global brands and bring even more care and love to kids across China just before the New Year.”

Libo Ma, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at JD.com, said: “From day one, JD has felt it is crucial for us leverage our technology and resources to give back to the needed communities. We will continue to fulfill this commitment and to empower all of our partners to do so as well.”

Devoted to changing young people’s lives for the better, JD is focused on creating the brightest future possible for up-and-coming generations. JD Foundation has also donated over RMB 500 million toward scholarships to Tsinghua University and Renmin University over the past two years, providing students from low-income backgrounds with the opportunity to study at some of China’s most prestigious higher education institutions.

JD.com’s JOY Celebrates in the Holidays with Hello Kitty

Posted on by Rachel Liu

JD.com is teaming up with Sanrio to bring the beloved and popular character Hello Kitty to over 300 million consumers in China for the holidays.

Beginning December 22, China’s largest retailer will launch a special sales promotion for Hello Kitty-themed merchandise from a wide range of brands on JD.com, in categories including electronics, FMCG, food, and more. JD will also release limited edition gift boxes featuring JOY and Hello Kitty dressed in holiday-themed clothing available for purchase on the e-commerce giant’s platform.

In the spirit of Boundaryless Retail – the idea of enabling consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it – JD is bringing the celebration offline with an interactive photobooth in Beijing’s popular Wangfujing APM shopping mall. Customers in the mall can take photos of themselves with JOY and Hello Kitty. In addition, they can scan a QR code on display next to the photobooth to be directed to JD’s online promotion.

“We are delighted to be able to leverage our platform’s extensive offerings to bring Hello Kitty closer to over 300 million consumers across China this holiday season,” said Jipeng Men, Head of Marketing at JD.com.

“As we advance our Boundaryless Retail vision, we look forward to bringing other beloved characters to our customers, providing a truly interactive and engaging shopping experience, no matter where they choose to shop.”

JD’s Hello Kitty holiday promotion is the latest in a series of promotions JD has launched featuring popular characters from movies, apps, and more. Earlier this year, the company launched a similar partnership with LINE FRIENDS.  JD also joined forces with Warner Bros.’ Justice League, late last year, to mark the film’s launch in China. As China’s largest retailer, JD is well-positioned to provide an integrated strategy for brands to reach consumers across a range of different channels.

This time, to mark the promotion, JD has released the following video of JOY and Hello Kitty wishing everyone a happy holiday: