JD’s “LINE FRIENDS DAY” Highlights its Omnichannel Marketing Capabilities

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

Chinese fans of the wildly popular LINE FRIENDS characters will be flocking to JD.com to get their fill of the popular character-themed merchandise. To celebrate the promotion, the e-commerce giant has also released a new micro movie with its own mascot Joy joining in with the LINE FRIENDS characters.

LINE FRIENDS, a series of animated characters, originated as stickers on the messaging app LINE. The resulting character brand has amassed a global fanbase, especially in China, where consumers can frequently be found sporting LINE FRIENDS-themed merchandise or playing LINE FRIENDS-themed games.

JD has designated August 10 as the inaugural “LINE FRIENDS DAY”. On the day, the JD.com homepage will temporarily be LINE FRIENDS-themed. In addition, discounts will be offered for a range of LINE FRIENDS merchandise, including LINE FRIENDS-branded products from some of JD’s brand partners. JD has also collaborated with LINE FRIENDS to design a series of limited edition travel cups that will exclusively be available for purchase on JD.

An acknowledgement of the widespread popularity of the brand in China, JD is also bringing its LINE FRIENDS celebration offline in Beijing, home of JD.com’s headquarters. In the city’s popular Sanlitun district, fans of the brand will have an opportunity to visit a pop-up store, where they can either make purchases in-store to take home immediately or place orders directly on JD.com, and benefit from JD’s rapid delivery logistics. In addition, hundreds of JD’s red delivery trucks and employee shuttle buses will bear an eye-catching LINE FRIENDS-branded design.

“We are sure that our first annual LINE FRIENDS DAY will be warmly welcomed from fans across JD’s huge user base”, said Jipeng Men, head of marketing at JD.com. “This event demonstrates how we combine our online and offline marketing capabilities to help brands tap into their fanbase and reach more consumers. Coupled with the universal appeal of the LINE FRIENDS characters, we are sure this partnership will be a huge success.”

Special promotions like LINE FRIENDS DAY are another way JD.com is helping brands boost sales to its over 300 million customer base. Last November, JD held a special promotion around the release of the highly anticipated Justice League film’s release in China. The event included a promotion on JD.com and a cameo in a Justice League-themed micro movie by JD’s Joy mascot.

JD Announces AI Accelerator Program to Bring New Intelligent Technology Solutions to Market

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

JD.com, China’s largest retailer, is launching a global AI Accelerator program to spur the development and greater use of advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

The new accelerator will actively seek out AI startups and early stage companies, offering training and mentoring in research and development, production, management, financing, legal, marketing, and other areas. The company will also offer additional resources including, technical support, guidance and, in some cases, funding.

JD AI Accelerator launches with an initial roster of 16 companies based in China, the UK and the US, that have the potential to transform business processes and drive improvements not only for e-commerce, but for other industries as well. More are expected to join in the months ahead.

JD will provide a wide range of technical support to the companies in the accelerator, including APIs, algorithms and databases, to facilitate technology improvements. Access to JD.com’s rich application scenarios from several facets of its business, such as retail and logistics, will enable startups to considerably grow in scale. Four months into the program, JD AI Accelerator will hold a Demo Day, where it will invite top venture capitalists to help startups access their next rounds of financing. JD.com may also opt to invest in startups whose businesses are highly relevant to JD’s own.

“Technology underpins every aspect of our business,” said Bowen Zhou, Head of JD AI Platform & Research and Vice President of JD.com. “We are always looking for new technologies that can be used to intelligently automate our processes and shape the future of global commerce.”

Among the startup companies initially joining JD’s AI accelerator are Silicon Valley-based Leap.ai, which makes job-matching tools; London-based MediaGamma, which uses machine learning and data science to understand digital user behavior for better marketing; and Beijing-based FaGouGou, which offers AI-based legal consultancy services. Other participants are developing ways to use AI in areas such as retail, finance, medical and education.

“We are excited to have a chance to work with a company like JD, which is putting the world’s most advanced technologies to use in real world scenarios,” said Alex Liu, CEO of FaGouGou. “Having the support of an AI powerhouse like JD is going to make it possible for us to take our innovations to the next level.”

To apply to join JD AI Accelerator, please contact: jdai.investment@jd.com

JD’s Unmanned Store Goes International

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

JD.com has just introduced its unmanned store technology overseas for the first time. Importantly, the JD.ID X-Mart, newly opened in Jakarta, is the first of its kind in Indonesia. The AI-powered experience store offers an unprecedented level of convenience for customers in the country – they can simply pick up whatever they want and walk straight out of the store without getting slowed down by lines or payments.

Located in the popular PIK Avenue shopping mall, the 270-square meter state-of-the-art retail space is the largest store to leverage JD’s unmanned store technology to date. The JD.ID X-Mart in Jakarta offers an expanded product selection, including fashion and apparel, as well as FMCG and beauty products. This means that customers can even try on a pair of jeans in the fitting room and walk out of the store wearing them without having to visit a single checkout counter.

Since launching its first unmanned convenience store in its Beijing headquarters in October 2017, JD’s unmanned store technology has become increasingly sophisticated, expanding the range of goods that can be purchased. The unmanned stores leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as RFID, facial recognition, and image recognition, to track retail activity. Cameras placed throughout the space recognize customers’ movement and generate heat maps of the activity to monitor traffic flow, product selection and customer preferences to help optimize inventory, product displays and all facets of store management. JD’s recently upgraded unmanned store in its headquarters is now using advanced computer vision technology to track a range of shopping behaviors.

In the last year, JD has made a significant push in developing offline store technology as part of its boundaryless retail vision – the idea that consumers should be able to buy whatever they want, wherever and whenever they want it – online or offline. JD now operates over 20 unmanned stores across China. During its June 18 anniversary sales period this year, transaction volume for JD’s unmanned stores increased nearly 600% compared with the daily average.

The opening of the new store in Jakarta is key to JD’s Retail as a Service strategy – it is the first time that JD is empowering overseas markets with its unmanned store technology. It also marks a new milestone for JD’s growth in Indonesia after launching its online shopping platform in the country in March 2016. Now, the e-commerce platform is selling more than 350,000 SKUs and serving 20 million consumers nationwide. It is supported by nine warehouses across seven islands of the archipelago covering 483 cities and 6,500 counties. With the plan to build more warehouses, JD is expecting 85% of orders to be delivered the same or next day.

Karen Murrell-JD.com Partnership Brings New Zealand Glamor to China

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

Chinese consumers shopping on JD Worldwide can now enjoy top-quality lipstick made with natural ingredients thanks to a new partnership announced this week between China’s largest retailer, JD.com, and New Zealand’s top selling lipstick brand, Karen Murrell.

Karen Murrell promises its customers organic, environmentally-friendly cosmetics with a premium user experience. The company guarantees its products are never tested on animals, and are made using only the finest natural ingredients, including avocado oil, evening primrose oil, candelilla, carnauba wax, cinnamon, and sweet orange. The brand’s use of natural ingredients provides lips with moisturization and nourishment with every application, unlike other lipsticks brands, which can cause drying and discoloration after long-term use.

JD will leverage its capabilities to help Karen Murrell further its development in the Chinese market, which has long been the focus of the company’s overseas expansion strategy. The partnership will include several SKUs available via direct sales and the opening an online flagship store, both on the company’s cross-border e-commerce platform, JD Worldwide.

JD.com, and New Zealand’s top selling lipstick brand, Karen Murrell.

The flagship store will allow Karen Murrell to increase its brand awareness and introduce new products to the Chinese market, while its main line of lipstick products will enjoy the full force of JD’s capabilities in logistics and market reach. The two companies will work together on marketing and advertising, while ensuring that inventory is adjusted to meet the rapidly rising demand among Chinese consumers for Karen Murrell’s uniquely sustainable cosmetic goods.

Lipstick sales in China almost doubled last year, outstripping growth in other categories of the fast-growing cosmetics industry, including eye and facial makeup. Sales of lipstick on JD’s online platform have also surged, growing 187% year-on-year during the company’s recent June 18 annual sales anniversary period.

“We are delighted to welcome Karen Murrell to JD Worldwide’s growing selection of top brand international cosmetic goods,” said Ye Yang, General Manager of JD Worldwide. “Karen Murrell’s natural lipstick is free from coal tar, carmine, mineral oils, triclosan, and parabens, ensuring that the JD brand remains a guarantee of both safety and quality in the eyes of our users. With growing concern among Chinese consumers about the environmental impact of their purchases, Karen Murrell’s proven commitment to sustainability makes them a perfect partner for us to meet this rising demand for green products.”

“The Chinese market is a top priority for us right now,” said Karen Murrell, CEO of Karen Murrell Enterprises. “JD’s capabilities, from marketing to logistics, give us a huge advantage in reaching Chinese consumers with our products. With sustainability and natural sourcing at the heart of our brand, we’re thrilled to partner with a company who shares our commitment.”

JD has been actively introducing more sustainable products on its platform to reflect the increasingly discerning preferences of Chinese consumers. In 2017, the total volume of green products available on JD increased by more than half (54.5%). The total volume of green purchases made on JD increased by 71%, contributing to 15.1% of total sales on the platform during the same period.

Balenciaga Partners with JD.com’s TOPLIFE

Posted on by Ling Cao

Balenciaga today announced that it has joined JD.com’s luxury platform, TOPLIFE. Through this partnership, the Balenciaga Collections will be available on TOPLIFE, complete with 24/7 customer service and support of a wide range of local payment methods.Balenciaga today announced that it has joined JD.com’s luxury platform, TOPLIFE.

TOPLIFE will provide Chinese customers access to all forms of Balenciaga’s creative expression, including campaigns and the brand’s latest social activation. Customers who purchase Balenciaga creations through TOPLIFE will also be treated to JD’s exclusive white glove delivery service, JD Luxury Express.

Cédric Charbit, Balenciaga CEO said in a statement, “This partnership is an important step for Balenciaga’s omni-channel strategy in China.”

Xia Ding, JD President of International Fashion and Head of TOPLIFE said, “Bringing Balenciaga to TOPLIFE helps further cement our position as the go-to platform for luxury shopping in China.”

JD.com Turns to High-Speed Rail for Delivery of Exotic Mushrooms

Posted on by Ling Cao

China’s largest retailer JD.com has launched a new initiative which combines the forces of China’s high-speed rail network and JD’s sophisticated cold chain technology to deliver matsutake mushrooms, a prized ingredient from Yunnan, to its customers.

JD’s use of high speed rail provides many advantages when it comes to minimizing travel time between the source of the food’s production and the customer’s door

The provision of fresh food to consumers is naturally a task which is highly time sensitive, and JD’s use of high speed rail provides many advantages when it comes to minimizing travel time between the source of the food’s production and the customer’s door. China is home to one of the most advanced high-speed rail networks in the world, with over 20,000km in high-speed rail lines designed for speeds of 250-350km/h – more than the rest of the world combined. The high-speed rail delivery service, which JD already uses for delivery of some high value and time-urgent products, like luxury products, will link up with the uber-efficient JD Logistics network and be taken from a special area within high-speed rail stations in major Chinese cities, directly to the customer.

The innovative new delivery service will begin in July, delivering matsutake mushrooms native to China’s southwestern Yunnan province to cities across China. Matsutake (also called ‘pine mushrooms’ or ‘songrong’ in Chinese) are a rare and expensive ingredient used in many east Asian cuisines and in Chinese traditional medicine. JD will supply matsutake to individuals as well as businesses, part of the company’s growing Retail as a Service, or RaaS business. The company will deliver matsutake to the high-end restaurants nationwide as it expands beyond the consumer retail business. JD is increasingly offering its technology and infrastructure to partners and shippers beyond its own platform, as part of its Retail as a Service (RaaS) strategy.

The mushrooms will be loaded into a special stocking area on the high-speed train in Kunming, Yunnan and delivered by rail to one of six Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing and Chengdu. Thanks to the advantages offered by high-speed rail, JD will be able to guarantee delivery within 48 hours of placing an order. It is also environmentally friendly, fitting in with JD’s broader push to make commerce more environmentally sustainable.

“Consumers see JD.com as the optimum method of purchasing their fresh produce,” said Hui Wang, vice president of JD.com, head of the delivery department at JD Logistics. “This innovative combination of China’s ultra-efficient high-speed rail network and JD’s cold chain technology means we can now transport fresh food from wherever it is produced to the homes of consumers in record time, while retaining the food’s all-important freshness.”

The high-speed rail fresh food delivery service forms a new part of JD’s cold chain logistics network –the largest e-commerce home delivery service in China and the only one in the world that is operated in-house by a large-scale e-commerce company, down to the last mile. JD also built the first highly automated cold chain sorting center in Beijing this year, which can sort up to 108,000 orders per day.

Chinese consumers are increasingly turning to e-commerce for their fresh food needs. In 2017, the amount of fresh produce bought online was worth 140 billion RMB, an increase of 59% YOY on the previous year. To keep up with this demand, the number fresh goods available on the JD platform increased by 300% and the company’s specialized fresh food delivery service now covers over 300 cities across China.

JD Invests in Secoo

Posted on by Ella Kidron

JD.com continues to expand its presence in the fashion and luxury market with an investment in Nasdaq-listed Secoo, a major player in Asia’s online luxury market.

JD has made a big push into luxury, launching TOPLIFE, its independent luxury e-flagship platform, last fall. The company continues to add brands to the platform at a steady clip, and explore other ways to increase its traction among China’s growing luxury consumer base. JD has grown its reach into different segments of the apparel market through its own JD Fashion offer, partnerships with Vipshop, Mogu Street and Meili, and into the luxury market with the launch of TOPLIFE, and investments in Farfetch and Secoo.

Read more about the latest investment here.

New Hydrogen-Powered JD.com Delivery Trucks Emit Only Purified Water

Posted on by Ling Cao

Coinciding with JD.com’s 6.18 anniversary sale, which reached a record $24.7 billion in transactions, China’s largest retailer has introduced a fleet of hydrogen energy delivery trucks to greater Shanghai.

Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells are often cited as an excellent alternative to traditional vehicles run on carbon-based fuel, but the new technology requires commitment and experience to utilize effectively. JD has put dozens of new delivery trucks to use with hydrogen tanks that take only three minutes to refill. They can travel for 300km per tank while carrying up to 3.5 tons of cargo, and the only emission put out by the new vehicles, which are also known to be extremely safe, is purified water.

The new fleet is the first sizeable commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered vehicles for logistics in China, and the latest expansion of JD’s ongoing effort to make the ‘last mile’ of the distribution process carbon-free. In early June, the company rolled out a fleet of 50 solar-powered delivery vehicles in Beijing.

JD.com evaluates all sustainability initiatives by their impact on the environment as well as their efficiency and operational sustainability. Upgraded models of its solar vehicles, for example, feature solar panels on the roofs of tricycles, and can travel 50% further on one charge than previous models. A fully-charged tricycle can now run 45 km, with increased battery life, allowing drivers to make more deliveries.

“The strength of JD sustainable initiatives shows that a green approach to logistics is beneficial for the environment, and much more. By investing in these technologies and encouraging partners to do the same, JD hopes to promote green logistics across industries,” said Hui Wang, vice president of JD.com, head of the delivery department at JD Logistics. “These first forays into the world of renewable energy are the beginning of what will be a complete overhaul of the way we deliver goods to JD’s customers across the country on a daily basis. It’s a very exciting time.”

JD has already established fleets of renewably-powered vehicles in major cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, and an incentive system will encourage JD’s third-party logistics partners to switch hundreds of thousands of their delivery vehicles to renewable sources as well.

The company also has many more initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the entire supply chain, part of JD’s “Green Stream Initiative.” Programs include the use of sustainable greener packaging within warehouses, through partnerships with brands such as Lego, Nestle, Unilever, P&G, and Wyeth, with a goal of reducing the number of boxes used throughout the supply chain by 10 billion by 2020. The company also aims for 80% of packaging materials to be recyclable, over 50% of plastic packages to be replaced by biodegradable material and 100% of logistics packaging to be composed of recyclable or reusable materials.

Meanwhile, JD’s Asia No.1 warehouse in Shanghai has a fully functional solar powered system installed on the roof of the facility, an initiative JD plans to expand to its other warehouses across the country. By 2030, JD predicts it will operate the world’s largest solar powered infrastructure system, with a projected total area of 200 million square meters of solar panels.

Read more about JD’s sustainable consumption initiatives in the Trends in Green Consumption Development report.