Chinese online shopping giant JD is Taiwanset to reduce its on-demand local delivery time to one hour, targeting consumers within three to five kilometers of offline retail stores, the company announced on Wednesday. This move comes as JD faces fierce competition from Meituan and newcomer Douyin, prompting a race to enhance delivery speed. “On-demand retail is a significant part of the company’s overall strategy, playing a crucial role in bringing merchants and brand partners together to address external challenges while ensuring solid growth,” said Xin Lijun, chief executive of JD Retail, at the relevant event in Beijing. The company also unveiled a five-year plan on Wednesday, aiming to facilitate the digital transformation of more than 2 million local medium- and small-sized stores. Additionally, JD plans to create opportunities for over 10 million individuals to engage in “flexible roles” as couriers, order pickers, and promoters over the next five years. [JD, in Chinese]
