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Driverless Delivery Boosts Logistics Sector in China
Chinese technology companies are embracing driverless delivery vehicles and drones to enhance logistics and delivery operations. JD, Meituan, and SF Holding are among the key players in this space, utilizing innovative technology to reduce delivery time and costs.Dada Group's autonomous delivery open system has been adopted by major supermarket chains, allowing for efficient on-demand delivery services.
Chinese technology companies are making significant strides in adopting drones and driverless delivery vehicles to enhance logistics and delivery operations. This move is part of a broader effort to improve logistics efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the user experience in the highly competitive marketplace.
Industry experts have highlighted the advantages of unmanned deliveries, including lower costs, increased carrying capacity, and improved safety records. These innovations also provide a viable solution to address challenges such as rising labor costs and a shortage of couriers.
One of the key players in this space is JD, the Chinese e-commerce giant. JD has been actively investing in delivery drones and intelligent logistics solutions, particularly for last-mile deliveries. By utilizing innovative drone technology, JD has been able to reach consumers in remote areas of China, significantly reducing delivery time and logistics costs.
Meituan, an online service platform, has also made significant progress in drone usage.
Their drone delivery services have been successfully implemented in office areas, commercial districts, scenic spots, and residential communities in Shenzhen and Shanghai. Meituan has recently partnered with 7-Eleven convenience stores in Guangdong to provide drone delivery services, allowing customers to receive their orders in as little as four minutes.
SF Holding, a courier and logistics company, has introduced various types of drones for delivery services, with a maximum payload of 25 kilograms and a flying distance of 100 kilometers. However, experts believe that the application of drones for delivery services is still in its early stages and primarily used in remote mountainous terrains and sparsely populated areas.
Dada Group, a Chinese on-demand delivery and retail platform, has expanded its unmanned delivery network in collaboration with JD Logistics and White Rhino, an autonomous delivery vehicle developer. Their autonomous delivery open system has been adopted by major supermarket chains, including Seven Fresh, Yonghui Supermarket, and Walmart's Sam's Club.
The adoption of autonomous delivery vehicles not only satisfies the growing demand for instant deliveries but also allows couriers to allocate their time more efficiently. By freeing them from parcel delivery, couriers can focus on customer service and vehicle maintenance.
Alibaba Group's research institute, Damo Academy, has introduced Xiaomanlv unmanned delivery vehicles to address last-mile delivery challenges. These vehicles have L4 self-driving capability, enabling them to calculate optimal routes and avoid obstacles during parcel delivery.
While Chinese tech giants have heavily invested in the intelligent logistics sector, including driverless vehicles, drones, and robots, experts believe that it will take time for unmanned delivery services to become widely commercialized.
Chinese technology companies are embracing driverless delivery vehicles and drones to enhance logistics and delivery operations.
JD, Meituan, and SF Holding are among the key players in this space, utilizing innovative technology to reduce delivery time and costs.
Dada Group's autonomous delivery open system has been adopted by major supermarket chains, allowing for efficient on-demand delivery services.
Source: CHINA DAILY