Chinese online shopping giant JD.com launches four-hour delivery in Hong Kong in battle against Alibaba’s Cainiao

JD. com, a prominent Chinese e-commerce platform, has announced the introduction of a four-hour express delivery service in Hong Kong. This move is seen as a strategic step to compete against its major rival, Cainiao, which is affiliated with Alibaba Group Holding. In addition to the express delivery, JD. com will also offer free door-to-door delivery in Hong Kong and Macau, with extended evening delivery hours in Hong Kong until 10pm. For customers in Macau, they can expect to receive their parcels as early as the next morning after placing an order. Wei Ma, the general manager of JD Logistics’ express business in Hong Kong, expressed pride in bringing their quality service to these regions for the first time. This announcement comes as competition among China’s e-commerce giants intensifies ahead of the annual Singles’ Day online shopping festival. Both Alibaba and JD. com are striving to enhance consumer experiences by offering competitive prices and reducing delivery time, among other service upgrades. JD. com’s latest initiative also includes the launch of express delivery between Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, which is expected to bolster the company’s operational capacity in the Greater Bay Area. This follows Cainiao’s announcement of a similar plan to enhance its logistics network in Hong Kong. Cainiao, which is one of six Alibaba businesses to be spun off in a restructuring announced in March, is pursuing a US$1 billion initial public offering. In July, Cainiao announced the launch of next-day delivery from mainland warehouses to shoppers in Hong Kong, promising a 60 yuan (US$8. 3) compensation for each order that takes more than 48 hours to arrive. This is part of Cainiao’s strategy to accelerate localisation in the city, which serves as a crucial node in the company’s global logistics network. Both Cainiao and JD Logistics, which expanded to Hong Kong in 2018, have expressed their ambitions to build robust networks worldwide. JD Logistics, known for its premium services and fast delivery in the domestic market, aims to extend its expertise to other regions, including Europe and Southeast Asia. Last month, JD’s air cargo unit launched a route connecting China to Vietnam, with plans to add more international routes.