JD.com Inc., a China-based online retailer, has launched a valet self-storage service in Beijing. Jingxiaocang, operated by company affiliate JD Logistics, will allow customers to manage their storage experience, including item pickup and delivery, through the JD Express Delivery mini-program on the WeChat mobile app. Though currently limited to the local market, additional cities such as Guangzhou and Shanghai are expected to be added, according to the source.

Jingxiaocang targets residential and commercial customers, offering short- and long-term storage options. The service will make use of JD.com’s existing network of fulfillment warehouses, though the company also plans to develop “specialized, temporary warehouses based on different categories of goods” and needs, such as clothing, document storage and wine storage, the source reported. JD.com maintains a network of approximately 600 warehouses comprising more than 15 million square meters, according the company website.

“The new service has been launched in response to clear market demand for convenient and reliable storage services,” company officials said in a Sept. 30 blog post. “JD has seen demand for storage solutions rise exponentially, particularly as rents in China’s first- and second-tier cities continue to increase every year. This is in contrast to many personal storage providers in China, which typically have to partner with third parties, such as real estate companies, and therefore struggle to provide a convenient and high-quality service.”

“JD is known among Chinese customers for reliability, trust and speed,” added Bing Fu, head of strategy and innovation at JD Logistics. “Initial customer feedback shows us that consumers are excited about this service, and [we] believe it can fill an unmet need in the storage market.”

JD Logistics uses its parent company’s advanced technology platform to offer supply-chain and logistics services to businesses across a wide range of industries. Among the company’s innovations is a fully automated business-to-consumer warehouse in Shanghai and a “smart store” in Indonesia powered by artificial intelligence. “We are currently developing our own drones delivery and automatic delivery robots,” according to the company website.

JD.com is China’s largest online retailer and its biggest overall retailer, as well as the country’s biggest Internet company by revenue, according to the website. It offers everything from fresh food and apparel to electronics and cosmetics. Its nationwide fulfillment network covers 99 percent of China’s population.

Sources:
Capital Watch, JD Launches New Self-Service Storage
JD.com Corporate Blog, JD Expands Open Logistics With New Storage Service