Top Couriers to Bring Technology-assisted Delivery Tactics to China’s Shopping Festival

To ensure a smooth process for the upcoming Double 11, China’s national shopping festival, Alibaba’s Cainiao Smart Logistics is carrying out multiple self-service tactics to secure and expedite delivery services. SF Express, China’s second-largest courier, is also implementing high-tech measures to facilitate this year’s shopping festival.

Cainiao said it has set up about 20,000 self-service parcel pickup machines across 150 major cities in China. With a QR code or a face scan, one can easily skip the long wait and manual search and get their package in no time.

There will also be more self-driving delivery vehicles sent into college campuses and community neighborhoods, delivering packages directly to buyers, saving time and effort.

In addition, Cainiao will also extend its pick-up stations’ hours during the shopping festival for those who are only free after work. About 30,000 pick-up stations will stay open until 11 p.m. In big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, 60% of stations will operate until early morning. Cainiao is also adding 160,000 personnel and 50% more space to make sure customers get their packages smoothly.

SEE ALSO: Alibaba’s Double 11: Much More Than a Shopping Festival

This year, with the assistance of technology, China’s second-largest courier SF Express is accelerating and strengthening its services in multiple links including transportation, package sorting and delivery.

With drones, packages can be delivered more promptly to remote areas with few transportation options. SF’s wearable smart devices can help delivery workers navigate, scan packages, sign for packages and get instructions through voice command hands-free, thus improving safety and efficiency. AI and delivery robots will also be put into use to save costs and manpower.