From Warehouses to Algorithms: How JD Logistics Builds a Technology-Driven Supply Chain

JD Logistics, also referred to as Jingdong Logistics, is a technology-driven provider of integrated supply chain solutions and logistics services based in China. Beyond parcel delivery, the company manages a range of services including warehousing, inventory management, transportation, fulfillment, last-mile delivery, bulky-item logistics, cold-chain logistics, cross-border logistics, and logistics technology.

The rise of JD Logistics can be traced back to 2007 when it began as JD.com's in-house logistics operation before becoming a standalone business in 2017.

The company operates on multiple levels of the supply chain, from inventory planning and storage to transport, fulfillment, and final delivery. The key to understanding JD Logistics lies in its integration of software, automation, and data across these processes. The company's operational model is built around a network of over 1,600 self-operated warehouses and 2,000 cloud warehouses with a total gross floor area of more than 34 million square meters.

Transportation infrastructure comprises over 60,000 self-operated vehicles, 12 all-cargo aircraft, 2,000 air-cargo routes, and 700 railway routes operated in partnership. Fulfillment and last-mile delivery are critical functions, with the company managing about 95% of JD.com's first-party retail orders in China within 24 hours. This capability is extended to external customers such as brands, manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce businesses.

JD Logistics also handles bulky-item logistics, which can include services like warehousing, delivery, installation, and reverse logistics. For temperature-sensitive products, the company operates cold-chain capabilities, connecting storage, transportation, and delivery. In the international market, JD Logistics has nearly 200 bonded, international direct-distribution, and overseas warehouses in 25 markets, operated through JoyLogistics and JoyExpress.

The company's technology layer is where it truly stands out to a DEV.to audience. This includes supply chain software, AI and algorithms, automation equipment, robotics, and systems integration. These tools are applied to enhance inventory visibility, storage utilization, order accuracy, processing capacity, and delivery reliability.

The company has also made significant strides in warehouse automation, with its first highly automated "Asia No. 1" logistics park in Shanghai opening in 2014 and a fully automated B2C warehouse in Shanghai in 2017. By 2025, the self-developed goods-to-person automated warehousing solution was operational in over 20 warehouses.