Cainiao Launches Three-Hour Speedy Delivery in Five Major Chinese Cities

Cainiao (formerly known as China Smart Logistics), the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), today unveiled a swift delivery service in five Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Tianjin, that will deliver products to consumers within three hours after they place their orders. The logistics service will initially cover healthcare products ordered from Tmall.com but will be gradually expanded to cover other product categories. By the end of 2015, Cainiao plans to expand this service to 14 other major cities including Shenzhen, Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuxi, Qingdao, Shenyang and Xi’an, bringing the total number of cities covered by this innovative service to 19.

At the initial launch, Cainiao has teamed up with more than 1,500 drugstores from five pharmacy chains that have flagship storefronts on Tmall.com. Two more pharmacy chains will join the scheme in Wuhan and Chengdu in late May.

Named Ji Su Da (“fast delivery”), the three-hour speedy delivery service works like this: When a consumer purchases a product with the “speedy delivery” logo on it, the order will be directed to the closest store to the customers based on information from AutoNavi, Alibaba Group’s mapping and location-based services company. Once the store accepts the order, Cainiao’s courier partners will receive an automated alert for picking the goods for delivery which will be faster and more efficient than that of a central warehouse.

“This service is ideal for consumers who need non-prescription drugs and other healthcare products quickly,” said Xu Hui, head of Cainiao Ji Su Da. “This service effectively mobilizes resources at both online and offline stores, which in turn brings the customers a seamless shopping experience.”

About Cainiao

Cainiao (formerly known as China Smart Logistics), the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, is dedicated to meeting the current and future logistics demands of China’s online and mobile commerce sector. It operates a logistics information platform which provides real-time access to information for both buyers and sellers, as well as information that allows delivery service providers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services. Cainiao is an affiliate of Alibaba Group.