JD.com, the largest retailer in China, is extend its reach to Thailand. It has decided to partner with Central Group, the leading Thai retail conglomerate, continues to expand further into areas in Southeast Asia. The partnership has lead to the launch of “JD CENTRAL,” an e-commerce platform. though plans for the new online platform were made public some time ago it didn’t officially debut until late September. The platform is expected to significantly increase JD’s influence in the region. The retailer already possesses a thriving e-commerce platform in Indonesia and a strategic investment in Tiki, Vietnam’s leading B2C e-commerce business.
JD CENTRAL is looking to specialize in both direct sales and marketplace models. It has performed a lot better that what was expected before the overall sales were tallied. JD offers a wide variety of products on the site, ranging from digital products and home appliances to toiletries and beverages to name a few. the majority of the people that purchase products from the site access the platform by way of their phone. the most popular products among shoppers tend to be those manufactured by Chinese companies.
What separates JD from other retailers is its cutting edge technology. It has allowed the retailer to create arguably the most advanced retail operation to date. For instance, no retail operation can compete with its speed of delivery, especially to Thai consumers. JD has created a great working relationship with local Thai delivery service providers. Because of the relationships it has established it announced that it would soon be offering same day delivery and nationwide coverage. Vincent Yang, JD CENTRAL CEO, says the retailer is constantly takes steps towards its goal of servicing customers throughout all of Southeast Asia. JD CENTRAL also helps leading brands like Vipshop connect with Thai consumers. Vipshop is an online clothing company based in China.