technology necessary for successful drone deliveries starting in
2015 and began using it for deliveries in 2016, making it the first
program of its kind in the world.
Since then, JD has grown its delivery network to include one
hundred drone bases and seven thousand delivery centers. Zhan-
gwei, for example, typically receives a couple of daily drops, with
each box containing several packages ordered through the com-
pany’s shopping app, which has more than a quarter billion reg-
istered users. Thanks to JD’s fleet of drones, which operate au-
tonomously with no human guidance but are monitored remotely,
villagers in Zhangwei can expect delivery the same day they
place an order for laundry detergent, phone accessories, mater-
nity goods, fresh food, and other necessities. JD’s 2/11 Promise
claims that any order placed by 11:00 a.m. will be delivered by
China’s civil aviation
agency has given
permission for the use
of drones to deliver
parcels in remote
areas that are dif cult
to reach with trucks.
