JD launches drone-delivery trial in Indonesia

Chinese e-commerce platform JD has begun trials of drone delivery in Indonesia in a move to advance logistics across the archipelago.

It is the first foreign territory where the firm has conducted drone deliveries, following a couple of years’ trials within China. Its first government-approved drone delivery was completed January 8, flying books and backpacks across a distance of more than 250km to a village school.

JD drone-delivery Indonesia 1

JD hopes the technology will prove key to reaching remote areas within the 17,000-island nation. It has made significant investments since establishing its JD.ID service there four years ago, which catalogues 1 million products for a registered 20 million users. It launched unmanned convenience stores in the country last year.

“We have been using drones for real deliveries in China for over two years now, and have seen the profound impact that the technology can have on people’s lives around the country”, said Jon Liao, JD’s chief strategy officer.

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