Major Chinese e-retailer JD.com has entered the Russian market after signing up the country’s leading express operator SPSR Express as its first authorised logistics partner in Russia, following the latter’s similar partnership with AliExpress earlier this year.
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties, SPSR Express will deliver products from the online platform JD.com to Russian shoppers via parcel terminals and to the so-called order pick-up centres (click&collect). The delivery to the terminals will be managed by SPSR’s subsidiary Pickpoint.
Vladimir Solodkin, General Director of SPSR Express, said that the new agreement will bring SPSR to a whole new level opening up new development opportunities. “We are proud that JD.com, one of the global e-commerce leaders, has chosen us as a partner. This proves once again that SPSR Express is on the right track towards becoming an equal international company.”
“For the cooperation with JD.com, SPSR Express has optimised its logistics solutions, including click&collect, thus ensuring a wide choice of delivery options for end-users,” Aleks Vasilyev, Director International Development, SPSR Express, said. “A year ago, we identified the trend towards increasing popularity of the click&collect solution among online shoppers so we decided to invest in this field. We have created the largest network of parcel terminals and order pick-up centres so far in the country.”
Victor Suy, General Director of JD.com’s international department, explained that the company is actively developing partnerships with the leaders of the logistics industry around the world. “This helps us offer customers the most effective solutions for the delivery of goods. The cooperation with SPSR Express will ensure that the product delivery process is in accordance with the highest standards of speed and reliability."
Nikko Chan, Director of Global Supply Chain Management at JD.com, added: "Since Russia is one of the most important target markets in terms of international destinations for JD.com, we are determined to expand our logistics advantages. We are able to offer Russian consumers the highest quality services only through a joint effort with our partner SPSR Express. We believe that our cooperation will become a sort of a "bridge" that opens up the Russian market for JD.com and offers Russian customers new opportunities for shopping."
In line with the company’s expansion in the e-commerce sector, SPSR Express launched a new service “Delivery during non-working hours” as part of which customers can get their goods delivered on weekdays between 6-9 pm as well as during weekends and public holidays. This is an additional option to SPSR’s other express delivery products and costs RUB 500 (€8).
Earlier this year, SPSR started cooperating with the international e-retailer AliExpress, part of Alibaba Group, as its first authorised express operator in Russia. As part of the partnership, it has been integrated in Alibaba Group’s global information platform of logistics partners.
Shortly after signing the cooperation agreement, SPSR Express and AliExpress announced a new common project in which AliExpress is now offering major Turkish fashion brands via its trade platform for Russian online shoppers.
Following the agreement with AliExpress, SPSR Express launched a new product range offering a complete solution for internet shops to meet current customer demands with various types of delivery ranging from super fast express delivery to economical delivery and additional services.
