The world of supply chain management is a brutal ballet of efficiency, requiring constant adaptation and innovation. And, as revealed by Gartner’s 2025 Supply Chain Top 25, some are clearly dancing better than others.
Among the notable performers, JD.com, stands out. The Chinese e-commerce giant has once again secured a spot in the prestigious ranking, climbing to number 22 from 25 in the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year JD.com has been the only Chinese retailer to make the cut, a testament to its commitment to a robust and forward-thinking supply chain.
Gartner’s rankings are the gold standard in the industry, a rigorous assessment that considers financial metrics, environmental and social governance (ESG) performance, and expert opinion. Companies are evaluated on their return on physical assets, inventory turnover, and revenue growth, among other indicators.
JD.com’s success isn’t coincidental. The company has poured significant resources into its technological infrastructure. Since its full-scale technology transformation began in 2017, JD.com has invested over 140 billion yuan ($19.3 billion USD) in research and development. By the end of 2024, the company’s supply chain infrastructure assets reached 161 billion yuan ($22.2 billion USD), reflecting a solid 12% year-over-year increase.
This investment has translated into tangible results. Despite managing a vast inventory of over 10 million SKUs, JD.com maintains an impressive inventory turnover rate, clocking in at roughly 30 days in 2024.
Central to this operational prowess is JD.com’s embrace of artificial intelligence. The company’s proprietary TimeHF time-series large language model, designed for forecasting, has reportedly improved prediction accuracy by more than 10%, streamlining inventory management with data-driven insights. Furthermore, automation is in full swing across the company’s sprawling network. JD.com is leveraging AI-powered robots in its 40+ “Asia No. 1” smart warehouses. These facilities see a 10% boost in storage efficiency. Autonomous technologies like “Smart Wolf” robots, “Nanny Wolf” sorting walls, “Lone Wolf” driverless vehicles, and “Flying Wolf” drones are also deployed. This all contributes to the company’s exceptional efficiency.
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