英语听力文摘 中国电子商务行业的巨大机会

"Usually we deal with 700 to 800 parcels daily, but the number surged to three or four thousand for the special day, we barely had time for a rest."

Analysts view the pace of order processing as a sign of the limited competitiveness online retailers can offer.

Tompkins International-Asia principal, Jim Serstad, believes companies are looking for new ways to gain competitive advantage in the online retail market.

"There are about 9 large online retailers in China who are all fighting to stay in the game. That's leading to some extreme efforts at client satisfaction because they really can't compete on price. They're basically all offering the same low prices so they have to differentiate on service. The key measure they're looking at is delivery frequency. Of course there's only so much they can do to deliver faster so they are looking for other ways to differentiate their service."

Measures include a thirty minute delay of order processing to give customers time to cancel an order if required and night time delivery.

While others are even using ‘try on delivery’ to give customers the chance to try on garments before the exchange is completed.
 
For the moment, online retailers are continuing to stick to quicker deliveries as their main source of competitive advantage.

As Tompkins International principal Jim Serstad explains, retailers are using any means to ensure purchases reach customers as soon as possible.

"Deliveries are made to the depots, regularly throughout the day, twice, maybe three times a day. The orders are taken then to the consumer by bicycle, or motorcycle or three-wheeled carts or whatever means they have."

Delivery companies have also expanded their warehouse areas, truck numbers and other equipment to get through the Singles Day holiday.

Statistics from the National Post Bureau claim there are nearly seven thousand legitimately registered express delivery services in China with more than 700,000 employees serving in the sector.

Jim Serstad points out the failings of China’s fragmented logistics and distribution chains.

"With a system like this there are huge differences in service levels throughout the country, if there’s any coverage at all. There are a lot of areas of China that aren’t covered."

Industry insiders say there is a need for technological upgrades to meet rising demand from domestic markets as well as foreign competition.

Major Chinese express delivery services like Yuantong and Shunfeng are purchasing or renting cargo aircraft to increase efficiency and reliability.

The Vice President of the Yuantong express delivery company, Wang Jinlong, describes the benefits of using the air routes.

"Having your own all-cargo aircrafts is the most important part of the transformation and upgrade process. Once we got our own aircrafts, we had much more capability over delivery, and we can make sure there are fewer delayed deliveries."

Yuantong has purchased 5 Boeing-737 aircraft to provide next-day delivery services in areas such as the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta.

Others are using IT to upgrade their services.

Taobao’s logistics manager Gong Tao explains how the firm is equipping itself with an early warning system to monitor timely delivery.

 "We can see whether sellers have finished packaging their products, if the parcels are en route and whether or not buyers have received their parcels. We pay attention to the whole process."

While express delivery services like Yunda are promoting handheld electronic registration devices for couriers to update conditions.

Despite the difficulties of meeting consumer demands from Singles Day, companies are utilizing technologies to keep pace with the growing online retail market.