bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Minghe Hu

JD.com will invest US$800 million in Dada Nexus, the operator of rapid delivery service JD Daojia, in the latest move by the Chinese e-commerce giant to establish a stronghold in the burgeoning community group buying sector ahead of a public listing of its JD Logistics unit in Hong Kong.
JD.com founder Richard Liu Qiangdong is leading a newly-established community group buying business, according to Chinese media, and this latest move shows the strategic importance of a sector that has become a key battlefield for Chinese internet giants from Meituan to Pinduoduo. Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post, has also embraced the business model that allows residents in a community to buy groceries and other daily essentials in bulk at prices cheaper than what they would pay individually. 
Analysts said JD.com is trying to maximise its logistics advantage by doubling down on Dada Nexus, which operates JD Daojia and Dada Now, an on-demand delivery platform, since fast delivery is critically important in the community group buying business. After the latest investment, JD.com’s equity stake in Dada will increase to 51 per cent. 
With control of Dada, together with JD Logistics – which has 240,000 delivery workers and service crew and more than 800 warehouses across the country – JD.com will be able to speed up its deliveries. Separately, JD Logistics has filed an application to list its shares in Hong Kong. 
“Our increased investment will facilitate the expansion of on-demand retail and delivery, as well as omnichannel collaboration,” Xu Lei, chief executive of JD Retail, said in a press release. “This will help further diversify our retail services [and] enable our partners, especially real economy enterprises … to accelerate their intelligent digital transformation to deliver faster, better and richer services for consumers,” Xu said. 
China’s community group grocery buying surges as vast market size offers economies of scale
Although JD Logistics has built an extensive network for local delivery service and a strong supply chain for groceries and home appliances, it needs to integrate resources and increase cooperation to effectively compete in community group buying with the likes of on-demand services giant Meituan, e-commerce platform Pinduoduo and ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing.
“By leveraging the last-mile delivery of Dada, JD can optimize its logistics system and upgrade its local delivery service for community group buying,” said Li Chengdong, chief executive of e-commerce consultancy Dolphin Think Tank. “Dada also wants to compete in the sector as competitors have diminished its value in on-demand grocery delivery.”
A late comer to the sector, Beijing-based JD.com has been expanding its community group buying business since last year. In a conference call with analysts last week, group chief financial officer Sandy Xu said the company sees great potential for the emerging buying model and is specifically targeting consumers in lower-tier cities. 
“We will take a somewhat differentiated approach to be more focused on supply chain and logistics networks and leverage our existing capabilities,” Xu said, adding that JD prefers to add value through the supply chain rather than dish out subsidies, which have been accused of hurting the livelihoods of millions of workers employed in traditional wholesale and retail industries.
In December, JD invested US$700 million in Xingsheng Preference, a community group buying start-up in China’s southern Hunan province. Separately, JD invested US$103 million in agricultural products provider China Dili Group and launched its own community group buying app on Tencent Holdings’ super app WeChat to expand its reach into the market. 
Community group buying has brought Big Tech’s disruption to China’s smaller cities but are they ready for it?
The community group buying market was worth about 240 billion yuan (US$36.9 billion) last year, according to research firm EqualOcean, as the sector continued to gain traction from consumers. Li Qingshan, vice research director of EqualOcean’s consumer department, said JD’s Dada strategy would also fill a missing piece of its supply chain puzzle by enabling on-demand last-mile delivery for fresh produce and other groceries. 
The rapid growth of community group buying has seen it come under intense government scrutiny as Beijing attempts to rein in the influence of Big Tech. In March, China’s market regulator fined Alibaba-backed Nice Tuan, Tencent-backed Shixianghui, Pinduoduo’s Duoduo Maicai, Meituan Youxuan and Didi’s Chengxin Youxuan, for slashing community group prices to edge out rivals, a practice that breached the country’s Pricing Law.


JD.com invests US$800 million in last-mile delivery service to fill a gap in its community group buying strategy

A warehouse for community group buying platform Chengxin Youxuan, owned by Didi Chuxing, in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, Jan. 7, 2021. Photo: SCMP/ Orange Wang

Workers sort out packages for delivery at JD’s Yizhuang Smart Delivery Station in Beijing, Nov 11, 2020. Photo:  SCMP/Simon Song

Tech

Big Tech

Business

China Business


JD.com founder Richard Liu has created a community group buying unit to compete in what has become a key battlefield for China’s internet giants 
The rapid growth of community group buying has seen it come under intense government scrutiny as Beijing attempts to rein in the influence of Big Tech



JD.com’s US$800 million investment in Dada Nexus will give it a fast, last-mile delivery service seen as critical to success in China’s burgeoning community group buying business, which was worth an estimated US$36.9 billion last year.


E-commerce

JD.com

JD.com invests US$800 million in last-mile delivery service to fill a gap in its community group buying strategy

JD.com founder Richard Liu has created a community group buying unit to compete in what has become a key battlefield for China’s internet giants The rapid growth of community group buying has seen it come under intense government scrutiny as Beijing attempts to rein in the influence of Big Tech

JD.com founder Richard Liu has created a community group buying unit to compete in what has become a key battlefield for China’s internet giants

The rapid growth of community group buying has seen it come under intense government scrutiny as Beijing attempts to rein in the influence of Big Tech