Coronavirus pandemic
Recently, on a conference call Richard Liu Qiangdong, the founder, CEO, and Chairman of JD. Com had a recap on his company’s tireless efforts towards providing aid for the coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak exactly before the Chinese New Year. Following the recent reports on the gouging of prices on Amazon’s products like masks and the hand sanitizers and the emergency of defective products that allege to ensure one’s protection against the coronavirus, the US tech companies should likewise consider following the example of their Chinese Counterparts.
China’s leading e-commerce companies are not new in matters of dealing with pandemics and outbreaks. In 2003 when there was Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak, an outbreak that led to a similar lockdown in China, just like the one of coronavirus, both Alibaba’s Jack Ma’s and JD. Com’s Richard Liu Qiangdong’s were small starting businesses. However, this did not limit them as Alibaba mainly focused on the BTB business-to-business works by acting as the mediator between China’s supplies and the American Procurement teams. On the other side, JD. Com, which wasn’t even identified as JD. Com at that particular time was a small growing business with several shops in Beijing selling small electronic items such as CDs. Although Richard had some plans to expand the company, it turned out impossible due to the outbreak; therefore making him innovative enough, he used the opportunity to build his current successful business JD. Com, which is currently China’s largest online retailer.
Because of these previous encounters, China’s e-commerce industry was strategically placed in terms of resources and experience to provide the effectively requires assistance upon the Coronavirus outbreak in China.
Amidst the outbreak, the two companies provided enough aid to help in the fight against the virus. Firstly, through logistical support, the companies ensured the delivery of products ordered online, the delivery of coronavirus support supplies, and medical supplies across the Hubei province. Secondly, the companies also alleviated the burden on hospitals and the government through JD. Com waiving the cost of its cloud video conferencing services, and JD Health is offering absolutely free online consultation services on its app. Alibaba
has also provided
AI technology to some research organizations and laboratories that are dedicated to developing a coronavirus vaccine for people infected. Lastly, the companies have also been supplying both monetary contributions and donations of the most-demanded resources to both hospitals and charities.