Suning’s Unmanned Logistics Overtakes the Traditional Supply Chain

In December 2019, the first case of coronavirus was discovered. The outbreak has affected many industries, especially the logistics industry. However, the challenges and opportunities coexist; smart manufacturing and unmanned distribution have shown strong growth potential. During the epidemic, logistics and distribution grew sharply under the catalysis of “self-isolation policy”. According to the large-scale epidemic prevention consumption data released by Suning, in China the order volume of Suning’s Convenience Stores increased by 419.6% year-on-year, and the order volume of “order online and pick up at the store” in Suning’s Food Market, surged by more than 655%. During the epidemic, each residential property carried out a certain degree of “blockade”, the traditional “contactless distribution” cannot satisfy the current situation. The advantages of unmanned technology are prominent, which can improve the transfer efficiency between logistics warehouses and consumers. Therefore, unmanned logistics may accelerate its development after the epidemic.