Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-05-22 08:18Core Viewpoint - The competition among major platforms like Ele.me, JD.com, and Meituan in the food delivery sector has expanded into the pharmaceutical category, leading to a significant rise in the instant retail of medicines, with platforms investing in traffic resources, supply chains, and innovative marketing strategies [1][4]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The instant retail of pharmaceuticals is experiencing rapid growth, becoming a crucial part of the outpatient pharmaceutical retail market [1][4]. - JD Health's "Buy Medicine in Seconds" feature has seen a threefold increase in order volume due to enhanced traffic resources [4][6]. - The instant retail sector is evolving from high-frequency to low-frequency demand, now covering a full range of categories, including pharmaceuticals [5][6]. Group 2: Platform Strategies - JD.com has prominently featured "24h Delivery of Medicines" on its app, enhancing visibility and traffic for its instant retail services [3][4]. - Meituan has launched its instant retail brand "Meituan Flash Purchase," further intensifying competition in the pharmaceutical retail space [4][6]. - Taobao's instant retail service has been upgraded to "Taobao Flash Purchase," which includes a significant category for purchasing medicines [3][4]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The transformation of physical pharmacies is driving the adoption of instant retail, as many pharmacies are closing, leading to a competitive environment where digital solutions are essential [7][8]. - The integration of online medical services with instant retail is creating a comprehensive service model for users, enhancing the purchasing experience [7][8]. - The collaboration among platforms, pharmaceutical companies, and pharmacies is deepening, allowing for more effective marketing and sales strategies [8][10]. Group 4: Financial Performance - One Heart Hall's new retail segment saw a 47.6% year-on-year increase in revenue, with the O2O instant retail channel contributing 78.2% [15][16]. - Yifeng Pharmacy reported online sales of 2.127 billion yuan in 2024, with 1.721 billion yuan coming from O2O, accounting for 80.9% of total online sales [16][17]. - The overall trend indicates that if online medical insurance is fully opened, the share of instant retail in physical pharmacies could rise to 32.1% by 2030 [16][17]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The competition for instant retail in pharmaceuticals among major platforms is expected to continue, with Douyin's unique position in social media marketing presenting both opportunities and challenges [18]. - The penetration of instant retail in lower-tier markets is anticipated to grow, making it a significant growth driver in the outpatient pharmaceutical retail market [18].