Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-06-27 07:36Core Viewpoint - The competition in the instant retail market is intensifying as major internet platforms like JD.com, Taobao, and Meituan ramp up their efforts, raising questions about the opportunities for third-party delivery platforms like SF Express and Flash Delivery [1][10]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Instant retail is experiencing explosive growth, with JD.com's food delivery service achieving over 25 million daily orders within just four months and over 150,000 full-time couriers [3][4]. - Taobao's flash purchase service has surpassed 60 million daily orders, and Alibaba has merged Ele.me into its China e-commerce group to accelerate instant retail development [3][4]. - Meituan is expanding its instant retail offerings, planning to cover all first and second-tier cities and enhance its supply chain across 200 quality agricultural regions [3][4]. Group 2: Strategic Involvement of Major Players - High-level executives from major companies are directly involved in promoting their instant retail services, indicating the strategic importance of this sector [4][5]. - JD.com has begun recruiting full-time couriers for its delivery service and has introduced a "second delivery station" role to enhance management and service quality [7][8]. Group 3: Innovations in Delivery Services - JD Logistics has launched the "Second Delivery Warehouse" service, which integrates warehousing and delivery, allowing for average delivery times of 30 minutes in key areas [9]. - This service model helps merchants avoid the high costs associated with building their own warehouses, thus lowering entry barriers for instant retail [9]. Group 4: Opportunities for Third-Party Delivery Platforms - Despite the dominance of major internet platforms, third-party delivery companies like SF Express and Flash Delivery have the potential to thrive by focusing on customized delivery solutions for various sectors [10][11]. - SF Express has noted that the current "takeout war" is just the beginning, with future expansions expected into non-food categories such as general merchandise and pharmaceuticals [11]. - The company aims to leverage its unique advantages by providing comprehensive service solutions for mid-sized businesses, which may prefer to collaborate with third parties rather than be tied to major platforms [12].