Gansu adds more delivery tricycles as shopping spree looms

Delivery companies in Gansu added a combined total of more than 500 delivery tricycles in anticipation of the expected peak shipping period starting on Nov 11, a major online shopping day in China.

Known as Singles Day in China, Nov 11 has become synonymous with online shopping ever since Alibaba launched a discount campaign on its taobao and Tmall e-commerce sites in 2009.

The overwhelming number of orders placed on the day has been known to put pressure on delivery companies throughout the country and cause a supply backlog.

To combat against this, delivery companies in Gansu, including EMS and Shentong, have allocated more storage space and added extra staff members to process deliveries, according to the Gansu Provincial Postal Administration.

Official statistics show that 30,000 square meters of distribution processing areas will be occupied and approximately 1,000 temporary staff members will be employed for the shopping period.

Gansu’s delivery business is expected to peak during the Nov 11 online shopping festival, with a daily capacity of more than 1.8 million items.

Edited by Jacob Hooson