Produced by | Huabo Business Review

While major platforms are engaged in a fierce battle for food delivery services, JD.com has quietly executed two strategic moves. On July 21, JD.com led investments in three embodied intelligent robotics companies: Zhongqing Robotics and Zhuji Power, both based in Shenzhen, and Qianxun Intelligence in Hangzhou. Simultaneously, JD.com acquired a controlling stake in Sichuan Shenghuojia Home Group Co., Ltd., marking its entry into the home decoration market. These actions, since Liu Qiangdong's return to the forefront, underscore the acceleration of his "technology-driven + closed-loop scenario" strategy.

On July 21, three embodied intelligent robotics companies announced the completion of a new round of financing, all led by JD.com. Zhongqing Robotics secured nearly RMB 1 billion in Pre-A++ and A1 round financing, with JD.com leading the A1 round alongside investors such as Ningde Times's Puquan Capital, Intime Group, and financial investors like Huakong Fund, Guochen Fund under Fortune Capital, and Huangpu River Capital.

Zhuji Power, another Shenzhen-based company, announced that JD.com strategically led its new round of financing. According to Tianyancha, Zhuji Power completed its A+ round of financing in January this year, though details on the funding stage and amount raised were not specified in this round.

JD.com also invested in Qianxun Intelligence, a Hangzhou-based robotics company. On the 21st, Qianxun Intelligence completed nearly RMB 600 million in Pre-A+ round financing, led by JD.com, with follow-on investments from renowned institutions like China Internet Investment Fund, Zhejiang Provincial Science and Innovation Fund, Huatai Zijin, and Fosun Rizheng.

This is not JD.com's first foray into robotics. In March this year, the company established a "Specialized Department for Embodied Intelligence" and appointed Shen Hui, a former SenseTime vice president, to lead the department. In May, JD.com led the B+ round financing of Zhiyuan Robotics, and in July, it launched the "JoyInside Platform" for robotics, integrating JD.com's self-developed large model capabilities into robotics applications.

JD.com's robotics investment portfolio has begun to form an ecological closed loop, encompassing core components, overall machine research and development, and interaction platforms. Through the hardware and software integration of the JoyInside Platform, JD.com is developing its own robotics "operating system," which has the potential to deeply integrate into various scenarios such as customer service, shopping guides, warehousing, and logistics.

JD.com's ambitions extend beyond robotics to the home decoration field. According to Qichacha information, on July 18, Sichuan Shenghuojia Home Group Co., Ltd. underwent a business change, with Beijing JD Century Trading Co., Ltd. added as a major shareholder, holding approximately 66.6% of the shares. The company's registered capital increased from approximately RMB 10.54 million to RMB 17.91 million. Additionally, the company's senior executive filings were updated to include Yao Yanzhong, current Senior Vice President of JD.com and President of the 3C Home Appliance Business Group.

The home decoration industry, characterized by strong delivery and heavy service requirements, has long been a challenging sector for online platforms to penetrate. By acquiring a controlling stake in a mature enterprise, JD.com directly bridges the gap between online traffic and offline delivery. This not only aids in improving the conversion rate of high-price products but may also unlock new growth opportunities for its supply chain businesses in 3C home appliances, furniture, and building materials.

Behind JD.com's recent surge of investments lies its founder Liu Qiangdong's unwavering commitment to "supply chain technologization." By investing in robotics technology, JD.com aims to elevate the automation of its warehousing, logistics, and customer service systems. Acquiring a controlling stake in a home decoration company further bridges the divide between online and offline, as well as products and services. From technology empowerment to scenario integration, Liu Qiangdong is redefining JD.com's growth trajectory.