From January 17 to 18, the municipal meteorological observatory successively issued yellow alerts for road icing and prolonged low temperatures, alongside a blue alert for heavy snow. In response to Beijing's first snowfall this year, an investigation on the 18th revealed that leading retail and instant delivery enterprises, including Wumart, Dingdong Maicai, Hema, and Meituan, leveraged digital-intelligent systems for advance forecasting, precise inventory management, enhanced delivery capacity, and service optimization, collectively strengthening the city's essential supply lines.
Even before the meteorological department issued the snow alert, Wumart utilized its AI smart replenishment system to accurately predict shifts in consumer demand and activated an emergency restocking mechanism. This system employs multi-dimensional modeling to comprehensively analyze factors such as snowfall intensity, the characteristics of the sustained cold spell, pre-holiday consumption patterns, and historical data, enabling efficient replenishment and ensuring that essential goods were stocked well in advance.
Xu Lina, spokesperson for Wumart Group, indicated that beyond the immediate storage needs triggered by the snow, the traditional winter stocking habits of northern residents, compounded with the pre-Spring Festival purchasing surge, drove procurement demand upward. Consequently, Wumart simultaneously entered a "reserve" mode, catering to both immediate consumption and preparing for the ensuing period of low temperatures to maintain a supply-demand balance.
Focusing on essential commodities and core pre-festival demand items, Wumart maintained real-time supply replenishment based on market dynamics, keeping prices stable throughout. To preserve product freshness, logistics centers, such as the one in Nangao, implemented reinforced anti-freeze and insulation measures for fresh produce. Through controlled storage across multiple temperature zones and insulated transportation across the entire supply chain, particular attention was paid to protecting temperature-sensitive vegetables from frost damage, ensuring consistent quality from origin to store shelf.
Simultaneously, Wumart's integrated online and offline channels worked in tandem. Major stores increased staff according to plan to accelerate the sorting and delivery of goods, enabling residents to shop conveniently from home and fully accommodating diverse consumption scenarios.
Addressing the hazards of slippery roads due to the snowy conditions, Wumart conducted preemptive safety training for its delivery riders, provided them with cold-weather gear, and reminded them to reduce speed and avoid icy sections. The company also optimized delivery route planning, prioritizing nearby orders to shorten outdoor delivery times and minimize travel risks.
Online grocery platforms also experienced a significant surge in orders. Since the snowfall began on January 17, order volumes on Dingdong Maicai's Beijing platform skyrocketed. To cope with increased delivery challenges and soaring demand, the platform swiftly activated contingency plans: total inventory was increased by 25%, and delivery capacity was boosted by 35%.
"During snowy weather, people prefer to stay indoors, making online purchasing the preferred option," explained Chen Hao, station manager of Dingdong Maicai's Dongzhimen location. He noted that due to road conditions, the average delivery time per order increased by 5-10 minutes compared to usual. To mitigate this, the platform not only pre-allocated additional riders but also excluded overtime orders caused by severe weather from performance metrics, ensuring riders' incomes were unaffected.
Product assortments on various online retail platforms were dynamically adjusted according to the weather. Besides hot-selling hotpot ingredients like beef, lamb, lamb spine, lamb chops, and hand-grabbed meat, the "Laocheng Yi Guo × Dingdong Da Man Guan" hotpot set—which conveniently bundles soup base, meats, balls, and dips—gained significant popularity.
Additionally, fruits and ice cream saw "off-season sales spikes," with strawberries, cherries, and oranges seeing increased sales. Newly launched ice cream series, such as Meidenggao Xiao Airen, witnessed a 40% growth in sales. "With indoor heating being strong in Beijing, many people enjoy ice cream alongside their hotpot," a Dingdong Maicai staff member explained. The platform also opened up its "large time-slot reservation" feature, encouraging users to place orders in advance and schedule deliveries during off-peak hours, thereby ensuring delivery safety and improving fulfillment efficiency.
As the vital "capillaries" of the city's logistics network, food delivery and instant retail riders navigating the wind and snow became a crucial link in the supply chain. Meituan responded promptly with a combination of "safety + care" measures. Beyond issuing weather and road hazard alerts, Meituan reminded its riders to be cautious on low-lying and steep slopes and to prioritize slow, safe travel.
During severe weather, Meituan provided riders with additional weather subsidies, with cash disbursed directly upon order settlement. Local stations were stocked with raincoats, rain boots, and winter保暖 gear, available for immediate use if equipment was damaged. Meituan's Rider Homes and stations also prepared ginger tea, hot beverages, and first-aid kits, offering emergency support within a 3-kilometer radius.
Reportedly, Meituan offers liability protection for riders regarding orders delayed or receiving negative customer feedback due to exceptional weather conditions. In areas significantly affected by the weather, delivery time windows were extended, and delivery radii were reduced. In extreme situations where pick-up from certain restaurants became impossible, the platform adjusted or temporarily suspended services in those areas, prioritizing safety above all.
As the Spring Festival approaches, major supermarkets and online retail platforms in Beijing have stated they will continue to closely monitor weather and market trends. They plan to dynamically adjust inventory and delivery capacity, continuously optimizing product assortments and service experiences while ensuring that supplies are available, products are accessible, and prices remain stable.
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