Courier Outlets to Double Volume, Automation Boosts Efficiency by 30% as Companies Prepare for First Double 11 Peak

Courier Outlets to Double Volume, Automation Boosts Efficiency by 30% as Companies Prepare for First Double 11 Peak

On the evening of October 20 at 8 PM, Tmall officially launched its pre-order and down payment activities. As Double 11 competition heats up, pressure shifts to courier companies. According to Beijing Business Daily, Beijing’s courier outlets will face their first business peak from October 22 to 25, with some outlets expecting volumes to double. To ease the surge, many operators are deploying smart lockers and upgrading sorting lines, boosting last-mile pickup efficiency by 30%.

This Double 11, JD Logistics, Shentong, Jitu, and others are ramping up automation to compete on delivery speed. Industry insiders believe the sector will grow more intelligent and professional, raising entry barriers.

Preparing Manpower and Vehicles

“The first Double 11 peak is October 22-25, the second November 3-7,” said Jiang Zihao, head of ZTO’s Dingfuzhuang outlet in Beijing. Last year’s first peak saw volumes hit 48,000-50,000, doubling daily levels. Currently, the outlet handles 25,000-26,000 daily orders, and expects similar growth this year.

Mao Guanjun, head of Jitu’s Shunyi outlet, predicts a 30% volume increase for the first peak. The extended promotion period smooths volume fluctuations, so he expanded the outlet from 800 to 1,000 square meters. Covering two-thirds of Shunyi, the outlet handles ~50,000 daily orders, with most staff as couriers.

Both Jiang and Mao have hired temp workers and added vehicles: Jiang added 4 trucks (including a 9.8m truck) and 10 temps with backup shifts; Mao’s team boosted unloading staff by 4.

During Double 11, Dingfuzhuang couriers start delivering at 6 AM and finish at 10-11 PM. Instead of 3 daily rounds, they deliver as soon as packages arrive. Jiang arranged backup staff to ensure rest and handle emergencies.

Unmanned Equipment Cuts Costs and Boosts Efficiency

Relying solely on manpower isn’t enough. As volumes rise, outlets are using smart devices to improve efficiency.

Mao upgraded 4 sorting lines: from 5,000 pieces/hour to over 7,000, a 30% efficiency jump. This cuts couriers’ work hours—once starting at 6 AM for manual sorting, now they start at 7 AM, saving 2-3 hours daily. “With automation, couriers finish at least 1.5 hours earlier,” Mao said.

He’s also testing autonomous vehicles (currently mapping routes) that carry 600 parcels for outlet-to-station or outlet-to-courier transfers. “If volumes pile up and staff are short, autonomous vehicles act as backups, reducing labor costs by 20%-30%,” he added.

Jiang reduced last-mile pressure with 30 smart lockers in communities and universities. These allow 24/7 pickup and prevent overcrowding. “Lockers boost pickup efficiency by 30% and cut labor: a 2,000-parcel station goes from 4-5 staff to 2-3,” he said. “Lockers fit consumers’ schedules—especially office workers who miss station hours—and universities welcome them for students.”

Industry-wide Efficiency Competition

Major firms are doubling down on automation for Double 11:

• Jitu upgraded 57 hubs and 1,000+ outlets, adding 700+ automation systems.
• Shentong completed 9 capacity projects (Yantai, Ningbo, Yinchuan) and invested 184 million yuan in automation this year, with 3,860 direct routes to boost.
• JD Logistics deployed its “Super Brain + Wolf Clan” smart cluster: Super Brain 2.0 cuts model-solving time for 10 million variables to under 2 hours, while Wolf Clan devices connect for a 20% efficiency boost. Remote mountain delivery times are 63% shorter via optimized routes.

Automation is driven by rising volumes and cost pressures. Mao notes: “Automation requires scale—once volumes hit a threshold, it reduces costs. It’s a long-term investment, not short-term gain.”

Data shows China’s Q1-Q3 courier volume will exceed 145 billion pieces, with revenue over 1 trillion yuan. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing predicts 2025 over 59 billion tons and courier volume over 200 billion pieces.

“The industry will move toward intelligence, unmanned operations, and specialization, raising entry barriers,” Mao said. “Operators must adapt and learn automation tech.”

By He Qian, Beijing Business Daily