E-commerce platforms take steps to address delivery issues

An employee for the online grocery platform Dingdong Maicai packs vegetables in Shanghai. (Photo/Xinhua)

E-commerce platforms are mobilizing more couriers and upgrading services to help residents in Shanghai procure necessities during the current lockdown.

Alibaba Group said on Friday it is adding 3,000 riders, couriers and sorters to smoothen the delivery process.

Apart from local couriers who are eligible to perform deliveries, the company has also dispatched employees from outside of Shanghai to boost its delivery capacity.

Dingdong Maicai, the Shanghai-headquartered online-to-offline platform that specializes in fresh produce, said it is looking to enhance the online purchasing experience by adding an online queue system.

"The app is not designed for large-scale buying. As such, customers now might experience hiccups at every step of the shopping process, from product selection, delivery time booking to payment, as there is a spike in traffic," said Liang Changlin, founder and CEO of Dingdong Maicai, told China Daily.

"The online queue system is designed to prevent overcrowding during peak periods, thus facilitating better transaction and potentially opening up more opportunities for those in need," Liang added.

Presently, products on Dingdong can only be purchased during two time slots - 6 am and 8:30 am - but customers can also try their luck in the afternoon.