Inserts:
00:03 REPORT | EMILY SIU
00:57 DESMOND SO | FINANCE WORKER
01:27 WENDY WONG | CONSULTANT, WGSN
02:26 CIA CHIU | BEAUTY CONSULTANT

Script:

VISION: MONTAGE SCI-FI DETAILS OF JD MALL 

00:01
This may look like the set of a Sci-Fi movie..

00:04
…but it’s a mall opened by JD.com or Jing Dong - China’s largest online retailer with over 700 million active customers. 

VISION: EXTERIOR JD MALL 

00:14
Located in the heart of downtown Hong Kong, the 30,000 square-feet space carries international brands as well as lesser known Chinese brands.

00:23
Jing Dong says this is their “first step” of expansion into international consumer markets.

VISION: SHOPPERS IN MALL 

00:28
Despite China’s e-commerce dominance, Jing Dong wants to bring its immersive, experience-led retail model to the city. 

VISION: Hit TVs, Vinyls + Sequence of family checking gaming table set up

00:36
From giant TV screens, to vinyl players or a whole gaming table set up - it’s all about letting customers try before they buy.

00:43
And if they like it, they can scan a code, place the order online and get the product delivered within the same day.

00:54
+++ DESMOND SO, FINANCE WORKER +++
When you’re at the physical store, there’s actually someone there explaining to you the difference between products. / When you buy online, you just don’t know as much details, so you don’t feel as confident about the purchase.

VISION: INTRODUCE WENDY 

01:08
Wendy Wong is a consultant at WGSN, which forecasts trends.  

01:14
She says Jing Dong is trying to cater to young consumers who want to shop in “phy-gital” environments - which combines physical and digital retail. 

01:22
+++ WENDY WONG, CONSULTANT, WGSN +++
Gen Z really love this trend, predominantly because of the fact that, / they can have this immersive, multi-sensory experience that really captures both what they want emotionally, but also what they're interested in. 
So instead of creating this proposition where people have to choose one over the other, you're going to see that brands are increasingly going to be able to offer different types of experiences in both types of environments.

VISION: JD MALL BEIJING - AI ROBOT HALL 

UPS MOVING JD ROBOT

01:47
China is spearheading this shift towards intelligent retail, where AI and robots are integrated into the shopping experience…

UPS (Chinese) HOW IS THE WEATHER TODAY? 

01:59
…with dedicated zones for mall-goers to interact with robots…

VISION: ROBOT AT BOOTH IN OTHER BEIJING MALL 

…and brands that have ditched the screen-based self-service kiosks to physical, robot operated stores. 

02:09
According to state-backed media reports, China’s unmanned retail market is expected to surpass US$29 billion this year.

But for some shoppers, no technology beats the human touch. 

02:22
+++ CIA CHIU, BEAUTY CONSULTANT +++
AI cannot replace real people. The warmth of an interaction shared between people is far more important than what you share with a machine. A machine can’t really feel what you need, it can only answer questions. 

VISION: HK JD MALL 

02:37
As tech and touch meet on the shop floor, success will go to brands that choreograph a delicate dance between digital intelligence and human connection. 

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