(Yicai Global) Nov. 13 -- Online e-commerce JD.com Inc. [NASDAQ:JD] has set up its first offline convenience stores in Gui'an New Area in China's southwestern Guizhou province.

The stores stand to serve hundreds of thousands of workers in the Gui'an industry area; a total of 18 will be built in schools, communities, hospitals and commercial facilities, online media outlet Jiemian News reported yesterday.

JD.com's convenience stores operate using Big Data analysis and are equipped with intelligent management systems. They are fully connected to JD.com's payment mechanism and store a broad range of goods, including computing, communications, and consumer electronics products, home appliances, books, cosmetics, clothing, medicine and furniture. They also offer financial, insurance, travel, package collection and other services.

The stores will make full use of JD.com's advantages in the supply chain, resources and Big Data capabilities to provide basic and value-added services in the Gui'an New Area and help develop the local retail infrastructure.

The Gui'an shops will act as a catalyst for the creation of more JD.com convenience stores and provide a new model for the renowned online retailer, which is also planning to test its heavy-load delivery drones early next year.