Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc. announced Oct. 17 that it is testing two "unmanned smart store models" ahead of the online sales event Singles' Day to improve customer service. This move came as a part of retailer's strategy to push offline efforts and integrate online and offline shopping experiences.

JD.com is testing the stores in its Beijing headquarters, which has more than 10,000 employees.

One model, JD.com's Unmanned Convenience Store, integrates technologies such as radio-frequency identification, or RFID; facial recognition; and image recognition. Cameras in the stores can detect customer movement and generate heat maps to monitor activity and to help store owners stock efficiently.

The retailer's second model, D-Mart Smart Store Solution, offers "low-cost wholesale and piecemeal customization flexibility," which allows store owners to upgrade their operations. JD Smart Vision technology can identify products and in-store behavior to help store owners manage inventory and create better displays.