SF Express Revolutionizes Its Operations Planning Strategy Using Operations Research

Yixiao Huang (), Ziheng Liu (), Huan Chen (), Yankun Geng (), Fei Gao (), Yiwen Liao (), Jiaxin Lin (), Kai Zhang (), Guangyuan Zhu (), Zhenmeng Wang (), Qichang Chen (), Xiangtan Lv (), Junhao Shi (), Yaomei Pi (), Shengyang Jia (), Bingying Zhang (), Mengting Lin (), Shuxian Tang (), Song Feng (), Hao Xiang (), Jiarui Zhang (), Canxin Lin (), Yufeng Chu (), Zhijie Wang (), Rui Huang () and Yizhi Wang ()
Additional contact information
Yixiao Huang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Ziheng Liu: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Huan Chen: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Yankun Geng: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Fei Gao: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Yiwen Liao: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Jiaxin Lin: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Kai Zhang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Guangyuan Zhu: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Zhenmeng Wang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Qichang Chen: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Xiangtan Lv: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Junhao Shi: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Yaomei Pi: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Shengyang Jia: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Bingying Zhang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Mengting Lin: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Shuxian Tang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Song Feng: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Hao Xiang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Jiarui Zhang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Canxin Lin: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Yufeng Chu: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Zhijie Wang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Rui Huang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China
Yizhi Wang: SF Technology, SF Holding Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518063, China

Interfaces, 2026, vol. 56, issue 1, 76-94

Abstract: SF Express, China’s leading integrated logistics service provider, is well known for its delivery speed and operational efficiency, and it relies heavily on its integrated logistics network. However, planning its network used to require enormous manual effort from many regional planners. Since 2018, a group of operations research experts has worked to revolutionize this experience-oriented planning procedure into a centralized one that integrates state-of-the-art operations research methods. We identify novel variants of network design and routing problems, each with a larger scale than most of those studied in the literature. We address these challenging problems by combining advanced techniques from the literature, exploiting the problem structures, and drawing inspiration from human experiences. The developed methodologies now guide SF Express’s strategic and operational network planning decisions, such as establishing Asia’s first cargo-focused air hub and daily optimization of vehicle routes. This transformative project has led to financial benefits exceeding $1 billion and reduced millions of tons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2018.

Keywords: express delivery; service-level agreements; service network design problem; vehicle routing problem; operations research; Franz Edelman Award (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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