FedEx and Microsoft Team for Inventory & Logistics Management
FedEx and Microsoft are partnering to provide a granular level of insight into logistics and inventory management.
The multiyear collaboration will combine FedEx’s global digital and logistics network with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud to create a series of data and analytics solutions. The first solution, FedEx Surround, enables businesses to enhance visibility into their supply chain by leveraging data to provide near-real-time analytics into shipment tracking, driving more precise logistics and inventory management.
The companies cited the example of a hospital urgently needing a package to help save a life, or a manufacturing facility requiring rapid transport of a part to avoid a shutdown, as among the situations that would benefit.
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FedEx Surround can also collect multiple data points gathered through FedEx’s scanning and IoT technology, and analyze them using Microsoft’s AI, machine learning and analytics solutions. This will provide businesses with enhanced visibility of a package’s location during its journey, as well as knowledge of global commerce conditions and external challenges in near-real-time, such as severe weather or natural disasters, mechanical delays, clearance issues and incorrect addresses.
With every package that ships, FedEx Surround will also analyze past trends to identify future opportunities for streamlined shipping.
Information regarding FedEx Surround availability will be shared beginning this summer, with customer access rolled out in the months ahead. The companies said they will also announce additional solutions as part of their collaboration in the coming months.
