FedEx and Microsoft to launch new cross-platform logistics solution for e-commerce
FedEx and Microsoft will bring together FedEx network intelligence with capabilities from Microsoft Dynamics 365 to introduce a cross-platform "logistics as a service" for retailers, merchants and brands.
The firms announced the next solution on Monday as part of their multiyear collaboration to transform commerce, supply chains and logistics. FedEx and Microsoft are using tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to extrapolate new insights from the 17 million packages that pass through the FedEx network each day to help brands deliver improved customer experiences.
The companies announced plans to introduce unique data integration, coupling data insights from FedEx with Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management. This will help brands access new information and capabilities to better fulfil, ship and service customer orders while easily integrating with their existing e-commerce platforms.
Seamless FedEx data integration with Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management is expected to be available to customers in the U.S. in the second half of 2022.
Cross-platform, logistics as a service solution for brands
According to the two companies, a cross-platform approach will help brands deliver modern, high-value experiences directly to their customers including faster, more cost-effective delivery; near real-time delivery status communications; and convenient, frictionless returns with approximately 60,000 drop-off locations and printer-less QR codes.
This will be particularly helpful for brands facing increased pressure to build affinity while managing higher order volumes, ensuring cost-effective fulfilment and reducing costly customer service calls. This new technology brings opportunity to leverage existing systems of record, optimise fulfilment and deliver on their order promises with increased precision while benefiting from a more complete view of their customer.
Raj Subramaniam, president and COO of FedEx Corp., said, "Nearly two years ago we set out on a mission with Microsoft to transform the commerce ecosystem. In that time, we've made significant progress, leveraging Microsoft Azure technology with our FedEx Surround solution, which provides critical support in enabling advanced monitoring of time-sensitive priority shipments."
He added that this next phase of the collaboration will continue to connect the unmatched supply chain insights from the FedEx network with the Microsoft Cloud to improve e-commerce experiences for brands, merchants and consumers.
Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management uses data and AI to create an omnichannel order management application that integrates with existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems and can leverage an ecosystem of other order source systems such as online e-commerce marketplaces, mobile apps and social commerce alongside traditional ordering channels like electronic data interchange (EDI) or brick and mortar point-of-sale.
The platform is equipped with prebuilt connectors to the leading tools brands already use for omnichannel order intake, cross-channel order fulfilment and delivery, and rules-based order orchestration actions within a low-code or no-code environment that uses AI and machine learning. Coupled with data and visibility into the FedEx network, the companies aim to empower businesses with new, innovative ways to better serve their customers.
"More than ever, it's clear just how critical having a resilient supply chain is for every organization's success in the modern economy," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. "We're bringing data and insights from the FedEx network together with the Microsoft Cloud, starting with Dynamics 365, to help organisations accelerate their digital transformation across their business operations so they can offer customers more integrated ways to shop, and faster, more efficient deliveries."
Empowering all industries with increased logistics supply chain visibility
FedEx and Microsoft joined forces in May 2020 to enable businesses to better compete in today's increasingly digital commerce ecosystem.
The pandemic has dramatically accelerated e-commerce adoption and the digital transformations of businesses of all sizes. Pre-pandemic, FedEx projected that the U.S. domestic package market would hit 100 million packages per day by the calendar year 2026. The market is now expected to hit this mark four years sooner than expected, growing to 110 million packages a day in 2022 — with 86% of that growth expected to come from e-commerce.
FedEx Surround, the first FedEx customer-facing solution built using Microsoft Azure cloud technology leveraged AI, machine learning and analytics solutions to proactively monitor the risk to FedEx packages along a delivery route — such as weather disruptions or traffic delays. This near real-time information provided customers with visibility to the state of their supply chain allowing them to proactively plan remediation and alternatives that FedEx can help execute to keep a shipment on track.
FedEx Surround was deployed in December 2020 and helped support COVID-19 vaccine transportation. The platform enabled FedEx to manage monitoring this significant increase in priority shipment volume.
