FedEx and Microsoft announce new cross-platform logistics solution for e-commerce

Fedex Chief Customer

FedEx and Microsoft have announced that as part of their multi-year collaboration, they will bring data insights from FedEx with capabilities from Microsoft Dynamics 365 to introduce a cross-platform “logistics as a service” solution for retailers, merchants, and brands. This cross-platform approach aims to help brands deliver modern, high-value experiences directly to customers including faster, more cost-effective delivery and near real-time delivery status communications, with 60,000 drop-off locations and printerless QR codes. 

Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management uses data and AI to create an omnichannel order management application that integrates with existing Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management 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 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/no-code environment that uses AI and machine learning.

FedEx Surround is a FedEx’s customer-facing solution built using Microsoft Azure cloud technology. Built to leverage the millions of data points across the FedEx network, the FedEx Surround platform leverages 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 provides customers with visibility to the state of their supply chain and allows 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 FedEx claims has been instrumental in supporting COVID-19 vaccine transportation. The platform enabled FedEx to manage monitoring this significant increase in priority shipment volume.

According to the companies, this new technology brings opportunity for brands and merchants 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. 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.

Source: FedEx