FEDEX Corp and Microsoft Corp are joining forces to provide commercial shipping customers with early warnings of delays from weather, traffic and other mishaps, giving the courier and the software maker another weapon as each competes with Amazon.com Inc.
The service, using Microsoft's cloud software, will give big and small companies real-time data to determine ways to improve how they move goods.
For example, a medical-device maker could find out from the new FedEx Surround service that a snowstorm threatens to delay the shipment of a heart-surgery kit to a hospital. Based on the package's high priority, the shipment could be rerouted to make sure it arrives on time.
FedEx's chief operating officer, Raj Subramaniam, said in an interview: 'A lot of insight, a lot of intelligence, hides in this data. Our work together will dramatically improve our visibility and agility across the global supply chain.'
FedEx, which pioneered package scanning and tracking more than four decades ago, wants to attract commercial customers by providing tools that many companies can't develop themselves. FedEx Surround is the first fruit of a partnership between the two companies that may lead to other initiatives designed to help the courier position itself as a logistics alternative to Amazon for small and large retailers. Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx and the online retailer had a falling out last year and cancelled contracts for ground and express package deliveries.
For Microsoft, the collaboration could help narrow the gap with Amazon, which is the leader in the cloud-infrastructure market. The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant has been signing deals with large companies to use Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence software to build programmes that better automate, track and digitise key parts of a customer's business.
'In these times, as businesses focus on remaining open and being competitive, having an efficient and capable supply chain is really critical,' said Judson Althoff, Microsoft's chief of worldwide commercial business.
FedEx Surround won't cost customers extra and will roll out broadly after a pilot programme this summer. The service will use Microsoft's Azure cloud services and artificial intelligence tools, as well as software that handles data from devices likes FedEx scanners and sensors, reports Bloomberg.
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The service, using Microsoft's cloud software, will give big and small companies real-time data to determine ways to improve how they move goods.
For example, a medical-device maker could find out from the new FedEx Surround service that a snowstorm threatens to delay the shipment of a heart-surgery kit to a hospital. Based on the package's high priority, the shipment could be rerouted to make sure it arrives on time.
FedEx's chief operating officer, Raj Subramaniam, said in an interview: 'A lot of insight, a lot of intelligence, hides in this data. Our work together will dramatically improve our visibility and agility across the global supply chain.'
FedEx, which pioneered package scanning and tracking more than four decades ago, wants to attract commercial customers by providing tools that many companies can't develop themselves. FedEx Surround is the first fruit of a partnership between the two companies that may lead to other initiatives designed to help the courier position itself as a logistics alternative to Amazon for small and large retailers. Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx and the online retailer had a falling out last year and cancelled contracts for ground and express package deliveries.
For Microsoft, the collaboration could help narrow the gap with Amazon, which is the leader in the cloud-infrastructure market. The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant has been signing deals with large companies to use Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence software to build programmes that better automate, track and digitise key parts of a customer's business.
'In these times, as businesses focus on remaining open and being competitive, having an efficient and capable supply chain is really critical,' said Judson Althoff, Microsoft's chief of worldwide commercial business.
FedEx Surround won't cost customers extra and will roll out broadly after a pilot programme this summer. The service will use Microsoft's Azure cloud services and artificial intelligence tools, as well as software that handles data from devices likes FedEx scanners and sensors, reports Bloomberg.
SeaNews Turkey