FedEx and Microsoft Collaborating to Improve Supply Chain Visibility
FedEx and Microsoft Collaborating to Improve Supply Chain Visibility
Supply Chain Digital May 2020
By Jack Grimshaw
https://www.supplychaindigital.com/supply-chain-management/fedex-and-microsoft-collaborating-improve-supply-chain-visibility
FedEx will be pairing its logistics network with Microsoft’s AI, machine learning and cloud-computing capabilities to provide enhanced visibility to entire supply chains.
The multiyear collaboration will create opportunities for clients of both companies through multiple joint offerings powered by Azure and Dynamics 365. Data and analytics solutions will reinvent the most critical aspects of consumer experience, helping businesses compete better in the modern business landscape, which is growing increasingly digital by the day.
“FedEx has been reimagining the supply chain since our first day of operation, and we are taking it to a new level with today’s announcement,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx. “Together with Microsoft, we will combine the immense power of technology with the vast scale of our infrastructure to help revolutionize commerce and create a network for what’s next for our customers.”
This deal is the first step in a long-term collaboration between the two companies, as the pair look to drive innovation and share subject-matter expertise to collaborate on product development. 95% of Fortune 500 companies work with Microsoft Azure, whilst FedEx’s logistics networks link more than 99% of the world’s gross domestic product. Combining the size of the FedEx network with the Microsoft cloud gives businesses access to an unprecedented level of control and insight into the movement of goods around the globe.
“Now more than ever, organizations are counting on an efficient and capable supply chain to remain competitive and open for business,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Together with FedEx, we will apply the power of Azure, Dynamics 365 and their AI capabilities to this urgent need, building new commerce experiences that transform logistics for our mutual customers around the world.”
The first solution of the collaboration has been announced as FedEx Surround. FedEx Surround will enable any organisation to improve visibility into its supply chain network by providing near real-time analytics into shipment tracking, which can be leveraged. Analytics provided by the tool can then drive improved precision in logistics and inventory management, with a granular level of detail in every insight.
Any organisation working with a supply chain network can benefit from the FedEx Surround solution. From hospitals in urgent need of life-saving packages, to manufacturers who need a rapid delivery to prevent an operational shutdown, the solution can come in handy in any logistics network.