Elly Yates-Roberts |
A new partnership between FedEx and Microsoft has been formed to create a new experience for supply chain management. By combining technologies including Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365 with FedEx’s logistics network, the firms aim to give organisations an enhanced level of control and insight into the global movement of goods.
“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 Smith, chairman and CEO of FedEx. “Together with Microsoft, we will combine the immense power of technology with the vast scale of our infrastructure to help revolutionise commerce and create a network for what’s next for our customers.”
As part of the partnership, Microsoft and FedEx will collaborate on product development and share expertise. The first solution to come out of it, FedEx Surround, is designed to enable businesses to improve visibility into their own supply chain using real-time data analytics into shipment tracking, and enhance inventory management.
“Now more than ever, organisations are counting on an efficient and capable supply chain to remain competitive and open for business,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Together with FedEx, we will apply the power of Azure, Dynamics 365 and their [artificial intelligence] capabilities to this urgent need, building new commerce experiences that transform logistics for our mutual customers around the world.”