Elly Yates-Roberts |
FedEx will use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management to provide a logistics solution for retailers, merchants and brands, as part of its multi-year collaboration with Microsoft.
Data will be gathered from FedEx’s packages and through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help brands deliver improved customer experiences.
Since the domestic package market is expected to grow to 110 million packages a day in 2022, the data integration from both companies will help brands access new information to improve their customer experiences including faster and more cost-effective delivery, near real-time delivery status communications, and more convenient returns with approximately 60,000 drop-off locations and QR codes that do not need to be printed.
Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management uses data and AI to create and monitor an omnichannel order management application, which can be used by enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems. The application will also be accessible through online e-commerce marketplaces, mobile apps, social commerce, electronic data change and point of sale in physical stores.
“Nearly two years ago we set out on a mission with Microsoft to transform the commerce ecosystem,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief operating officer at FedEx. “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. This next phase of our 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.”
FedEx Surround was deployed in December 2020, allowing FedEx to support Covid-19 vaccine transportation. The company now aims to use Dynamics 365 to help customers improve their supply chains.
“More than ever, it’s clear just how critical having a resilient supply chain is for every organisation’s success in the modern economy,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO at 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.”