Innovation & technology policy perspectives
Innovation & technology policy perspectives
Innovating is in our DNA at FedEx, and we are constantly looking at trends and the needs of our customers to determine new developments and design the technology solutions to support them.
Using data to make supply chains smarter
Our digital transformation includes the vision to make supply chains smarter for everyone by leveraging data and digital tools. FedEx Dataworks has created a platform to fuel innovative solutions by embracing the power of data, digitizing supply chains, and delivering ecommerce solutions. This also includes fdx, the first data-driven commerce platform that connects the entire customer journey from end-to-end.
The benefits of blockchain
FedEx sees great potential for blockchain in transportation, where a shared digital ledger could create more efficient and secure supply chains for our customers. We are exploring a number of potential use cases for blockchain technology and are founding members of the Blockchain in Transportation Alliance and the Blockchain Research Institute. Blockchain technology has the potential to improve shipment visibility, speed customs clearance, and provide a common language across different companies’ systems and various industries.
Cybersecurity
An increasingly connected world is increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats and FedEx continues to make significant investments in information security to protect the integrity of our systems and data. FedEx is focused on the protection of trade secrets and customer data, guarding FedEx information systems against malicious interference and disruptions to outside infrastructure critical to operations.
FedEx has aligned with U.S. government agencies and national business associations to influence sensible federal, state, and local cybersecurity and privacy policies and legislation. FedEx has also helped spearhead collaboration among technology suppliers to improve and strengthen their security practices. As the world accelerates its digital expansion, FedEx has a renewed commitment to join with other companies and government agencies to reinforce policies, legislation, and security practices that fortify the protection of digital data.
Innovation is in our DNA
FedEx sees benefits of next-generation innovation for our team members and operations, including computer-assisted vehicles, artificial intelligence and automation, and robotics. We support efforts to modernize federal laws and regulations that encourage advances in transportation technology.
Robotics and automation
At FedEx, we see automation as an opportunity to enhance our team members’ jobs by making them more comfortable, easy, and as safe as possible. We’ve progressed our work with robots and automation and will continue to do so moving forward. We invested in highly-advanced technology and innovations that have resulted in one of the most automated networks in the industry. We continue to test a number of new and emerging technologies within their operations to help maintain this position. This includes:
- Installing four robotic arms to help process small packages and letters within the Small Package Sort System (SPSS) at the Memphis Hub. Working closely with Plus One and Yaskawa to implement an industrial robotic arm that picks packages from a collection bin and places them on a conveyor belt to be scanned and inducted into the small package sort. This collaborative technology is among the first of its kind in the logistics industry.
- Working with Dexterity to leverage AI-powered robotic technology to load boxes into trailers with the help of its DexR mobile robot. Trailer loading has long been considered one of the most challenging tasks due to its physically taxing nature.
Data transformation: FedEx Surround and beyond
FedEx Surround is a monitoring and intervention suite that provides customers near real-time visibility into their shipments by combining information such as scan conveyance and sensor data with external data like the weather conditions to predict shipment success and possible disruptions. This allows customers to take proactive steps or to intervene in real time if issues arise.
The latest in sensor-based logistics
FedEx has long been a pioneer in sensor-based logistics, providing advanced tracking of urgent and high value shipments for over a decade through its proprietary SenseAware portfolio. SenseAware ID is a FedEx sensor technology, designed to make sensor-based logistics more accessible to FedEx customers. This technology uses a lightweight, compact sensor that transmits precise package location data via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to established access points throughout the FedEx network. Packages equipped with the SenseAware ID sensor are tracked hundreds of times versus dozens of times with traditional package scanning protocols, which provides an unprecedented amount of real-time data about the location of the shipment. The enhanced location visibility provided by this technology creates opportunities for FedEx customers to reimagine their supply chain through real-time updates on a package’s location within the FedEx network.
Cold chain solutions for healthcare and other critical shipments
FedEx Express has the flexibility and customized solutions to maintain the temperature of critical packages from pick-up to delivery around the world. Utilizing charter flights, refrigerator trucks and trailers, warehousing, dry ice, thermal blankets, and temperature-controlled containers, we can safely move sensitive shipments, such as vaccines and other bioscience shipments, where and when they are needed. The FedEx Cold Chain Center at FedEx Express World Hub in Memphis, TN, was built in 2016 and includes state-of-the art temperature controlled rooms that can maintain packages at temperatures ranging from frozen (-25°C to -10°C), to cold (2°C to 8°C), and controlled room temperature (15°C to 25°C).
Autonomous vehicles
FedEx continues to be a leader in transportation technology that improves safety and efficiency for our team members, operations, and customers. We believe that autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to impact transportation at all levels in the future—from long-haul to last mile delivery. We have been actively testing autonomous vehicles and we support more testing and research to advance transportation technologies. Additionally, we view the testing and adoption of technology and automation as an opportunity to increase safety, improve productivity, and provide training and career opportunities for FedEx team members. We are working with the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity and support their commitment to “advancing autonomous vehicle technology in ways that improve quality of life and economic opportunity for all Americans.” In 2021, FedEx entered a historical three-way collaboration with Aurora Innovation, an autonomous technology company, and PACCAR, one of the largest medium-and-heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers in the world, to test Aurora’s autonomous driving technology in PACCAR vehicles within FedEx linehaul trucking operations. Aurora continues to move shipments for FedEx in Texas on a daily basis with safety drivers on board.
Drone airport operations with MSCAA
FedEx is participating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP) in conjunction with the Memphis Shelby-County Airport (MSCAA) to test drone operations on airport property to generate data and knowledge for future UAS policymaking. Memphis was one of ten lead participating sites chosen by the FAA in May 2018. Since then, FedEx has been performing research and development to support aircraft inspections and airport safety and security surveillance activities, collecting hundreds of successful flights.
Tested technologies
FedEx participated in a pilot program with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Wing Aviation LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., to test a small package, small drone delivery pilot program. In October 2019, FedEx and Wing completed the first scheduled commercial residential drone delivery service and the first scheduled ecommerce delivery via drone in the U.S. In April 2021, FedEx concluded testing, choosing to prioritize research and development of other technology and innovation programs.
To help improve the urban delivery experience for couriers, customers and the community, FedEx Express piloted the use of electric carts (e-carts) in operations in New York City. After an initial pilot ran in 2021, FedEx Express expanded testing of the e-carts to five areas across Manhattan and Brooklyn in December 2022.
FedEx Dataworks
FedEx Dataworks created a platform to fuel innovative solutions that help customers solve some of commerce’s toughest problems while increasing their competitiveness—faster and at scale. Our powerful, centralized data platform allows us to create solutions that enhance our customers’ abilities to respond and grow at the speed of commerce. And with every repetition, our network gets smarter, allowing us to continuously build off previous insights and actions—rather than creating each solution individually—to exponentially increase value while dramatically decreasing cost.
Optimizing our network
Optimizing our network
We’re optimizing the FedEx network to benefit our teammates, our customers, and their customers. By embracing the power of data and putting it to work, we’re creating a smarter, more resilient FedEx network that puts the enterprise and our customers on a path toward new possibilities.
Digitizing supply chains
Digitizing supply chains
From local retail storefronts to global B2B enterprises, we’re helping our customers unlock more information and insights—delivering more control to businesses over their supply chain, greater visibility to make the right decisions, and enabling more enhanced, efficient operations.
Delivering ecommerce solutions
Delivering ecommerce solutions
We’re creating ecommerce solutions for every size of brand and merchant to help our customers compete in an evolving marketplace. By transforming how data and FedEx work, we’re developing new insights and innovation to strengthen business through the network of where now meets next.
News and updates
FedEx announced fdx, a data-driven commerce platform that connects the entire customer journey in one platform. Access to data and insights will improve visibility and help merchants make strategic logistics decisions.
FedEx announced the launch of a new series of courses on Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce, developed in collaboration with the Blockchain Research Institute and INSEAD.
Berkshire Grey and FedEx have entered into an agreement for new development activities that will provide broader AI robotic automation capabilities to improve the safety and efficiency of FedEx package handling operations globally.
FedEx introduced an AI-powered intelligent sorting robot at its Singapore Hub to optimize operational processes and provide better service to customers.
FedEx Corp. and Nuro announced a multi-year, multi-phase agreement to test Nuro’s next-generation autonomous delivery vehicle within FedEx operations. The collaboration between FedEx and Nuro launched in April with a pilot program across the Houston area.
Dell Technologies, FedEx and Switch are working together to develop exascale multi-cloud edge infrastructure services. This will bring compute, storage and connectivity to the network edge and help customers overcome performance barriers for latency-sensitive applications.
This initiative will focus on bringing multi-cloud resources and exascale compute power closer to where customers run their businesses. Taking this approach allows organizations to make real-time decisions using capabilities like artificial intelligence, machine learning and 5G.
FedEx Corp. has the launched SenseAware ID, a lightweight sensor-based logistics device that delivers a new level of precision tracking. The enhanced location visibility provided by this technology will create opportunities for FedEx customers to reimagine their supply chain through real-time updates on a package’s location within the FedEx Express network. SenseAware ID will improve the safety, security and timeliness of deliveries – key attributes for packages that contain critical contents such as COVID-19 vaccines, other life-saving pharmaceuticals and emergency medical supplies.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) on Monday announced a new multiyear collaboration to help transform commerce by combining the global digital and logistics network of FedEx with the power of Microsoft’s intelligent cloud. Together, FedEx and Microsoft aim to create opportunities for their customers through multiple joint offerings powered by Azure and Dynamics 365 that will use data and analytics solutions to reinvent the most critical aspects of the commerce experience and enable businesses to better compete in today’s increasingly digital landscape.
Today, for the first time in the United States, a drone completed a scheduled commercial residential delivery to a home in Christiansburg, Virginia. The drone delivery was conducted by Wing Aviation, in collaboration with FedEx Express, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program (IPP). Today’s delivery of a FedEx Express package marks the launch of the first scheduled, commercial residential drone delivery service and the first scheduled ecommerce delivery via drone delivery trial in the United States.
Wing Aviation LLC, an Alphabet company, is collaborating with FedEx Express and Walgreens to launch a first-of-its-kind drone delivery service in Christiansburg, Virginia next month. The pilot program will demonstrate the many benefits of drone delivery to communities by exploring methods to enhance last-mile delivery service, improve access to health care products, and create a new avenue of growth for local businesses.
FedEx Corp. announced today a development in cutting-edge delivery solutions to meet the rapidly changing needs of consumers — the FedEx SameDay Bot — an autonomous delivery device designed to help retailers make same-day and last-mile deliveries to their customers.
Featured innovation stories
Aaron Prather is a self-proclaimed tinkerer and solver of puzzles which has led him through a varied career at FedEx to his current role heading up the Small Package Sort System at the Memphis Hub. Prather’s team led the installation of four robots at the facility’s main sorting room where they execute thousands of “pick and place” maneuvers a day. Three of the four robots average around 1,400 packages an hour while a fourth, named Sue, recently received a software upgrade allowing her to move 1,600 packages through every 60 minutes.
Yes, Prather’s team wanted to name the robots and Sue’s metallic coworkers nametags clearly read: Bobby, Colin and Randall.
“Three of the names were picked out of a hat, but everyone really wanted to name one of them Randall after a favorite manager who had recently retired,” Prather explained of the humanizing efforts.
Whether in package sorting or assembly lines, robots are perfect for simulating repetitive and tedious tasks, allowing team members to focus on higher-level more complex tasks. For Prather, who just celebrated 25 years at FedEx, finding a solution to a puzzle is what he’s best at.
“I originally wanted to help develop the routes for couriers, and that’s what I studied in college. But over time I found myself moving from one area inside FedEx to another.”
All told, Prather has held over a dozen roles at FedEx over the years tackling everything from data analysis to figuring out how to move live chickens through the network. It was this same problem solving that led the cruciverbalist (a fancy word for someone who likes to solve crossword puzzles) to investigate working with a new effort that had just started testing.
“There wasn’t an opening at the time, I was just interested in the idea of robots coming to the facility and talked about it with the manager all the time. I found it fascinating. When he moved on, I knew I had to pursue the role.”
Prather and the FedEx team worked hand in hand with robotics firms Plus One Robotics Inc. and Yaskawa Electric Corporation to develop the specialized robotic arms that can articulate properly to handle the delicate task of picking up small, and often odd-shaped, packages.
Two years after the project began, the robots are a first in the industry and couldn’t have come at a better time with more and more customers relying on ecommerce and delivery than ever before.
One surprising benefit of working with robots is the impact on Prather human staff: “They are freed to do so much more and are overseeing the robots.”
A natural born tinkerer, Prather takes apart old iPhones “just to see what’s inside” and built a crude robot for a former hockey club he worked with that would repeatedly shoot pucks so defenders could learn to steal them.
He’s also been back hitting the books on robotics the past few years working with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and recently was enlisted by the Robotics Industries Association (RIA) to lead a task force that will investigate what’s needed to allow robots from different manufacturers to talk to each other in a common language.
The robots at FedEx have artificial intelligence (AI) built in while their human counterparts are adapting the old-fashioned way. “The team is figuring out what types of packages the robots are best at handling and feed them what they ‘like,’” Prather explains. It’s this type of productivity and team innovation that the man building an AI powered RC car in his garage finds rewarding. “People I run into always think working with robots is the coolest job…and I have to agree.”