FedEx, Microsoft partners to build “logistics as a service” product

Microsoft and FedEx made more information about the second phase of their multiyear relationship, which they first announced in 2020, public today. On January 24, the pair announced that they are collaborating to establish a cross-platform “logistics as a service” offering for retailers, merchants, and brands by combining FedEx network analytics with Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Microsoft said in 2020 that it would collaborate with customer FedEx to employ analytics to improve supply-chain and shipping-time visibility. FedEx Surround, the first FedEx customer-facing solution built on Azure, was announced at the time, and would be ready in December 2020. FedEx Surround employs artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics to proactively assess the hazards to parcels along a delivery route (such as weather disruptions and traffic delays).

Officials announced today that FedEx’s data integration with Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management will be accessible to clients in the United States in the second half of 2022. Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management creates an order management tool that can interface with ERP and CRM systems by combining data and AI. The system, according to officials, will provide data and visibility into the FedEx network.