Consolidation of Transport providers Continues Singapore Post has put up its Australian logistics assets for sale under the FMH Group of companies. Border Express Pty Ltd; CouriersPlease and efm Logistics; Bagtrans; GKR; Niche Logistics; and some logistics providers are transport companies included. Companies interested in the purchase are Pacific Equity Partners; Blackstone; and BGH Capital; however; Mainfreight and Team Global Express have been sidelined due to concerns over sensitive information. This private equity shake-up could massively impact the logistics landscape in Australia. With interest rate cuts potentially on the horizon; there could be a wave of consolidation and investment. FedEx introduces Surround to boost supply chain visibility. Federal Express Corporation announced the launch of its FedEx Surround; an intelligent solution for monitoring and intervention designed to elevate logistics and supply chain management by enhancing control and visibility of shipments for customers. This solution is currently available for Singapore and Hong Kong SAR customers and will soon be rolled out to additional APAC markets; including China; Japan; Malaysia; Australia; Korea; and Taiwan. The FedEx Surround monitoring and intervention tools integrate with the company’s existing transportation network; enhancing its shipping and tracking solutions suite. With three service levels for customers to choose from comprising Select; Preferred and Premium; the tools support a range of industries; including healthcare; aerospace; and high-tech; providing updates and interventions that ensure the integrity and timely delivery of sensitive shipments. With the FedEx Surround monitoring and intervention suite; FedEx offers three features to its customers:
- Flexibility and control – The surround dashboard provides near real-time global visibility and predictive analytics using AI and SenseAware ID.
- Unique handling code enhances operational capability; enabling prioritised boarding and handling; cold chain support and in- and out-of-network intervention.
- Peace of Mind – 24×7 support ensures proactive monitoring and intervention with dedicated teams at hubs; ramps; and stations; including customised customer reporting.
“The tools are not just about tracking; it’s about smartly intervening in real-time to ensure that shipments are not only monitored but also actively managed to mitigate risk.;” says Kawal Preet; president of Asia Pacific; FedEx. This product utilises advanced sensor technology; including SenseAware ID; with near real-time data analytics to provide continuous monitoring and proactive interventions for shipments worldwide. SenseAware ID uses a lightweight; compact sensor that transmits precise package location data every two seconds via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to WiFi access points or established gateway devices throughout the FedEx network. Packages equipped with the SenseAware ID sensor are tracked hundreds of times versus dozens of times compared to traditional package scanning protocols. FedEx uses AI and machine learning technologies within the FedEx Surround system. These technologies predict potential disruptions in the shipping process; allowing FedEx and its customers to make informed decisions.
The future of warehousing and third-party logistics providers is automation. Reflex Robotics; a cutting-edge New York-based startup; is transforming warehouse efficiency through innovative robotics solutions. By deploying advanced robots; Reflex Robotics aims to amplify automation; streamline processes; and propel supply chain innovation forward. This breakthrough has the potential to enhance logistics operations significantly. Reflex Robotics described its system as “an out-of-the-box solution designed to reach operational capability within 60 minutes of deployment and ramps to fully autonomous by learning from human demonstrations over time.” The company claimed that the multi-purpose robot can transition between repetitive tasks; from tote transfers with other automated systems to product picking. The system is being tested at a live site and eventually will be rolled out. The Reflex robots are not yet fully autonomous and require employees to operate remotely. The company said this “human in the loop” deployment is core to its strategy to enable quicker deployments.
For more information; please get in touch with Michael Salih.
Michael Salih Principal Consultant +61 412 923 188 msalih@eragroup.com
