Online shopping continues to grow exponentially, FedEx is incorporating automation into its operations, DSV is constructing warehouses powered entirely by renewable energy, Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service is facing regulatory hurdles, and CEVA Logistics has announced plans to expand its fleet of electric vehicles.
Online Shopping Leads To New Tracking Solutions
The popularity of online shopping is on the rise, with e-commerce transactions accounting for about 15% of total retail sales. As consumers expect faster shipping and better communication, retailers face challenges in meeting these expectations with generic carrier tracking solutions. To address this, project44 has introduced configurable branded tracking pages and alerts, allowing retailers to create customized and branded tracking experiences. By providing accurate information, improving post-purchase communication, and delivering a positive customer experience, retailers can stand out and build customer loyalty in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
Source: Freight Waves
Fed-Ex Increases Efficiency With Robotic Arms
FedEx has acquired 12 new parcel-sorting robotic arms from Plus One Robotics and Yaskawa Motoman for its Express sorting facility in Memphis. With the addition of these arms, the facility now has 16 robotic arms in its Small Package Sort System. The robots are responsible for picking packages from collection bins and placing them on conveyor belts for scanning and induction into the system. Additionally, FedEx has deployed Plus One’s hybrid depalletizing systems at an Express station in Reno, Nevada, to facilitate the movement of cases from palleted shipments. These automation solutions allow FedEx employees to focus on more skilled tasks and improve operational efficiency.
Source: Supply Chain Drive
DSV Building Solar-Powered Warehouses
Logistics company DSV is constructing two new solar-powered warehouses in Landskrona, Sweden, with a total area of 175,000 square meters (1.9 million square feet). The facilities will feature over 100,000 square meters of solar panels, supplying renewable energy for their operations and providing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Surplus energy will be fed back into the local electricity grid. These facilities, developed by DSV Energy, will serve as a pilot project to support the company’s goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Source: Inside Logistics
Amazon Drone Delivery Struggles To Meet Projections
Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service (launched in late December) has currently reported 100 deliveries so far. This is far below its initial projection of 10,000 deliveries by the end of 2023. One of the main obstacles to the service is regulatory restrictions imposed by the FAA, which include limitations on flying at night, over people and roads, and beyond the visual line of sight. Amazon’s latest drone model also failed to meet safety requirements for operating near people.
Source: Freight Waves
CEVA Makes Big Leaps Towards Emissions-Free 2050 Goal
In EV news, CEVA Logistics has announced plans to expand its fleet of electric vehicles to 1,450 by the end of 2025. The expansion will include 1,000 delivery vans, 300 straight trucks, and 150 tractor units, reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 67,000 tons yearly. CEVA will facilitate the transition to EVs for its subcontractors and sell certified CO2 savings to customers in shared user networks.
Source: Inside Logistics
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