FedEx has invested in Nimble, a technology company specializing in AI robotics and autonomous fulfillment systems. The move will help FedEx scale its fully autonomous third-party logistics offering, which should appeal to e-commerce vendors. “Our strategic alliance and financial investment with Nimble expands our footprint in the e-commerce space, helping to further scale our offering across North America,” said Scott Temple, president of FedEx Supply Chain.
Temple added that Nimble’s AI robotics and autonomous fulfillment systems will help streamline operations and create new opportunities for FedEx customers. We’re thrilled to engage in this multifaceted alliance with a logistics industry leader to pioneer and scale autonomous fulfillment,” said Simon Kalouche, founder and CEO of Nimble. Kalouche noted that the collaboration will enable the use of Nimble’s fast and cost-effective fulfillment centers, powered by the company’s next-generation intelligent warehouse robots and AI technology.
The investment amount was not disclosed.
FedEx scales with Nimble technology
Through the alliance, FedEx can use Nimble’s fulfillment centers, which are located in the U.S. and Mexico.
These facilities feature robotic systems that autonomously pick, pack and handle products for brands selling apparel, footwear, electronics, and other items. FedEx Supply Chain currently has more than 130 warehouse and fulfillment operations in North America and processes 475 million returns annually. The partnership with Nimble aligns with FedEx’s strategy to strengthen its capabilities and attract more e-commerce and small and medium-sized business customers.
Investing in Nimble is part of FedEx’s broader efforts to leverage technology to improve the customer experience. The company also uses automated unloading and sorting technology, testing autonomous driverless technologies for handling large packages and employing AI-enabled robotic sortation systems for small packages. FedEx also leverages digital insights and predictive capabilities to manage storm-bound volumes during severe weather, enhances tracking capabilities through machine learning and AI models, and offers AI-enabled customer service through its Virtual Assistant on fedex.com.
