FedEx Introduces SenseAware, the Next Generation Supply Chain Information

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today announced SenseAwareSM powered by FedEx, a next generation, first-of-its-kind information service that combines a GPS sensor device and a web-based collaboration platform. Developed by the FedEx innovation team, SenseAware will provide increased access to information between business partners and customers to aid in the management of supply chain interactions and will target the life sciences industry at launch.

Available in the spring of 2010, SenseAware is an open, highly adaptive and easy-to-use sensor information sharing platform. It is a multi-modal solution that will serve customers who desire near real-time visibility and insight into their shipments. SenseAware will provide business decision makers the ability to quickly and easily collaborate on many types of information data across their global supply chain.

SenseAware is permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration to be used during flight on FedEx aircraft and will allow customers to monitor in-transit conditions during ground transportation.

A SenseAware device riding with a FedEx shipment can provide the following information:
Precise temperature readings
A shipment’s exact location
When a shipment is opened or if the contents have been exposed to light
Real-time alerts and analytics between trusted parties regarding the above vital signs of a shipment
SenseAware can be easily adopted as it does not require a costly software installation, infrastructure or large managed-service commitments. The added flexibility of the SenseAware device enables it to be used for single shipments or in large palletized shipments.

“One of the basic needs we saw was a sensor-based logistics industry that wasn’t solidifying as quickly as we thought it should around useful sharing of sensor information,” said Robert B. Carter, executive vice president and chief information officer, FedEx Corp. “We developed a point-of-view that sharing sensor information dynamically and in useful ways with supply chain partners proved too difficult, so we attacked this on a number of fronts and the result is SenseAware.”