FedEx will launch a new end-to-end commerce platform for retailers using its proprietary data, president and CEO Raj Subramaniam announced Jan. 14. Subramaniam broke the news in a morning session of The National Retail Federation’s Big Show at the Javits Center in New York City. The annual show put on by the trade association assembled 40,000 attendees, 6,200 brands and 1,000 exhibitors.

FedEx is a shipping carrier for 478 retailers in the 2023 Digital Commerce 360 Top 1000. The Top 1000 is a ranking of North America’s leading retailers by online sales.

FedEx introduces fdx

FedEx called the new platform “fdx.” Subramaniam said it will help retailers track the four most important areas of ecommerce across the customer experience:

• Demand
• Conversion
• Fulfillment
• Returns

“FedEx is transforming into a digitally-led business powered by our extensive physical transportation network, leveraging our scale and insights from moving 15 million packages per day,” Subramaniam said. “Through fdx, we will enhance our longstanding relationships with merchants of all sizes to help them optimize and grow their businesses through digital intelligence.”

The primary benefit of fdx over other ecommerce technology vendors is that everything lives in one platform, FedEx says. A single unified platform is more efficient than a siloed approach with many vendors and technology systems, Subramaniam told the audience at NRF. 

For example, FedEx can connect clients with high-value customers through ShopRunner, which it acquired in 2020. It can also give retailers delivery estimates to share with customers on product pages and in the cart, which it says will increase conversion.

FedEx has access to extensive data from its huge delivery network that it can put into practice for retailers to help them make strategic decisions across their business, it said. 

Fdx will be “FedEx 2.0,” Subramaniam said. The digital network will be built on the extensive physical network FedEx already owns. 

Fdx and returns

FedEx says the new fdx platform will also include a way to manage returns. It will “streamline, configure, and manage digital front-end return experiences, data exchange, and physical transportation for returns in one platform,” according to the press release. 

Subramaniam confirmed that the shipping carrier will process returns without boxes at FedEx locations. That news comes just a few months after rival UPS announced its acquisition of Happy Returns, which processes box- and label-free returns at UPS stores.

When will FedEx launch fdx?

FedEx plans to launch fdx in fall 2024. The carrier is also offering previews to interested retailers now. Potential clients can also visit FedEx’s booth at NRF to learn more ahead of the launch. 

See the other NRF stories Digital Commerce 360 is following here. 

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