Bringoz Industry Weekly 5/18

mazon partners with FedEx for big-and-bulky deliveries. Walgreens expands robotic prescription fulfillment. DHL and Boston Dynamics team up for warehouse robot expansion. Read about these stories and more in our weekly industry news roundup.

Six years after breaking up, Amazon and FedEx are back together. Amazon has reached a long-term agreement with FedEx to provide limited residential package delivery. FedEx will join Amazon’s other third-party partners, like UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, that works alongside Amazon’s in-house last-mile delivery network to help balance capacity to best serve customers. Read more.

Walgreens is expanding the number of its retail stores served by its micro-fulfillment centers. Those centers use robots to fill thousands of prescriptions for patients who take medications to manage or treat diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions. Relying on those centers frees up time for pharmacy staff, reducing their routine tasks, eliminating inventory waste and allowing them to interact directly with patients. Read more.

DHL Group is ramping up its use of warehouse robots, signing a new agreement with Boston Dynamics to roll out over 1,000 of its Stretch robots around the world. Stretch, which was first used to unload boxes from containers, has now reached speeds of up to 700 cases per hour in some locations. The robots are already working in North America, the UK, and parts of Europe. Looking ahead, DHL plans to use the robot for other physically demanding warehouse tasks. Read more.

Drivers today are looking for vehicles that are not just functional, but also reflect their personal style and preferences. Automakers are rethinking every touchpoint, from performance features to interior design, to create cars that aren’t just modes of transportation but customized digital ecosystems on wheels. Here’s a look at the latest innovations and strategies automakers are using to elevate the driver experience. Read more.

Over the past few years, the automotive industry has faced an unprecedented storm of supply chain disruptions. As a result, automotive manufacturers and suppliers are rethinking traditional sourcing strategies in favor of more agile, resilient, and technology-enabled approaches. Here’s a look at how automotive companies are reevaluating sourcing strategies. Read more.

Meeting customer expectations for oversized item delivery is not just about getting a product from point A to point B. It’s about providing a seamless and positive customer experience. Large item delivery can be a complex and challenging process. Here are some tips for meeting customer expectations and making the delivery process more convenient. Read more.