When we think of nearly any business, we think of artificial intelligence and automation. While we are a long way from automated trucks and drones delivering packages to people’s homes automatically, there are parts of the “final mile” in delivery that can be automated. Automation and FedEx Ground routes is a topic made more interesting by yet another automated FedEx sorting station opening in Wisconsin.
Making Package Sorting Safer
The first thing this process does is make package sorting safer. The human element of package sorting has always held certain hazards, from back injuries to trip and fall hazards, and automation can help minimize those risks.
There are still human operators unloading trucks and loading the “final mile” trucks, but the sorting process itself has become nearly automatic. Scanners, mirrors, and other technology allow packages to be read and sorted almost without human interaction.
Most of this is watched from a central control room, where a single operator watches the cameras and monitors sorting lines for issues that human workers must then go correct. However, this eliminates much of the risk of injury and the sorting can happen much more quickly.
Making Package Sorting Faster
The advantage of automation and FedEx Ground route owners? The simplest solution is that you get your packages to your truck faster, which means you can get them loaded and get on the road sooner.
This also enables you to provide better customer service. The automation of facilities means increasing the speed of shipping lanes. When your customer orders a package, it moves through the system faster, gets to the destination more quickly, and therefore to your customer sooner.
The overnight and speedy delivery process pioneered by Amazon has consumers expecting faster delivery than ever, and FedEx’s unique eCommerce partnerships make this even more important. Automation benefits you as a driver and your customers.
Making Package Sorting More Accurate
Package sorting is about more than just speed. It’s also about accuracy as well. Humans make more sorting mistakes than automated systems, and everyone has stories of misrouted packages, packages that went to the wrong distribution center, and customers who were upset as a result.
While automation won’t eliminate these woes, it can improve the odds that a package gets where it is supposed to go significantly and without major errors.
But it also helps with those minor annoyances of a package ending up on the wrong route or the wrong truck at the last mile level. As a driver and route owner, you can leave the terminal with greater confidence that you have all the packages you should and none of those you should not.
Avoiding Damaged Packages
Moving packages from trailer to belt, from belt to another belt, and onto trucks can all cause damage. Automation makes the likelihood of package damage when moving from belt to belt by using sliders and automated direction that keeps packages in contact with the belt and moving smoothly from one to the other.
This reduction in damage is another way you can keep customers happier, both those who ship with FedEx Ground and those who receive packages. It’s a win-win for both, and therefore a win for FedEx route owners and drivers.
Automation and FedEx Ground Routes
So what does automation really mean for FedEx Ground routes and their owners? It means a safer work environment for support personnel, a more efficient and faster system for sorting and delivery, and greater accuracy. It also means fewer damaged packages along the way.
This means not only are you served better by FedEx, but you can better serve your customers as well. And that’s what it’s really all about at the end of the day.
Ready to buy a FedEx Ground route and you’re curious about how you can enter the delivery business? Contact us today at Route Advisors. We’re with you every step of the way.