Flexport Unveils AI-Powered Supply Chain Innovations

Flexport has introduced a suite of AI-powered services to give customers greater control over their supply chains. The highlight is an AI service that allows users to ask questions in their native language and receive insights about supply chain performance.

Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, said, “By launching these powerful new AI-driven supply chain products to thousands of companies around the world, we have immediately become the largest provider of AI tools for global supply chains. Many startups are emerging to provide AI tools for logistics, but they lack the data required to train the AI models and struggle to sign up customers to use their technology. Our scale as one of the largest logistics providers in the world gives us huge advantages in both creating the technology and getting it into the hands of businesses operating in the real world.”

Control Tower Offers Real-Time Visibility

The new Flexport Control Tower provides businesses with real-time visibility and control over their logistics network, even for shipments not managed by Flexport. Early adopters reported freight cost savings of around 10%.

Ted Boeglin, VP of North America, said, “Early adopters of our Control Tower saw freight cost savings of 10% on average. Now, we are expanding our order management, allocation management, and third-party booking management capabilities to include carrier and supplier scorecards. Control Tower provides companies with access to our powerful tools, regardless of which company they contract to move their air and ocean freight.”

AI Enhancements Across the Board

Flexport is also rolling out real-time pricing for ocean shipments, dropshipping for e-commerce, and international parcel shipping. The company is enhancing its supply chain messaging product and upgrading visibility and notification features. “AI is incorporated throughout the new products and features you’ll see today,” Petersen noted.

Semi-Annual Product Releases Inspired by Airbnb

Flexport will introduce new technology developments through a semi-annual product release cycle, inspired by Airbnb’s approach. “There’s nothing like the power of a deadline,” Petersen said, emphasizing the benefits of this strategy for marketing and innovation.

AI Voice Agents and Internal Tech Improvements

Flexport is cautiously introducing AI-powered voice agents in its workflows, starting with truckers and warehouses. “My standard quality bar for making these things customer-facing is really high,” Petersen stated. The company is also sharing insights into its internal technology, which includes route optimization and workflow automation.

Flexport’s Commitment to Growth and Innovation

Despite challenges, Flexport is committed to leveraging AI to transform logistics from a cost center to a growth engine. “Our tools free up human ingenuity to tackle challenges AI alone can’t solve,” said Sanne Manders, President of Flexport. The company aims to make global commerce easier and more accessible, driving growth in the industry.