In 2025, global merchandise trade is expected to grow by 3%, with imports into Asia projected to increase by 5.1%. China also maintains significant potential for import growth. In 2024, China's total imports reached RMB 18.39 trillion, and it is expected to remain the world's second-largest importer. A study by the International Trade Center highlights that failed pickups and lack of visibility during transportation are among the biggest challenges faced by global importers. These inefficiencies directly impact business operations, underscoring the necessity of digital solutions like the Collaborative Shipping Tool.
The FedEx Collaborative Shipping Tool allows importers to share the creation process of shipment air waybills with shippers to confirm transportation details and schedule pickups based on their readiness. This collaborative feature aims to improve pickup success rates and ensure a more efficient import process.
Salil Chari, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Customer Experience for FedEx Asia Pacific said: “Global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex. To stay competitive businesses must adopt smarter logistics solutions. As a pioneer in this field FedEx is committed to leveraging digital innovation to help our customers anticipate challenges while navigating an ever-evolving marketplace. The Collaborative Shipping Tool facilitates seamless collaboration between importers and shippers enabling businesses to optimize their supply chains by reducing inefficiencies. By simplifying import processes FedEx not only enhances operational efficiency but also shapes the future of the logistics industry.”
FedEx Senior Vice President & President for China Lily Hui said: “China is a pivotal engine of global trade. As China’s market continues its robust import expansion there’s an accelerating demand from businesses for greater efficiency and visibility in cross-border shipments. The FedEx Collaborative Shipping Tool offers Chinese customers a convenient solution for digitally managing their imports making communication with overseas shippers simpler and helping them manage their global supply chains more effectively. By continuously introducing such enhancements FedEx is building smarter supply chains for all businesses facilitating smooth cargo flows into and out of China.”
The key benefits of the Collaborative Shipping Tool include:
- Enabling seamless collaboration: Importers can now share air waybill creation
processes with shippers who can then confirm or modify package details and
arrange pickup dates/times according to their schedules.This improves data
accuracy enhances overall pickup success rates minimizes shipping delays.
- Increasing visibility: Importers gain real-time insights into pickup
processes ensuring greater transparency/control over shipments.
- Enhancing user experience: The intuitive tool simplifies import procedures
making operations easier/more efficient for both importers/shippers.
The Collaborative Shipping Tool is now available across Asia Pacific Europe US-
Canada Middle East Indian Subcontinent Africa regions assisting all local FedEx
importing customers in collaborating seamlessly with global shippers.This new
feature complements other digital solutions like iClear offering comprehensive
options for managing imported shipments/simplifying entire import processes.
Through these innovative initiativesFedEx continues improving customer
experiences optimizing logistical efficiency.