FedEx Ground
1. Briefly, describe FedEx Ground business model.
FedEx ground is one of the popular units of the parent company FedEx. FedEx Ground was established in the year 1985 as one of the courier services which promises to deliver small to medium sized parcels and packets to its customers all across the United States of America and Canada. The primary customers of FedEx Ground include residential customers. According to a survey, every day FedEx Ground is responsible for delivering three and a half million parcels to the doorsteps of its customers. FedEx Ground has made the most of the technology and is considered as the first delivery service which offers automated sorting and bar coding usage to its customers. Another great element of the business model of FedEx Ground is based on having independent contractors. The idea behind having independent contractors is based on the fact that independent contractors are usually small entrepreneurs who work with dedication and allow sufficient room for flexibility. Moreover, the technology and workforce possessed by independent contractors is quite up to date and polished. Independent contractors feel honored to be linked to FedEx ground and ensure that their productivity levels are high and growing as they cannot let their reputation suffer. The independent contractors can make use of their own vehicles, decide routes and also offer to fulfill employment responsibilities. Smart Post by FedEx is a great initiative which ensures the shipping service is provided to the customers at low or affordable prices. Smart Post is usually offered to customers who wish to deliver small sized parcels to residents based in US and Canada.
2. What type of technology we observed at the package sorting area of FedEx and what do the workers wear on their arms?
Fedex Ground has made the most of the technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its delivery service. We noticed that there are digital cameras installed in the package sorting area of FedEx Ground where the camera scans the car code and enters the information of the parcel in the computer system automatically. The sorting and recording of information done by cameras not only reduce human error but also ensure that the process of sorting gets done at a fast pace. Due to the incorporation of this technology, FedEx has been able to make millions of deliveries in a single day. The workers of FedEx wear arm mount holder with a bar code scanning ring and a mobile computer which keeps them away from fatigue during the warehousing activities and also increases their productivity.
3. How do they handle high volume shipments during Christmas time?
The high volume of shipments is handled at FedEx Ground by increasing the number of contractors during the peak season such as Christmas by offering them discounts and other benefits. FedEx Ground also makes extensive use of technological innovations in order to make sure it meets its high volume deliveries during Christmas time.
4. How is their safety record at the Twinsburg facility?
The safety record at the Twinsburg facility is quite satisfactory as the office building has been made on modern engineering designs such that accidents could be minimized and workers could deliver their maximum output with full efficiency. The workers at the packing and sorting area are provided ample training on the handling of large, small and delicate packages. Workers are trained on the usage of technological gadgets so that they could meet their goals of timely delivery while eliminating any forms of human errors.
