Last mile capabilities added to XPO Connect

Global freight transportation and logistics services provider XPO Logistics announced today it has added last mile capabilities to XPO Connect, its cloud-based digital freight marketplace.

XPO Connect was initially introduced in April 2018. The offering provides shippers with what XPO called a single point of entry for visibility across various transportation modes in real time, which, in turn, helps shippers identify both time- and cost-saving opportunities. And it also noted that XPO Connect enables shippers to gain access to usable business intelligence that can be leveraged to more efficiently purchase transportation in various ways.

The last mile delivery of heavy goods typically require assembly and installation inside homes, with company officials saying XPO averaged arranged around 40,000 last mile deliveries per day in 2018.  XPO is the largest North American-based provider of last mile logistics for heavy goods, which is operated through its expansive network serving e-commerce and omnichannel retail customers.

XPO Connect’s entrance into last mile provides multiple benefits, including:

• providing XPO’s customers and independent contractors with deeper visibility into the last mile process and more control over the consumer experience;
• retailers and e-tailers gain actionable business intelligence and capabilities for digital scheduling, geo-tracking, delivery exception monitoring and claims processing;
• independent service providers can view available offers, geo-monitor tendered routes, track payments and see their performance metrics; and
• XPO leveraging its 85 last mile hubs in North America and its integration with the XPO Direct shared-space distribution network

“We’re empowering our customers with an expansive suite of digital tools to manage growing demand for last mile services,” said Mario Harik, chief information officer for XPO Logistics, in a statement. “At the same time, we’re supporting the service providers who represent our customers’ brands. XPO Connect has opened the door to widespread efficiencies across our transportation network.”

This offering is the most recent example of XPO’s significant capital expenditures into technology, with the company saying it expects to invest $550 million into technology in 2018.