UPS and FedEx use tracking technology to speed up deliveries

UPS and FedEx are hoping to make the most of tracking technology to deal with the influx of Christmas deliveries this year. UPS hopes to save 100 million miles’ worth of journey through the use of a smart routing technology called Orion.

The company will be using Orion this Christmas to manage up to 70% of the company’s routes within the United States. The algorithmic technology analyses over 200,000 options for each 120-stop route before selecting the most efficient one. Last year, UPS apparently saved up to 6-8 miles per route, leading to lower fuel usage and reduced gas emissions.

Meanwhile, FedEx has introduced six-sided “scanning tunnels” which can track everything from weight and dimensions to sorting decisions, reducing human input and error.

(Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)