- FedEx has joined Hyperledger
- FedEx previously joined BiTA in February 2018
- FexEx CEO has previously referred to blockchain as the ‘future of supply chain’
FedEx has been one of the most enthusiastic mainstream organizations to embrace blockchain technology. Earlier this year, FedEx joined the BiTA and was an early adopter of blockchain technology in the tracking of their packages. Needless to say, the shipping giant has always been open to blockchain technology.
They seem to be taking yet another step in this direction as they have now joined Hyperledger, an open-source project hosted by Linux that aims to improve the use of blockchain technology in logistics and transportation.
Hyperledger
While FedEx is just joining, Hyperledger the project is not a new one. It was first founded in 2015 but has been able to attract over 270 members. The majority of its work so far has been helping institutions to develop large-scale blockchain projects that aid business.
FedEx
FedEx has been one of the most proactive institutions in adopting blockchain technology for their business and also one of the most vocal to that effect.
Despite some disagreements within the industry, FedEx CEO Fred Smith has stated that he thinks blockchain technology is the future of the supply chain business and the move to adopt it by FedEx is them staying on top of that industry.
In February 2018, FedEx officially joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). In an interview with FreightWaves earlier this year, Dale Chrytie said:
“’We want to work on developing common standards around blockchain technology in the transportation industry, and we continually try to enhance the customer’s experience, and blockchain is tied to that.”
When FedEx first began making use of Blockchain technology, it might have been seen as them riding the bandwagon of other logistics companies that were adopting blockchain technology.
Now, it is evident that they plan to fully explore the capabilities of blockchain in their business.
As Kevin Humphries, Senior Vice President of IT at FedEx Services said, blockchain will have huge implications on the worlds of logistics, supply chain and transportation and when these changes come, FedEx will be ready for them.
And of course, an industry heavyweight such as FedEx embracing blockchain will encourage others to follow suit.
