Google Cloud today announced a new, multiyear collaboration with XPO Logistics Inc. around cloud-based supply chain optimization, adding to a string of major customer wins it has landed since the start of the year.

XPO said it will leverage Google Cloud’s expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to build faster and more efficient supply chains that provide greater visibility into where goods are as they’re being shipped across the world.

The logistics firm is a leading provider of freight transportation services, relying on proprietary technology that includes its XPO Connect automated freight marketplace to truck goods across the country for more than 50,000 local shippers.

XPO said ongoing problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic mean that the logistics marketplace has become increasingly unpredictable, with supply constraints, volatility and rising demand all adding to the problems. In order to try and help customers cope with this, XPO said it has migrated a number of key applications to Google Cloud. By doing so, it added, it benefits from enhanced scalability and higher application availability, which is critical during peak periods of seasonality.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of moving to Google Cloud, however, is the wealth of AI and machine learning services it offers, XPO said. It’s now able to provide greater insights to its product managers, demand planners, route planners and data analysts by democratizing AI and data analytics. For example, XPO said, its engineers are now using tools such as Vertex AI to build new data pipelines that enable greater efficiency across the logistics chain. At the same time, it has created improved load-matching and pricing algorithms for the XPO Connect platform.

Meanwhile, XPO is also taking advantage of tools such as BigQuery and Looker to optimize network planning with real-time updates on the status of shipments, so operators can take action to avoid potential shipping delays, it said.

XPO Senior Vice President of Technology Yoav Amiel said the company is always looking to innovate to move goods across the world faster. “Implementing the most cutting-edge technology is the best way to ensure we achieve this goal,” he said. “By working with Google Cloud’s AI/ML and data analytics capabilities, we can operate the fastest, most efficient supply chains possible.”

Just as important as speed is sustainability, and Google Cloud also helps XPO to ship goods across the world in the most efficient way possible. The company explained that each business application that’s moved to Google Cloud has zero net operational emissions. That’s because Google Cloud matches 100% of the electricity that powers its data centers around the world with renewable energy to eliminate carbon emissions. That allows XPO Connect to improve the carbon footprint of the company’s truck brokerage customers by optimizing lane assignments and reducing empty miles, the company explained.

The collaboration with XPO is another big customer win for Google Cloud and follows similar announcements with VMware Inc., BT Group plc. and Bloomberg LP. in March. Earlier this year, Google Cloud also announced similar collaborations with Dun & Bradstreet Holdings Inc. and L’Oréal S.A.

Photo: Google Cloud