FedEx scanning technology offers speedier procession and clearance

FedEx Corporation is installing a worldwide-electronic system to capture critical paper-document information for greater shipment visibility, faster airbill processing and speedier customs clearance.

The system uses customized Bell & Howell scanners in conjunction with VirtualReScan software and Adrenaline boards by Kofax.

The technology provides image-enabled, Web-access to documentation on all international shipments, reducing delays associated with customs clearance paperwork and eliminating the need for country-required physical documentation in the clearance process.

FedEx processes about 1.5 million airbills in a typical eight-hour period, and pre-clears 90 percent of U.S. inbound international shipments. The new imaging system will link U.S. and international clearance, billing and invoicing operations, and eliminate the need to transfer paper-based documents through the FedEx system or between countries via fax.

FedEx has installed 500 imaging systems and plans to have another 200 in production by September for the company’s peak-shipping season. Nearly 900 high-volume production scanners from Bell & Howell should be in service by April 2002.

Information gathered through the new scanning technology is accessible through FedEx InSight, the company’s Web-based application that expands visibility of real-time-status information on inbound, outbound or third-party shipments.