FedEx Is in the Global Logistics Industry,

FedEx is in the global logistics industry, and offers a wide range of products and services within this space. The major business units are Express, Ground, Office, Custom Critical, Freight, SupplyChain and Trade Networks. The major business is Express, which is the overnight courier business. FedEx pioneered this service and remains the global leader in overnight shipping. While most subsidiaries are based in the United States, Express operates globally, spanning a network of stations in 220 countries and territories. Most regions of the world can be reached within 1-3 days. Ground operates in the U.S. And Canada, serving business and residential customers with slower shipping times. FedEx Office used to be Kinko's, and is an international office services chain. The other businesses encompass a wide range of solutions including LTL (less than truckload) shipping, customs clearance and sophisticated supply chain solutions, primarily to very large or multinational clients.

The unifying aspect of all of the different FedEx businesses is that they are service companies, and they are tied by the common thread of logistics. The company moves goods, but it neither produces those goods nor sells them. The service company is backed by a network of 290,000 employees, a fleet of aircraft and ground vehicles, and a network of stations around the world that sort packages for delivery and shipment.

FedEx backs its service with guarantees. The most famous of these is the longstanding guarantee on overnight delivery. Most overnight shipments come with a delivery guarantee for various points in the day, and if the courier has not attempted delivery by this point the company will refund the cost of shipment. The guarantee provides piece of mind for the customers, and it provides significant motivation for FedEx to maintain a strong network, exceptional organization, and high quality staff.

The company's fleets of aircraft and trucks are essential to the effective delivery of this service. The vehicles are subject to in-house maintenance to ensure that they are in top working order, since vehicle downtime can result in capacity issues. The vehicles represent fixed capacity -- especially the aircraft -- so managing that capacity is essential to the profitability of the company. FedEx also works hard to ensure that it has the best workers it can find, and has become a very diverse company as a result, recognizing the benefits of opening up hiring to all groups capable of doing the job.