Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Flexport
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Flexport
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
enterprisingness
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
widget
back
Government & Policy
Hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
surety
societal
infinite
inauguration
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Freight furtherance and logistics companyFlexportis rolling out asuite of young products and feature film , many of which use AI , in what the society says will be the first in a serial publication of semi - annual proclamation of this kind .
If that sounds similar to Airbnb ’s approach shot to seasonal production proclamation , that ’s because it was the inspiration for Flexport ’s new advance .
“ Brian Chesky say me to do it , ” Flexport beginner Ryan Petersen said in an interview , referring to Airbnb ’s CEO . “ He gave this great talk that Paul Grahamwrote an essay about , call ‘ Founder Mode , ’ I was there that mean solar day , and he give some dandy advice . ”
The next product press release will come in “ later summer , ” concord to Flexport .
Petersen told TechCrunch that moving to a twice - a - year “ release ” cadence offers two heavy benefits . One , he said , is “ there ’s nothing like the power of a deadline . ” The other is more about selling .
“ We ’ve developed a lot of keen technology over the years , but it kind of descend out incrementally . There ’s not a mint of fanfare , and buzz , and chance to assure the story in ways that customers can see what you ’ve done , what you ’ve built , ” Petersen told TechCrunch .
Flexport says it is launch more than 20 products on Monday , many of which it was already using internally , all powered by a combining of AI from OpenAI , Anthropic , and AWS . The big production packaging comes as Petersen complete his first full year back as Flexport ’s chief executive officer after firingformer Amazon executive Dave Clarkin late 2023 in a bid to “ get [ Flexport ’s ] house in order . ”
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Among the new product is Flexport Intelligence , which have businesses get info about their shipments using natural language prompt . Another , called Control Tower , will give customers “ tangible - time visibility and control over their entire logistics web , even on freight rate not managed by Flexport , ” according to the company .
Previously , these were things that Flexport faculty did for its customer . lean on AI to perform these tasks and , in essence , mediate that relationship is a big change for the company — specially because one of the reason Petersen enkindle Clark was because he sense the ship’s company had devalued its customer relationship .
“ This is something we ’re really witting about . I ’m still a vast truster in ‘ hoi polloi first , ’ ” Petersen said . He tell the raw product will proffer “ the good of both worlds ” because business will still have the ability to call a Flexport squad extremity — ideally , someone who knows them well — and get help if they need or choose it that way .
To that ending , Petersen sound out he expects hug AI will avail Flexport grow its ranks , not replace workers .
“ I believe that the company — and I think it ’s going to be us — but the company that does the good job of automate this work will not have less workers . You ’ll have more because you ’re going to grow so fast . If you ’re cheaper than other citizenry , you ’re die to call for more people than ever to do service , sales , consulting , technology , ontogenesis , et cetera , ” he said .
Another effort Flexport annunciate Monday is the comprehension of AI - powered voice agent in some of its own workflows .
Petersen stressed that Flexport is guardedly introducing this capableness . Right now the companionship is prove this with the truckers and storage warehouse that use its logistics platform . The AI voice federal agent calls number one wood to tell them there are loads available to be picked up in their area and calls warehouses to verify canonic detail like minute of operation .
Petersen said this helps with these mere conversations but that Flexport is still close out these transactions through the veritable workflow on its platform . He pronounce he ’s “ hesitating ” to rush to let in voice agents in other parts of Flexport ’s business until the capability and dependableness improve .
“ My standard quality stripe for making these things customer - facing is really high , ” he said . “ I think there is a future where customers will be glad babble out to an AI if it ’s really good at answer their inquiry . ”
That does n’t intend Petersen plans to move slowly with AI overall . In fact , he said he screw the speed at which Flexport has been capable to experiment .
“ Our teams can face at any place of [ customer ] pain and find some appendage that can be done better by an LLM or other mannequin of machine scholarship , and just do it . And the next day , it ’s live , it ’s being used by thousand of company without having to go sign endeavor contracts or beg people , ” he said .
