TECH & INNOVATION  /  E-COMMERCE

By Kawal Preet | First published: December 7, 2021    Updated: January 8, 2026

As customer expectations rise across Asia Pacific, on-demand delivery has become a defining element of the customer experience. 

From smarter tracking to autonomous delivery vehicles, new technologies are empowering businesses to fulfill orders with greater speed, accuracy, and confidence.

• AI-enabled tools like FedEx Surround are giving businesses the insights they need to anticipate disruptions and improve delivery reliability.
• With smarter tracking technologies, businesses can monitor a shipment’s location and condition with greater precision, strengthening customer confidence in on-demand delivery.
• Autonomous delivery vehicles are emerging as viable last-mile solutions that can boost efficiency and support future on-demand logistics models.

Technology is reshaping how goods move, and nowhere is this more visible than in the rise of on-demand delivery. As customers grow accustomed to getting what they want, when they want it, delivery has become a defining moment in their experience. It’s where convenience, speed, and trust come together – and where brands can stand out.

Across Asia Pacific (APAC), small businesses and global brands alike now operate in an environment where consumer expectations rise year after year. Customers expect transparency, flexible options, and seamless service from checkout to doorstep. And in an increasingly digital world, the delivery experience is often the deciding factor in whether a customer buys again or moves on.

For businesses, this creates strategic opportunities to strengthen the customer experience through delivery, build loyalty, and stay competitive. Here’s a look at three delivery technology trends shaping the future of on-demand delivery.

1. AI-enabled visibility drives timelier decisions

AI has become one of the biggest accelerators of supply chain innovation. Unlike earlier technologies that focused primarily on speed, AI adds context, helping businesses understand what’s happening in their supply chains and act before disruptions escalate.

At FedEx, the scale of our network gives us a front-row view of this shift. Tools such as FedEx Surround use AI and machine learning to provide near-real-time insights, allowing us to monitor at-risk shipments, receive predictive delay alerts, and enable smarter decision-making for businesses across sectors.

FedEx Surround can also draw on sensor data using SenseAware ID – a lightweight device that transmits location updates every two seconds, helping businesses track their shipments more effectively and get ahead of any potential disruptions with exceptional precision.

This level of visibility is especially valuable for industries where timing and condition are critical, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and aerospace. As more brands adopt digital commerce models, customers increasingly expect seamless and timely deliveries as well. AI enables companies to meet those expectations at scale.

Beyond visibility, AI also supports route optimization, demand forecasting, customs processing, and capacity planning. These capabilities help regional businesses respond faster to changing demand, shorten delivery windows, and support the growth of the on-demand economy.

2. Smarter tracking means customers see the full picture

Transparent delivery updates have become standard in e-commerce. But the next wave of tracking goes much further, giving businesses and customers deeper insight into not just where shipments are, but also how they’re doing along the way.

Sensor-enabled visibility helps businesses manage shipments that require more than basic location updates. With SenseAware ID, for example, packages are tracked hundreds of times, instead of dozens of times with traditional protocols. It allows companies to gain a clearer view of high-value, time-sensitive, or temperature-controlled shipments. This sensor also integrates with select FedEx Surround capabilities, enabling rapid intervention when a delivery is at risk.

As technology continues to evolve, smarter tracking will help businesses differentiate their on-demand delivery services, meet rising expectations, and deliver with greater transparency, accuracy and control.

3. Autonomous delivery vehicles are moving from pilots to progress

Demand for fast, flexible, contactless delivery has risen sharply in recent years, and that momentum has not slowed. To meet growing customer expectations for convenience and speed, autonomous technology is emerging as a practical option for last-mile delivery.

Across APAC, we’re seeing rising interest in autonomous delivery vehicles. Cities in China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam are exploring robotics to ease delivery bottlenecks, support urban logistics, and advance sustainability goals.

At FedEx, we have tested autonomous and AI-enabled delivery solutions to understand where they can add the most value. In China, for example, we collaborated with Neolix to pilot a driverless vehicle designed for short-distance delivery routes. In Singapore, we have also partnered with QuikBot, an agentic AI-powered last-mile delivery platform, to introduce autonomous delivery robots designed for dense urban environments. These pilots help us learn how autonomous technologies can improve delivery reliability, reduce repetitive manual tasks, and support more efficient operations.

While widespread adoption will take time, autonomous systems are steadily becoming part of how businesses meet on-demand delivery expectations. Over time, they may enable logistics providers to overcome labor shortages, increase delivery frequency, and complement human drivers with more flexible capacity.

The delivery journey is now central to customer experience

The on-demand economy has accelerated many shifts, but one stands out: customers increasingly judge a business by its delivery experience. From checkout to doorstep, every touchpoint matters.

New technologies are enabling businesses to deliver the reliability and transparency that customers seek. Whether it’s through smarter routing, contactless delivery, or advanced tracking, the delivery journey is where businesses can earn trust and encourage repeat purchases.

As the delivery experience becomes more intelligent and responsive, it will continue to shape how businesses grow across APAC. For regional companies, now is the time to explore how on-demand delivery models, AI, and autonomous technologies can strengthen your customer promise and keep you relevant in this competitive digital landscape.