Autonomous robots are now moving through corridors and taking lifts up several high-rise buildings to make deliveries in Singapore, as part of a partnership between logistics firm Federal Express (FedEx) and Singapore-based QuikBot Technologies to make last-mile delivery more efficient.
The robots now carry items to destinations at South Beach Tower and Mapletree Business City, following a successful six-month pilot at both sites. More sites are expected to be operational by the end of 2025, as FedEx expands its first such robot delivery rollout.
The American company is also QuikBot’s first commercial partner, with the collaboration introducing the commercial launch of what QuikBot calls the world’s first Autonomous Final-Mile Delivery (AFMD) Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS).
Through this autonomous final-mile delivery ecosystem within commercial high-rise buildings, FedEx couriers deliver multiple parcels to QuikBot’s delivery depots located within each building cluster.
From here, QuikBot staff verify and load the parcels into secure delivery containers, before the autonomous robots take over. Guided by AI agents, the robots handle short-distance, floor-to-floor deliveries within buildings. They can also manage mid-distance transfers between buildings, carrying up to three boxes per trip.
The platform operates autonomously within a 1.5km radius, and can transition between indoor and outdoor environments, according to QuikBot. The robots can navigate lifts, access secured floors, and perform contactless deliveries without human assistance.
The automation promises to streamline courier operations by minimising wait time at lift lobbies and security checkpoints. Plus, it is able to prioritise time-sensitive deliveries.
“Delivering in dense urban environments like Singapore requires fresh perspectives and cutting-edge technology,” said Eric Tan, managing director of FedEx Singapore, of the partnership last week.
“Our collaboration with QuikBot embodies FedEx’s commitment to revolutionising urban logistics through automation and data-driven insights. It enables us to scale efficiently while building a more agile, sustainable, and future-ready network,” he added.
QuikBot founder and chief executive, Alan Ng, said last-mile logistics remains one of the most expensive and inefficient aspects of the supply chain due to labour shortages, rising emissions, and growing delivery demands.
His company’s autonomous platform tackles this head-on by integrating robotics, IoT, and smart infrastructure into a scalable solution, he added.
