CN partners with Google Cloud to modernize rail services

CN announced a seven-year strategic partnership with Google Cloud aimed at modernizing the Class I’s supply chain through digital scheduled railroading and technology infrastructure.

The companies will collaborate in an effort to "revolutionize" the North American rail system, CN officials said in a press release.

The partnership will support CN's sustainability goals because Google’s cloud platform is the cleanest in the industry, they said.

The partnership will focus on three initiatives that aim to:
• enable better connectivity and collaboration with customers and supply chain partners. CN will develop an intuitive digital platform, powered by Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools, to give customers and supply chain partners more visibility into the logistics journey of planning, shipping, tracking and payment.


• deliver new experiences for CN’s customers through co-innovation initiatives. The partnership will combine the companies' expertise in data analytics, AI, and ML to deliver solutions and next-generation experiences for CN’s employees, customers, and partners, such as simplified ordering and automated tracking to further enhance predictive maintenance capabilities.


• modernize CN’s infrastructure in the cloud. CN will gradually and securely move the large majority of its digital infrastructure, including SAP applications, from on-premises to Google Cloud’s always-on global network. Moving to the cloud will enable CN to scale with customer and industry demands, simplify the company’s IT estate, create efficiencies and reduce product delivery lead times.