What Technologies Are Used in UPS

8/11/2019 What Technologies Are Used in UPS

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What technologies are used in UPS?

Technology is UPSs major asset in relation to reach customer oriented efficiencyand to acquire a higher level of productivity. Flexibility is the ey !ords in relation to thetechnological advancements of UPS. "n the recent years# the technology progress !as

directed in !ay to create more flexibility to both employees $ customers. Through asuite of applications# UPS offers optimised route planning# real%time !ireless dispatchand &PS# strategic territory planning# !eb%based reporting# live remote support so as togive freedom to its sta eholders 'customers $ employees(.

These technologies can be separated in sections so as to afford a better comprehension such as sending shipment to a third party# the trac ing facilities of shipments $ to create billing information as !ell as non shipping activities.

Send shipment to a third party.

)efore any shipment is sent there need to be a cost calculation of freight# routeplanning etc.

'a( The use of UPS WorldShip to utilise the companys existing customer data tocreate shipping labels and other types of forms# it captures the receiver billinginformation# ma ing accounting more efficient.

'b( Geminis Windows-based soft!are saves UPS customers valuable time oninformation gathering# documents preparation before and air freight shipmentcan be sent. *oreover# it can be added on the senders address boo .

'c( ConnectShip offers a !ide range of shipping activities designed to meet themulti%carrier small pac age and other freight needs of UPS customers.+onnectShip lo!ers systems management costs# increases efficiency andimproves shipping processes.

'd( MyFreight is another UPS technology does not require any heavydo!nloadable applications. "t is an environment friendly !eb based solution.*yFreight gives you ease access to shipment boo ings and many other facilities.


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The technologies mentioned above are in relation to customer ease of access toinformation ho!ever# on the playing field to send a parcel the UPS drivers or the branchreceiver uses the ,elivery "nformation -cquisition and ,elivery ',"-,( technology. Thisis a technology on a net!or of handheld scanners related to a mother server and on!hich all the other technologies of interfaces !ith UPS customers depend on.

The tracking facilities of shipments & billing activities

The other technologies used by UPS are the -pplication Programming "nterfaces'-P"( !hich helps customers to integrate trac ing tools on their !ebsites. -nd this is avery important tool as it increases the versatility of the internet# access to informationand mobility. The customer receiving need not to access UPS !ebsite to have accessto trac ing information but can do it via the !ebsite of the UPS customer sendingshipment.

The !ant!m "iew #pplication Programming $nter%ace P$' is a eb%based

service that provides shipment manifest information# status updates# and affords eventalerts for inbound and outbound shipment. The soft!are ho!ever is compatible to /*0resources. "t is very important for fully customer oriented enterprises !hich might !antto integrate so as to render high value services to its customers to their +1* systems.2uantum vie! manager $ 2uantum vie! data and 2uantum vie! notifyer arederivatives applications of the -P" technology. They help customers in vie!inginformation of shipment as !ell as billing procedures to be performed by receiver.Trac ing information can be sent via emails and also do!nloading of shipment data andgraphics on selected format.

The (ocator #P$) ,o!nloading the -P" 0ocator !ill help the user of various type

of location information such as the UPS store locations# mail boxes# customer centres#drop in boxes# UPS alliance locations and authorised shipping outlets and UPS serviceproviders. 3no!ing !here these different locations are situated helps customers therouting# access and the viability of these locations.


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Time in Transit #P$) This !eb application set the lin s to on UPS customers!ebsite for the shipment receiver to dra! out the pace in !hich and the speed theshipment is said to travel. For multiple shipments# to different location the receiver hasthe ability to synchronise all the parcels to reach their destinations at the same time.There are also other delivery options !hen the shipment receiver placed order on the

senders !ebsite. This po!erful -P" displays all available UPS shipping services toevery location UPS delivers around the planet. ,elivery date can be set prior sendingof shipment as !ell as the transit time to reach destination. -nd all these informationcan be retrieved at any point in time.

The Collection #P$ is another !eb based application deriving from the -P"characteri4ed soft!are. "t helps to categorised shipments services to three types of sections5 small pac ages# less Than Truc 0oad '0T0( and the truc load freight.+orporate customers therefore have access to more targeted services to as to respondmore accurately to demands customer !hether being a sender or receiver of theshipment. The +ollection -P" also affords option to reschedule an already processed

shipment 'in transit( to a ne! location agreed by the receiver and all this via the !ebsiteof the UPS sender customer.

The Tradeability #P$ is another -P" suite !hich helps enterprise by anticipatingand managing trade regulations compliance and evaluating international partners. "thelps businesses to get a!are of the current commercial legislation in a particular country. "n terms also of financial cost relating licensing# landing cost etc.

Fle* Global "iew) This is a supply chain solution for businesses !hich areengaged in hundreds of shipment every day. *anagers that get involved !ith this indof soft!are are distribution managers and supplier6vendor managers. &lobal shipping

and supply chain management responsibilities have been increasing since globali4ation5therefore modern managers should be equipped !ith high calibre tools overloadedprocedures and tas . Flex global vie! has been created in the vie! to achieve theseobjectives. Flex &lobal 7ie! affords total visibility of products# via UPS Trac ing8umbers# freight references or signature specimen. -part from its shipment trac ingabilities# it can inform about the means of transportation using live connections.Proactively monitor distribution centre inventories# by informing the receiver# the amountof stoc left on shelves and the promised quantity for reception of products. Therefore#it helps '9ust "n Time( order from the part of the UPS customer receiver so as not to runout of stoc . "t is also an -P" based soft!are.


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UPS +illing ,ate %iles are small formats !hich help UPS business customers tointegrate billing tools on their !ebsite to ease billing calculations as !ell as to reach for information retrieving easiness. These files are available in +S7# /*0 or :," ;!hat if? scenarios to dra! out

plans to sho!s out possible obstacles that may arise !hen considering possiblestrategies. Unconsidered obstacles can be inputted in the system so as to create morerealistic prevision in the future. "t helps to balance !or load so as to decrease pressureon system and employees# it determine !hether the enterprise asset 'e.g. truc s( issufficient to meet out ne! customers. "t has the advantages of to creating valuablereports as !ell as routes procedures for drivers.

MobileCast) -n application !hich is mainly based on the &PS technology !here

it each vehicle of the companys fleet is traceable. The system is also compatible !ith!ireless voice and data net!or s. "t ensures higher productivity by vehicles drivers andrelated staff in transportation. "t benefits the company !ith a higher level of customer service by ensuring clients quic delivery conditions. *obile+ast is also highlycompatible !ith the other suite of UPS application such as 1oadnet etc. This meansthat *obile+ast receive the best route plan from 1oadnet and it ensures that the saidroute plan is respected. "t ensures also proactive actions by management ensuringcustomers ne! scheduled delivery time in case driver has been delayed.


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What problems does UPSs information system solve? What would happen if these system were not available.

UPSs information system provides solutions for both the enterprise andcustomers 'individual or businesses(. UPS solutions help to solve problems such as5

Uncertainty"t reassures UPS employees about precision in their tas as the information

system ensures that action !ill be performed at the right time and performed as itshould be. The ris of doing things a different !ay is minimised as !ith theestablishment of "nformation System in the enterprise# procedures !ould bestandardised all the over the branches round the globe. For example# it is a !orld!ideprocedure for UPS driver !hen collecting pac age to use the ,elivery "nformation

-cquisition and ,elivery ',"-,( that is the handheld barcode reader to scan thepac age !hen the driver ta es possession of the shipment. This ensure that the time is!ell recorded# the place via &PS technology.

"n the customer side# the information system put in place by UPS also provide for assurance from the part of the client to no! exactly !here the shipment during thepac age transit. Thus# it can be said that the trac ing ability of the information system#creates a sense assurance that the pac age !ill not be loss in nature.

Inefficiencies"dle time and unproductive !astage of time is reduced at its minimum. Thus#

productivity is enhanced !hich leads better financial results of the enterprise. )y usinginformation system# the organisation organigram becomes flatter productivity isincreased and this !ith a lesser quantity of employees. The levels of hierarchies are

thus decreased as communication is enhanced throughout the organisation and thuslesser expenses for the organi4ation in terms of !ages and salaries.

The fact that the business expense falls# cost of service is reduced to consumer is also lo!ered. Therefore# the customer benefit also benefits from a reduction in thebilling of service through the use of suitable soft!are offered by the enterprise. Thusthe increase in productivity benefits not only the enterprise but creates moreopportunities for customers to invest their time and energy on the services offered byUPS.


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Insecurity

UPS employees are secure in their jobs as through the use of informationtechnology the enterprise in itself is ahead of competition. - sense of total security isimportant# for the mental stability and thus leading to more productivity by employees.

)eing ahead of competition# the UPS enjoys also financial security.

+ommitment to information technology in itself is gives a sense of security to theUPS customers. The fact that customers can be able to trac do!n their shipment as!ell as their past billing activities helps them to be more confident in their actions !ithUPS.

Inflexibility

The information resources available at UPS helps the enterprise its ability toaccess data from any place in the !orld. 1eports can be sent for in @T*0 version

'compatible !ith any bro!ser( as !ell as /*0 version. "nformation can be sent in termsof email or S*S. 7ersatility of various !eb%based applications ma es it easy for customers to find an adapted one !hich most suits the enterprise. The ubiquitycharacteristic of the management information system ma es more convenient to access!ebsite and a major opportunity for e%commerce.

@o!ever# if the information system !ere not implemented first of all UPS !ouldhave been in the forefront of the shipping industry. -ll the procedures !ould manualones and it !ould have resulted in the follo!ing dra!bac s5

In the short termo 8o billing service through !ebsite.o +ustomer inability to trac shipment through !ebsite.o 8o real time access to information through emails or S*Ss.o The ris of loss of shipment !ould be increased 'insecurity# no bac up

and security of information(.o 8o soft!are# to enhance the !ebsite of the business customer.o &reater !or load for employees as much processes !ould be via

paper!or .o @igher pricing of services.o &reater delays of shipment to reach customer. Unable to respect

deadlines.o 8o control over employees as in the case of *obile+ast application 'truc

drivers are located via &PS(.

In the long term (sno ball effect!o ,ecrease in customer service.o ,issatisfaction by customers.o ,ecrease in sales output 'customers diverging to competitors(.


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How does this website enhance UPSs competitive positions? Change the way it conducts business?

UPS through the information technology investments has reached a lo!er cost of

operations. The !ebsite facilitates for more lo! cost channel per unit of services.

+ustomers easy access to a friendly environment !ebsite has increase thedemand for UPS transfer services of goods and services. The !ebsite# also facilitatesmore business to business transactions because of the ability to create lin !ith UPSsbusiness customers !ebsite !ith UPS !ebsite. Thus# the UPS !ebsite technologyleads to greater mar et share.

UPS has also created an internal interface !here decisions are made !hether toput hard!are on scrap or disposed off 'sold( or recycled.

+ommitment to information technology has also resulted to a sense of securityand assurance for UPSs customers but also to its employees. here# their !or loadhas been reduced considerably. - happy employee !ould result in more productivity bythe latter. Thus in a !ay both the mindset of UPS corporate customers and internalemployees have influenced to revie! the !ay business is conducted locally andinternationally through out its branches all round the globe.


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How does it relate to UPS strategy? How does it benefit UPSs customers?How is UPS becoming partners with its corporate customers?

The strategy of UPS has been to use his !ebsite as a tool to focus on elements

that have determinants in its expansion process. Thus helping UPS to be present allaround the globe and also to be a !itness of all spheres !here business transactionsare concerned. )y using its interface as an asset for its e%strategy so as to gain inmar et share by5

'i( Using its multifaceted technology to facilitate access to shipments informationand trac ing.

'ii( To ease up the daily operations steps and proceedings of businesscustomers.

'iii( The UPS business culture is to focus on business to business transactions.

Thus this strategy comforts UPS in the achievement of this goal.The UPS !ebsite affords the follo!ing benefits to its customers5

"t ensures ubiquity to its independent of corporate customers. "t means thatcustomers can access its !ebsite from any!here all around the !orld and atanytime.

"t develops a sense of reliability and security of UPS customers in relation to thequality of service offered. For some customers the aspect of efficiency ispriceless.

"t helps UPS corporate customers to really apply their strategy by invo ingpossibilities of dis%intermediaries by these enterprises. This !ould mean direct

processing of products from manufacturers to consumers. *any languages option available on the site this also a sense of versatility of

information through the management information system.


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The customer relationships no!adays are interconnected from business to customer $ more importantly from business to business. UPS and its business partners haveno! shared goals form instance5

'a( To have the shipment of UPS customer to reach destination the most quic ly

$ safely as possible.'b( To have a greener society. )y the >greener global trade? activities arefocused so as to minimise fuel consumption and the use of biodegradableproducts.

'c( To !or in a society free of fraudulent activities 'such as spam or phishing(.Protecting the intimacy of its customers help UPS to have a positive image.

'd( "mplementing business solutions that contribute to the global supply chainsuccess of enterprises.

These factors sho! ho! UPS are becoming partners to its corporate customersthat through all the various strategic actions and goals of enterprises# some of

them do have similarities. )y !or ing together these goals# !hether long term or short term# are sure to be met.


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What ind of information and services does the website provide for individuals!small businesses! and large businesses? "ist these services and write several

paragraphs describing one of them! such as UPS #rade $irect or %utomatedShipment Processing. &'plain how your business would benefit from theservice?

UPS has various inds of services through the information technology it allo!s tobusiness customers. )usiness to consumer transactions has been the traditional focusof UPS by offering shipment services !hich through the years has been evolved topaperless invoices billing via technology. Small businesses has also benefit from UPSadvancement in information technology by the ability to trac their shipment from their !or ing station and therefore give assurance to their customers. Special soft!areapplications have been designed to respond to UPSs small business customers suchas *yFreight and &emini indo!s%based soft!are. hereas# large businesses haveta en advantages from UPSs development in technology# !hether dealing in shippingor non shipping activities. *ultinationals businesses have huge supply chains to !ith

hundreds of destinations for their shipments. hile# non shipping activities areconsultancies in soft!are management in truc trac ing as !ell as driver trac ingthrough &PS technology.

The services offered by UPS through its information technology dedication are5 UPS Trade ,irect ',irecting shipment straight to end custmers(. -utomated Shipment Processing 'ordering shipment !ith paperless order forms

and invoices(. &lobal Freight services 'shipment services for heavy !eight pac ages all round

the !orld(. +ollections option 'UPS employee collecting pac ages at the senders office or at

home(. +ustoms bro erage solutions 'tools and consultancies to eliminate customs

obstacles(. UPS mobile solutions 'S*S trac ing# email responses help to be in contact !ith

shipment any!here in the !orld(. UPS 1eturns 'applications helping customers to ease returns of goods to the

sender(. UPS 1eturns Plus 'more easiness to help returns through collection services

from sender point of sales or office(. 1outing and ,elivery services 'the ability to select best possible route# to trac

drivers position# planning the journey and forecast time of arrival for noneshipment activities(. )illing ,ata and )illing -nalysis tools (:asiness to retrieve billing data and

analyses the best option of freight in terms of cost effectiveness(. +onnectShip arehouse application for distribution and !arehousing services

'Aver BC million sq ft of centralisation of shipment all around the !orld#shipments are centralised and thereafter despatched to a single or fe!er customers(.


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#!tomated Shipment Processing &ad/antages o% s!ch a system'

"t is a very versatile shipment processing !hich is suitable for any enterprise nomatter its si4e. The -utomated Shipment Processing is a more ecological !ay of doing

business !here paper use is reduced to its minimum !here all orders or returns areperformed on the internet. "n fact# all soft!are applications on UPS are in relation to -utomated Shipment Processing !hich reduces considerably the use of manual entriesand thus eliminating double entry errors in relation to cost and billing calculations. Theability for a customer 'receiver( to enter the !ebsite of customer 'supplier( and to order directly !ithout entering the UPS !ebsite is another benefit of automated processing.

-pplications li e UPS orldShip# 2uantun 7ie! -pplications '-P"(# Flex &lobalvie! and others form part of this -utomated Shipment Processing concept. @o!ever through Flex &lobal vie! !hich have a more integrated options to vie! out the stocmanagement abilities. :.& automated calculations is stored on the system !here for

instance# if only ten units are left on shelves and automating reordering process isengaged. This is an option !hich has been put in place so as to help to reduce out of stoc situation !hich !ould mean loss in sales opportunities for the business. This isanother aspect of -utomated Shipment Processing. The advantage of this system isthat it reduces the frequencies of physical inventories. Purchases and sales areautomatically stored in databases !hich can give quic theoretical inventories.

The -utomated Shipment Processing is also very versatile because it is moresuitable to enterprise dedicated to information technology !here they can integrate theprocess in an :nterprise 1esource Planning ':1P( system. This for instance !ouldease the financial accounting and corporate decision ma ing of the business.

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What Technologies Are Used in UPS