Group Assignment: Post # 4

Logistics companies such as FedEx and UPS no longer merely carry goods from one place to another. Some of them also provide supply chain planning and management services to their customers and help them manage their supply chain information.

Investigate the web site of FedEx OR UPS to see how these companies’ services may be used for supply chain management. Then, answer the following questions:

a) What supply chain processes can each of these companies support for their clients ?

Answer: United Parcel Service, Inc., commonly referred to as UPS, is the world's largest package delivery company. UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

UPS' primary business is the time-definite delivery of packages and documents worldwide. In recent years, UPS has extended their service portfolio to include less than truckload transportation and supply chain services. UPS reports their operations in three segments: U.S. Domestic Package operations, International Package operations, and Supply Chain & Freight operations.

Supply Chain & Freight
Supply Chain & Freight includes UPS' forwarding and contract logistics operations, UPS Freight, and other related business units. UPS' forwarding and logistics business provides services in more than 175 countries and territories worldwide, and includes worldwide supply chain design, execution and management, freight forwarding and distribution, customs brokerage, mail and consulting services.

Ship with UPS
The shipping process doesn't need to be complicated. Whether shipping online at ups.com or with another UPS shipping system, well show how to complete a shipment quickly and easily.

Tracking Support
UPS uses tracking numbers to identify and trace every shipment as it moves through the UPS system to its destination. A tracking number is automatically assigned to the shipment, whether use an online shipping system or a paper-based method (UPS Waybill, etc.). The customer can use this number to track, locate, and verify the arrival of shipment, and keep track of other pertinent shipment details.

Return Shipment
The UPS Returns® suite of services streamlines and simplifies the returns process and provides customers with a cost-effective means to manage returns efficiently and satisfy customers' need for fast and easy returns.
Once the process is in place, the returns packages can be given to any UPS service provider, or dropped off at any UPS Drop Box or other locations that accept UPS packages for shipment. The customers can also arrange to have returns packages picked up by contacting a UPS Office.

Business Solution
The UPS provide the business solution including Shipment Delivery, Return Shipment, Technology, Logistics, International Trade and Financial to the customer that what problem the customers will face when they use the service through UPS.