UPS has begun rolling out radio frequency identification (RFID) package sensing across its US small package network, boosting visibility and reliability to customers.
The technology has been installed in all UPS package delivery vehicles in the USA, in the company’s delivery facilities across the country, and on every package shipped through over 5,500 The UPS Store locations, including customer return shipments.
UPS said it is the first major logistics company to broadly roll out RFID technology across its integrated network, and that it will continue to invest in RFID. It said it has invested more than US$100m to develop and implement the technology.
“We’re lighting up customers’ supply chains in real time with RFID, enabling precise tracking, faster insights, a smarter network and smarter packages,” said Matt Guffey, executive vice president and chief commercial and strategy officer, UPS.
“This is the most significant visibility advancement in the past decade at UPS and in our industry. With RFID embedded into labels, on our vehicles and in our loading bays, customers benefit from clear visibility during the entire shipping process – from pickup to delivery, with no manual scanning required. The result is commerce that is smarter and predictable.”
UPS says RFID delivers benefits for customers without requiring them to develop expertise in the technology or invest in new systems.
The RFID sensing confirms whether packages have been picked up and are in UPS’s possession. The company says no other carrier is able to offer this assurance across its US network.
Packages are automatically sensed as they move though the network, which is said to provide greater transparency as shipments progress.
The enhanced data it provides enables UPS to respond faster when conditions change, such as extreme weather or unexpected events.
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