Introduction
United Parcel Service (UPS) is a private company that deals with package delivery. It has it’s headquarter in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Due to technological advances, human population’s growth coupled with an increase in the world’s competition and consumer demands, companies have designed new methods in order to meet the increased consumer needs. This has called for changes in the service delivery systems.
Companies dealing with service delivery such as United Parcel service have focused on improving their delivery services at affordable costs by developing new technologies.
United Parcel Service has developed new technologies to ensure that clients track their packages sufficiently in the company’s supply chains and to verify the receipt of their packages. This has been successful by the development of computer software that has enabled customers to make their shipments through their personal computers.(Day, 1997)
UPS had initiated a fast package tracking system that collects and sends data at the same period. Thus, it has developed a competitive advantage as a tracking device housing an in built radio that allows the company’s drivers to get immediate information of the requests made by the clients for urgent demands like urgent pick ups. Previously the drivers depended on phone calls and pagers which were not efficient enough.
Currently, UPS has developed a new Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD) which is an innovation achieved by blending engineering and telecommunication technologies. The device is used in transmitting information without depending on a delivery vehicle. The device is equipped with an inbuilt data radio that is very fast in transmitting data immediately. Therefore it allows drivers to maintain contact with dispatchers making the clients pickup requests can be forwarded through text messages fast enough. In addition, the cellular communication has the ability of retrieving sent information from a delivery van. An internal modem that has an automatic dialer makes the DIAD to be efficient compared to a telephone.(Cleland, 199)
A technique that can be used to diagram the process
The use of Business Planning model in systems and software engineering can be used to diagram the process in a manner that allows that current process to be analyzed and improved. By using DIAD, a driver automatically captures a customer’s signature along with the pick up, the delivery time and the time card information.
A model is important in describing this process because it demonstrates the processes throughout the delivery system. The advantage of using a model is that any body with a package to ship can monitor and access the web site to track their packages, check the delivery routes, determine the transit time and evaluate the shipping rates and can be able to schedule the pick ups. The data acquired from a UPS web site are sent to the UPS main control computer and can be retrieved by the clients.
Inputs, processes and outputs of UPS's package tracking system
The emphasis that has been put by UPS to advance on industrial engineering has helped in gaining productivity in its operations. By placing the DIAD in the UPS truck adapter of the vehicle, a device used to convey information is connected to the cellular phone network. This transmits the package tracking information to UPS computer network for data storage and processing and the information can easily be accessed in any destination of the world. This assists the clients and the company in getting the proof of the delivery of packages and to respond to the clients’ questions.(Blackmon, 1998
The use of DIAD has enabled the client pick ups requests to be made as quickly as possible. It ensures that UPS is able to provide flexible and efficient package delivery information that is available in all places for precision and quality. DIAD is designed to accommodate new components and features powered with a faster processor with more memory. It has programs and icons the makes the global environment simple.
DIAD information system improve effectiveness and efficiency of business processes
DIAD has enabled the express industry to lead the paperless revolution having key entry and an information storage and report generation functionality, it has reduced the amount of work that requires papers that may be involved in the delivery procedures. The data that is entered can be retrieved automatically in all the stages of the delivery process. Thus, it is time saving and accurate. Hence, the UPS internet tools have enabled its customers to advance and expand their online offerings and have efficient services to their clients.
Organizational impacts of the new system
DIAD impacts the UPS drivers and the management. For instance, UPS has in the past made savings in fuel by minimizing returns. UPS has many vehicles hence the fuel savings are very considerable to the management. The drivers being idle at the intersections when waiting to make left turns, the soft ware routes that has been developed by UPS the packages of a day with preferring right turns.
Security policy for UPS drivers, customers and customer service representatives
The adoption of an electronic method to advance business operations of UPS was to achieve a secure, electronic sharing device of any digital device containing data, images and software. The use of an automatic format translation reduces the chances of data re-entry.
The need for a reduction in the delivery delays and the re-entry of data that is associated with regular delivery of packages and mails, the minimization of courier and fax costs and, an efficient and reliable real time delivery status monitoring and tracking.
The disadvantage involved includes the plans to begin a multi year global deployment having DIAD to perform many operations.
Works cited
Blackmon, Douglas A. “UPS, Feeling Boxed In, Stages Its Own Coming Out.” The Wall Street Journal, 17 September, 1998, sec. B, p.4.
Cleland, Carmel, S. “The Olympian Task of Providing Prompt Delivery Service.” Toledo Business Journal, May
1997.
Day, Charles R. “Shape Up and Ship Out.” Industry Week, 6 February 1997. Pp.14-20.
