UPS Automates Logistics With Rising eCommerce Deliveries

To become more agile and squeeze out costs in the age of online shopping, shipping and logistics conglomerate UPS is turning to automation. The move comes as the firm is adjusting to the rise of deliveries for eCommerce, Bloomberg reported.

UPS Network Planning Tools Initiative Program Manager Rob Papetti said, according to the outlet, “It’s not a typical one-time project. It’s a multi-year program to really take advantage of the automated network that we’re building out to dynamically move packages through it.”

Parcels in Salt Lake City, for instance, move at a speed of roughly six miles an hour on conveyor belts, 10 times quicker than if they were handled by hand. At the same time, gadgets such as dimensioners and scanners improve sorting accuracy, as opposed to when workers had to send the parcels to the correct chutes. The company can also use the flexibility automation to program computers with delivery routes that entail “less miles, less fuel and less equipment,” according to Papetti.

The news comes as UPS has teamed up with Inxeption, an eCommerce technology firm, to enable businesses to market and distribute items from one secure place on multiple online channels. Through the Inxeption integration, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors will be able to set up a branded website. These companies then can list, market and sell their products as blockchain-assisted technology maintains the security of sensitive information.

UPS Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Warren said at the time, according to the report, “The growth of eCommerce is driving B2B buyers to expect the same fast, convenient shopping experiences that consumers enjoy. Working with Inxeption is another way we’re creating innovative solutions that help small businesses deliver quality service for their customers and succeed in eCommerce.”