UPS rolls out new Saturday export pick-up service for United States-based companies

Atlanta-based global transportation and logistics bellwether UPS announced today it is implementing changes that will enable United States-based customers to up their games when it comes to selling their products on a global basis.

UPS said that through its new Saturday export pick-up service, U.S.-based companies scheduling a Saturday pick-up from the U.S. to 57 “key international markets” will have shipments processed and shipped on Saturday, with delivery coming as soon as Monday, which UPS said is a full day faster than the company’s previous time-in-transit. And it added that the destination countries are in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with more markets to be added in 2019.

“One day makes a big difference when it comes to your international customers deciding to place an order,” said Nando Cesarone, President, UPS International, in a statement. “We’re seeing significant opportunities for U.S. businesses, especially small-and medium sized online retailers, to export their quality products to high-growth international markets. By connecting e-tailers to our smart global logistics network, UPS helps them meet their customers’ expectations and compete with local country e-tailers.”

UPS added that this new service will serve a significant benefit for U.S. businesses that want to move export shipments six days a week or need a rush on weekend orders, while also expanding the company’s existing portfolio of Saturday ground delivery and pick-up services for U.S. customers, which it rolled out in 2017 and represents one of its largest time-in-transit gains in the 110-year history of UPS.

A UPS spokesman told LM that in the past export packages could be picked on a Saturday along with U.S. ground domestic packages, but these export packages would not be processed until Monday, with earliest delivery possible by Tuesday.

As of Saturday January 12, export packages picked up on Saturday are now processed and sent to the UPS Worldport facility in Louisville, Ky. for earliest delivery by Monday, saving one day time-in-transit to all listed destinations.

The spokesman explained that focusing on international growth markets and small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) are two of UPS’s strategic growth initiatives, and this new service addresses both by helping U.S. SMBs to export to new markets.  And he pointed out that with more than 99% of U.S. small businesses not exporting, there is enormous untapped new market potential for them.

“It gives U.S. businesses the chance to compete even better with international competitors, especially in the fast-moving online retail space,” he said. “UPS’s enhanced service means a reduced chance of online shoppers abandoning shopping carts because a faster delivery enhances online competitiveness and builds a U.S. e-tailers’ brand internationally. Retailers around the world say e-commerce has become a 24-7 operation and they want faster delivery options to help them be competitive. Finally, this new export service also helps international consumers shopping for U.S. products, who are increasingly accustomed to rapid delivery. UPS has long been the preferred choice for delivery and we want to remain that way.”

From a competitive perspective for UPS, the spokesman said that this new service helps UPS increase operating capacity with no additional investment in buildings, vehicles or trucks, noting that providing new and tailored services to small and mid-sized companies is a big part of UPS’s previously announced strategic imperatives for 2019 –

“SMBs are a big part of our growth plans, and services like this are custom-built with them in mind,” he said.