I AM one of the lucky media men who got to experience “the brown ride,” courtesy of the United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), a courier service company operating in 220 countries and territories worldwide.
Suited from top to bottom in the brown uniform UPS delivery personnel are known throughout the world added thrill to the actual delivery of packages in the Metro Manila area.
When there were “Men in Black” in a box-office movie series, UPS has its “Men in Brown.” I got to know Mr. Teddy of delivery operations in the Manila area. Once the shipment got through the UPS Center of the NAIA from Clark, Pampanga, Mr. Teddy already got the go-signal that at any moment, his trip would kick off. Teddy was a father to two sons, with the older now in college. Teddy was passionately doing his job to provide the needs of his family, especially the education of his two sons.
During the ride, heavy traffic was evident from the UPS headquarters. We traveled at least an hour for our first stop but this was not new to them. In a day, they must have 3 stops per hour which requires them to have at least 24 stops productivity throughout the day. Teddy’s delivery was 30 stops per day.
I also learned that they’re not just delivery men; they also pick up packages out of the country. This is how the UPS team works for maximum productivity and providing more service to its clients.
But this will not stop the challenge; we need to carry the two bulky boxes to the third floor using the stairs with our utmost care, for our second to the last delivery and we didn’t have much to depend on but ourselves, actually just him. Their dedication is indeed admirable.
The UPS delivery operation team undergoes several trainings from how to properly carry the packages and to safe driving to ensure every shipment were all good. Milo Gomez, operations supervisor, had it’s meeting with the team about the Playbook to be distributed to all its members. The guidebook will have to pass the test for continuous learning.
Another challenge was to find the location of the recipient. Mr. Teddy hit the bull’s eye: we found the address. Knock! Knock! Knock! When someone opened the door, they usually did not know the recipient written on the shipment, although the address was correct. Mr. Teddy contacted the customer’s number and was told the person did not live in the house we were looking for. The address written had the wrong house number. It was a funny trip after all.
On the technology side, UPS equipped its drivers with their newest generation of handheld computers designed for faster transfer of customer tracking data in real time and makes it possible for UPS customers to track almost 16-million deliveries worldwide each day.
Known as the fifth-generation Delivery Information Acquisition Device or DIAD V, the device is approximately half the size and weight of the DIAD IV, more durable and holds more data. Developed with Honeywell International Inc., the DIAD V weighs just more than half a kilogram and has a clearer and larger display.
The device also includes a color camera that could be used to enhance proof-of-delivery information. When it is not in use for operations, the computer can be used to provide training videos to 90,000 drivers simultaneously.
UPS’s global network relies on the DIAD for most of the tracking information being viewed by customers online, facilitating on average 32.1 million online tracking requests daily. It also enables UPS operators to forward customer requests, including changes to package delivery instructions, while the UPS driver is on the road.
Another technology UPS uses is the DWS or the Dimensional Weighing System where it \measures the dimensions of the shipment – from its length, width, height and mass. This is far modern from the traditional tape measure and weighing scale. Compared to the traditional one, this technology is more accurate and a reliable measurement of packages.
Bo Evangelista, UPS Marketing Manager, said that UPS spends $1 billion yearly for their incomparable technologies worldwide.
UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight, the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage its world of business.
Cyril John Barlongo / Special to the BusinessMirror