Send us Feedback

United Parcel Service (UPS)
Analysis
SUMMARY
BULLS
BEARS
TOPICS
Data
DATA CENTRAL
STOCK CHART
Financials
SEC FILINGS
BALANCE
INCOME
CASH FLOW

UPS » Topics » Operations

These excerpts taken from the UPS 10-K filed Feb 29, 2008.

Operations

We believe that our integrated global network is the most extensive in the industry. It is the only network that handles all levels of service (air, ground, domestic, international, commercial, residential) through one integrated pickup and delivery service system.

U.S. Domestic Package

The U.S. business consists of air and ground delivery of small packages—up to 150 pounds in weight—and letters to and from all 50 states. It also provides guaranteed, time-definite delivery of certain heavy-weight packages. Substantially all of our U.S. small package delivery services are guaranteed.

This business is built on an integrated air and ground pick-up and delivery network. We believe that this model improves productivity and asset utilization, and provides the flexibility to transport packages using the most reliable and cost-effective transportation mode or combination of modes.

In 2006, we made the most significant upgrade ever to our U.S. ground package delivery network, accelerating the transit times for more than a half-million packages nationwide by one day or more. Additional lane enhancements were introduced in February 2008.

We believe that our broad product portfolio, reliable package delivery service, experienced and dedicated employees and unmatched, integrated air and ground network provide us with the advantages of reputation, service quality and economies of scale that differentiate us from our competitors. Our strategy is to increase domestic revenue through cross-selling services to our large and diverse customer base, to limit the rate of expense growth, and to employ technology-driven efficiencies to increase operating profit.

International Package

The International Package segment provides air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to 200 countries and territories around the world. Export services cross country boundaries; domestic services move shipments within a country’s borders. UPS’s global presence grew out of its highly refined U.S. domestic business.

 

  •  

Europe is our largest region outside the United States—accounting for approximately half of our international revenue. In Europe we provide both express and domestic service, much like the service portfolio we offer in the U.S., and based on the same integrated network.

 

  •  

Through more than two dozen alliances with Asian delivery companies that supplement company-owned operations, we currently serve more than 40 Asia Pacific countries and territories. Two of the fastest growing economies in the world, China and India, are among our most promising opportunities.

 

  •  

Our Canadian operations include both domestic and import/export capabilities. We deliver to all addresses throughout Canada. We are also the largest air cargo carrier and a leading logistics provider in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We have built a strong international presence through significant investments over several decades. Some of our recent acquisitions and investments include the following:

 

  •  

In 2005, we acquired Stolica in Poland and Lynx Express in the United Kingdom. These acquisitions strengthened our European network, increasing package delivery density, and hence, productivity, in these geographic areas.

 

2

  •  

In 2006, to capitalize on growth opportunities across the whole of Europe, we completed the expansion of our automated package sorting hub at the Cologne/Bonn airport in Germany. The expansion doubled the hub’s sorting capacity to 110,000 packages per hour, largely through the use of new automation technology.

 

  •  

In 2007, we implemented the largest service expansion of our international shipping portfolio in more than a decade. UPS began offering customers three, rather than two, daily time-definite delivery options to and from the world’s most active trading markets, giving customers greater flexibility in managing their businesses.

Growth in Asia is being driven by global demand, which is stimulating improved demographic and economic trends throughout the region, particularly in China and India. Over the last few years UPS has steadily increased air service between the U.S. and Asia.

 

  •  

In 2005, UPS became the first U.S. airline to launch non-stop service between the U.S. and Guangzhou, which is located in one of China’s fastest growing manufacturing regions. We also launched express delivery service for customers within China.

 

  •  

In 2006, we added another three daily flights between Shanghai, China and the U.S., and another new flight between Qingdao, China and Incheon, Korea. We also began direct air service between Shanghai and Cologne. Those flights support international express volume into and out of China, which has seen dramatic growth in recent years.

 

  •  

In 2007, we added six daily flights between the U.S. and Nagoya, Japan. This new service complements our 78 weekly flights into and out of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. These flights will connect to Shanghai in 2008, enhancing intra-Asia service.

 

  •  

In 2007, we also announced plans for a new air hub in Shanghai, the first constructed in China by a U.S. carrier. Scheduled to open in 2008, it will link all of China via Shanghai to UPS’s international network with direct service to the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also will connect points served in China by UPS. Once this hub is operational, we will have the ability to add an unlimited number of flights between the U.S. and Shanghai.

The international package delivery market has been growing at a faster rate than that of the U.S., and our international package operations have historically been growing faster than the market. We plan to use our worldwide infrastructure and broad product portfolio to grow high-margin premium services. We will also implement cost, process and technology improvements in our international operations. We believe that both Europe and Asia offer significant opportunities for growth.

Supply Chain & Freight Segment

The Supply Chain & Freight segment consists of our forwarding and logistics capabilities as well as our freight business unit.

In recent years we extended our service portfolio into heavy air and ground forwarding through two acquisitions. In 2005 we acquired Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, which forms the basis for our time-definite, guaranteed air forwarding service. In the same year, we acquired Overnite Corp., a LTL service, which offers a full range of regional, inter-regional and long-haul LTL capabilities in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Mexico. Overnite Corp. was rebranded as UPS Freight in 2006.

In today’s global economy, companies’ supply chains are growing increasingly complex, as shown in Diagram 1 below. Many of our customers, large and small, have outsourced all or part of their supply chains to streamline and gain efficiencies, to improve service, to support new business models and to strengthen their balance sheets.

 

3

LOGO

This increasing complexity creates demand for a global service offering that incorporates transportation, distribution and international trade services with financial and information services. We believe that we can capitalize on this opportunity because:

 

  •  

We manage supply chains in over 175 countries and territories, with about 35 million square feet of distribution space worldwide.

 

  •  

We focus on supply chain optimization, freight forwarding, international trade services and management-based solutions for our customers rather than solely on more traditional asset-based logistics such as warehouses and vehicle fleets.

 

  •  

We provide a broad range of transportation solutions to customers worldwide, including air, ocean and ground freight, as well as customs brokerage, and trade and materials management.

 

  •  

We provide service, information technology systems and distribution facilities adapted to the unique supply chains of specific industries such as healthcare, technology, and consumer/retail. We call this “configurable solutions.” In a configurable solution, multiple customers share standardized IT systems and processes as well as a common network of assets. A configurable solution is repeatable for multiple customers and has a transportation component.

 

  •  

We offer a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term and long-term financing, secured lending, working capital, government guaranteed lending, letters of credit, global trade financing, credit cards and equipment leasing.

Our growth strategy is to increase the number of customers benefiting from configurable supply chain solutions and to increase the amount of small package transportation from these customers. We intend to leverage our small package and freight customers through cross-selling the full complement of UPS services.

Operations

SIZE="2">We believe that our integrated global network is the most extensive in the industry. It is the only network that handles all levels of service (air, ground, domestic, international, commercial, residential) through one integrated pickup and
delivery service system.

U.S. Domestic Package

SIZE="2">The U.S. business consists of air and ground delivery of small packages—up to 150 pounds in weight—and letters to and from all 50 states. It also provides guaranteed, time-definite delivery of certain heavy-weight packages.
Substantially all of our U.S. small package delivery services are guaranteed.

This business is built on an integrated air and ground
pick-up and delivery network. We believe that this model improves productivity and asset utilization, and provides the flexibility to transport packages using the most reliable and cost-effective transportation mode or combination of modes.

In 2006, we made the most significant upgrade ever to our U.S. ground package delivery network, accelerating the transit times for more
than a half-million packages nationwide by one day or more. Additional lane enhancements were introduced in February 2008.

We believe that
our broad product portfolio, reliable package delivery service, experienced and dedicated employees and unmatched, integrated air and ground network provide us with the advantages of reputation, service quality and economies of scale that
differentiate us from our competitors. Our strategy is to increase domestic revenue through cross-selling services to our large and diverse customer base, to limit the rate of expense growth, and to employ technology-driven efficiencies to increase
operating profit.

International Package

SIZE="2">The International Package segment provides air and ground delivery of small packages and letters to 200 countries and territories around the world. Export services cross country boundaries; domestic services move shipments within a
country’s borders. UPS’s global presence grew out of its highly refined U.S. domestic business.

 







 • 

Europe is our largest region outside the United States—accounting for approximately half of our international revenue. In Europe we provide both express and
domestic service, much like the service portfolio we offer in the U.S., and based on the same integrated network.

 







 • 

Through more than two dozen alliances with Asian delivery companies that supplement company-owned operations, we currently serve more than 40 Asia Pacific countries
and territories. Two of the fastest growing economies in the world, China and India, are among our most promising opportunities.

 







 • 

Our Canadian operations include both domestic and import/export capabilities. We deliver to all addresses throughout Canada. We are also the largest air cargo
carrier and a leading logistics provider in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We have built a strong international
presence through significant investments over several decades. Some of our recent acquisitions and investments include the following:

 







 • 

In 2005, we acquired Stolica in Poland and Lynx Express in the United Kingdom. These acquisitions strengthened our European network, increasing package delivery
density, and hence, productivity, in these geographic areas.

 


2














 • 

In 2006, to capitalize on growth opportunities across the whole of Europe, we completed the expansion of our automated package sorting hub at the Cologne/Bonn
airport in Germany. The expansion doubled the hub’s sorting capacity to 110,000 packages per hour, largely through the use of new automation technology.

STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 







 • 

In 2007, we implemented the largest service expansion of our international shipping portfolio in more than a decade. UPS began offering customers three, rather than
two, daily time-definite delivery options to and from the world’s most active trading markets, giving customers greater flexibility in managing their businesses.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">Growth in Asia is being driven by global demand, which is stimulating improved demographic and economic trends throughout the region, particularly in
China and India. Over the last few years UPS has steadily increased air service between the U.S. and Asia.

 







 • 

In 2005, UPS became the first U.S. airline to launch non-stop service between the U.S. and Guangzhou, which is located in one of China’s fastest growing
manufacturing regions. We also launched express delivery service for customers within China.

 







 • 

In 2006, we added another three daily flights between Shanghai, China and the U.S., and another new flight between Qingdao, China and Incheon, Korea. We also began
direct air service between Shanghai and Cologne. Those flights support international express volume into and out of China, which has seen dramatic growth in recent years.

STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 







 • 

In 2007, we added six daily flights between the U.S. and Nagoya, Japan. This new service complements our 78 weekly flights into and out of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
These flights will connect to Shanghai in 2008, enhancing intra-Asia service.

 







 • 

In 2007, we also announced plans for a new air hub in Shanghai, the first constructed in China by a U.S. carrier. Scheduled to open in 2008, it will link all of
China via Shanghai to UPS’s international network with direct service to the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also will connect points served in China by UPS. Once this hub is operational, we will have the ability to add an unlimited number of
flights between the U.S. and Shanghai.

The international package delivery market has been growing at a faster rate than
that of the U.S., and our international package operations have historically been growing faster than the market. We plan to use our worldwide infrastructure and broad product portfolio to grow high-margin premium services. We will also implement
cost, process and technology improvements in our international operations. We believe that both Europe and Asia offer significant opportunities for growth.

SIZE="2">Supply Chain & Freight Segment

The Supply Chain & Freight segment consists of our forwarding and
logistics capabilities as well as our freight business unit.

In recent years we extended our service portfolio into heavy air and ground
forwarding through two acquisitions. In 2005 we acquired Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, which forms the basis for our time-definite, guaranteed air forwarding service. In the same year, we acquired Overnite Corp., a LTL service, which offers a full
range of regional, inter-regional and long-haul LTL capabilities in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Mexico. Overnite Corp. was rebranded as UPS Freight in 2006.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">In today’s global economy, companies’ supply chains are growing increasingly complex, as shown in Diagram 1 below. Many of our customers, large
and small, have outsourced all or part of their supply chains to streamline and gain efficiencies, to improve service, to support new business models and to strengthen their balance sheets.

STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 


3










LOGO

This increasing complexity creates demand for a global service offering that incorporates transportation,
distribution and international trade services with financial and information services. We believe that we can capitalize on this opportunity because:

 







 • 

We manage supply chains in over 175 countries and territories, with about 35 million square feet of distribution space worldwide.


 







 • 

We focus on supply chain optimization, freight forwarding, international trade services and management-based solutions for our customers rather than solely on more
traditional asset-based logistics such as warehouses and vehicle fleets.

 







 • 

We provide a broad range of transportation solutions to customers worldwide, including air, ocean and ground freight, as well as customs brokerage, and trade and
materials management.

 







 • 

We provide service, information technology systems and distribution facilities adapted to the unique supply chains of specific industries such as healthcare,
technology, and consumer/retail. We call this “configurable solutions.” In a configurable solution, multiple customers share standardized IT systems and processes as well as a common network of assets. A configurable solution is repeatable
for multiple customers and has a transportation component.

 







 • 

We offer a portfolio of financial services that provides customers with short-term and long-term financing, secured lending, working capital, government guaranteed
lending, letters of credit, global trade financing, credit cards and equipment leasing.

Our growth strategy is to
increase the number of customers benefiting from configurable supply chain solutions and to increase the amount of small package transportation from these customers. We intend to leverage our small package and freight customers through cross-selling
the full complement of UPS services.

EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:

10-K (2 sections)
Feb 29, 2008

RELATED TOPICS for UPS:

"Operations" elsewhere:

Union Pacific (UNP)
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW)
AutoNation (AN)
Avis Budget Group (CAR)
Forward Air (FWRD)
Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ)
Pacific Airport Group (PAC)
Pacer International (PACR)
Ryder System (R)
Southern Company (SO)
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAUA)
Wikinvest © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Use of this site is subject to express Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. By continuing past this page, you agree to abide by these terms. Any information provided by Wikinvest, including but not limited to company data, competitors, business analysis, market share, sales revenues and other operating metrics, earnings call analysis, conference call transcripts, industry information, or price targets should not be construed as research, trading tips or recommendations, or investment advice and is provided with no warrants as to its accuracy. Stock market data, including US and International equity symbols, stock quotes, share prices, earnings ratios, and other fundamental data is provided by data partners. Stock market quotes delayed at least 15 minutes for NASDAQ, 20 mins for NYSE and AMEX. Market data by Xignite. See data providers for more details. Company names, products, services and branding cited herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of trademarks or service marks of another is not a representation that the other is affiliated with, sponsors, is sponsored by, endorses, or is endorsed by Wikinvest.
Powered by MediaWiki