- UPS forecasts record holiday delivery of more than 700
million packages.
- Black Friday-to-New Year's Eve
deliveries up more than 14 per cent with two more operating days
from 2015.
- 13 of 21 holiday delivery days before Christmas to exceed 30
million packages.
- New temporary processing facilities and operational
technology increase capacity, efficiency and flexibility.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 15, 2016 /CNW/ - UPS®
(NYSE:UPS) plans for record seasonal global delivery volume with an
increase of more than 14 per cent above the peak delivery period
last year. The company and its customers benefit from two
additional delivery days during 2016. This year the company expects
to surpass 700 million packages delivered globally in 25 days
between American Thanksgiving and
New Year's Eve.
UPS has increased the level of planning and close collaboration
with its largest holiday shippers in order to develop early
seasonal shipping forecasts. Based on current information, the
company anticipates a record 13 of the 21 delivery days before
Christmas to exceed 30 million packages daily. UPS delivers
approximately 18 million packages daily during typical non-peak
shipping periods.
"Online and mobile commerce is simultaneously creating new
opportunities and challenges for the retail industry, yet a
constant remains: the holiday season is the most important time of
the year for retailers," said Kate
Gutmann, senior vice-president, UPS sales and solutions. "We
are committed to helping make this year's peak season a success for
our shippers in all industries."
Since Christmas falls on Sunday, UPS is developing operating
plans that smooth volume throughout the busy weeks, advancing
pickups and processing through the weekend prior to its peak
delivery day – currently scheduled for Monday, Dec.19th
– to ensure customers enjoy timely deliveries.
A similar approach from Black Friday through Cyber Weekend
(Nov. 25-27) will advance processing
and smooth volume flow across the following week as merchants
fulfill orders from distribution centers and through store
inventory earlier in the season.
More than 30 million consumers are expected to use the UPS
My Choice® service to
receive text or email alerts letting them know when packages are on
the way. UPS My Choice allows
members to plan when and where they receive packages.
UPS My Choice also reduces
not-at-home delivery attempts, since preferences can be set by
consumers to re-direct the package to a nearby UPS Access
Point® location for convenient pickup or to avoid the
eyes of children hoping to discover gifts.
With almost 1,000 locations across Canada, the UPS Access Point Network – The UPS
Store® or other neighbourhood businesses, including
local dry cleaners, pharmacies and coffee shops, are ready for your
holiday shipments. With evening and weekend hours to accommodate a
consumer's busy schedule, the locations provide a secure setting
for consumers to retrieve their delivery if they are unable to
receive their package at home, or if they live in a multi-tenant
building that does not provide package collection as part of
concierge services. Consumers can also drop off their returns at
UPS Access Point locations.
Earlier this year, UPS launched a simplified shipping tool that
is still available at ups.com/readynow. The tool offers special
pricing of up to 30 per cent off regular published rate if
customers drop off and ship to a UPS Access Point location. It also
notifies the customer when the package is at the location and is
ready for pickup.
Flexing the Network Capacity
Throughout 2016, UPS has
been preparing for its busiest shipping season with the opening of
new or expanded hub facilities in several countries. Operational
efficiency also will come from other advanced technologies that
provide better visibility into the contents of full trailers loaded
by shippers and tendered to UPS for processing.
"In addition to investing in temporary seasonal processing
facilities, UPS is implementing new technology and automation
systems to increase capacity, efficiency and flexibility within the
operations," Gutmann added.
In Canada, UPS has doubled
capacity in Stratford,
Chatham, Brantford and Regina in preparation for peak
season. UPS has also added additional capacity facilities in
Quebec City, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Abbotsford. Facilities in both Edmonton and London have also been added for both peak
preparedness and construction/development needs.
UPS plans to employ approximately 900 temporary seasonal workers
in Canada, including delivery
walkers. Candidates for seasonal jobs can apply on
UPSjobs.com.
The UPS Delivering the Holidays media kit with
photography and video is available at pressroom.ups.com/holidays or
to download assets.
To view and download a copy of the UPS year-end holiday
schedule, visit holidays.ups.com/ca/.
UPS 2016 Holiday by the Numbers
Black Friday -
December forecast
|
|
700+ million
packages
|
Delivery days during
period
|
|
25 days
|
Average daily
delivery volume (ADV)
|
|
Approximately 28
million packages Forecast percentage increase 14 per
cent
|
Forecast percentage
(same day basis)
|
|
5 per cent
|
Peak delivery
week
|
|
Dec. 19-23,
2016
|
Peak week daily
delivery volume (ADV)
|
|
Approximately 30
million packages
|
Busiest tracking
day
|
|
Dec. 21st
– 204 million tracking requests
|
Hiring
|
|
Approximately 900
seasonal workers
|
UPS My
Choice®
|
|
500,000+ members in
Canada;
|
|
|
30 million members
globally
|
UPS Access
Point® locations
|
|
Almost 1,000 in
Canada, 25,000+ globally
|
The UPS
Store® locations
|
|
More than
4,900
|
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in
logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including
transporting packages and freight; facilitating international
trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage
the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries
and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at
ups.com® and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com.
To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow
@UPS_News on Twitter.
SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.