MYTRAK goes for green
How do you create a healthy and fit society, one person at
a time? MYTRAK knows. In 2004, Reed Hanoun, a successful
entrepreneur, founded MYTRAK Health System Inc. with four
employees in the basement of a house. His mission was
simple, to help individuals get fit and lead healthier lives.
Their company motto “Go for Green” is homage to their lifechanging technology.
Every day the health circle on the device is lit in red. As calories
are burned, it changes to yellow and finally a green light is
given when the daily goal for calories burned is achieved.
MYTRAK simplifies the process of making people healthy. It
encourages individuals to ‘go for green’; and guides success
by engaging and motivating people to stay physically active
through the use of their state-of-the-art technology.
It all began with the “Success Coach,” an application device
used on gym equipment that sets targets for health, fitness
and biometrics. Currently the application is available in 26
countries, six languages, at 4,300 fitness clubs and is used by
approximately 1.5 million people worldwide.
MYTRAK’s next step was partnering with one of the largest
direct response companies in the world—a national infomercial
provider. “We were utilizing their shipping and logistics service,
which resulted in per-package shipping—not the ideal long-term
solution,” Julio Andracchio, vice-president of operations says.
“Eventually we were faced with the question: How do we deal
with millions of potential customers dispersed across the globe?”
That was only the beginning. In 2008, Hanoun quickly realized
his technology could benefit the masses. MYTRAK leveraged its
market experience to develop a mobile solution that virtualizes
a fitness centre and satisfies the vast non-gym market, which
represents nearly 85% of the population. Hanoun’s first step
was to create a portable version called MYTRAK Personal
Smart Coach, which is now in 21 countries, five fitness clubs
and used by two million people. This version launched in 2010
and has been helping thousands of users lose weight, stay
active and improve their health. At the same time, it’s also
gained popularity from Corporations in 21 countries as they’ve
used the device to engage and motivate their employees in
leading more active and healthy lives.
The Challenge
Results Achieved
With MYTRAK’s operations spread throughout
China, Canada and the U.S., support was
needed in shipping products internationally to
a large number of customers.
By taking full advantage of UPS’s expertise,
shipping times were reduced by 14 days per
shipment from China to the U.S. and seven days
for receiving and stocking in Canada. Due to the
efficient shipping process UPS implemented,
MYTRAK saw their brokerage charges decrease
significantly and some of their shipments were
able to avoid customs charges.
“We also had challenges shipping direct from
China to the U.S., which resulted in re-routing
the shipments to multiple locations. This process
was inefficient and costly.”
The Solution
In 2008, MYTRAK engaged with UPS to service
its Canadian, U.S. and worldwide customers.
With multiple shipping options now available to
them, MYTRAK has been able to optimize the
service they can provide. With UPS’s scalable
shipping option, a multi-stage shipping process
was implemented allowing a ramping up or
down of shipping activity as the need arose for
U.S. customers.
UPS Services
UPS International Returns
Quantum View® Manage and
UPS Web Developer Kit APIs enhance
customer’s reverse-logistic and shipment
visibility demands.
UPS Paperless® Invoice and UPS customs
brokerage service help reduce the impact to
the environment while facilitating accurate
and timely clearance of MYTRAK’s international
shipments.
UPS Standard® is ideal for smaller volume of
shipments.
UPS Trade Direct® is used for shipping a high
volume of shipments to various locations in
the U.S.
UPS freight services provide cross-border
movement for high volumes depending on the
nature of goods to be shipped.
“Managing returns with the projected volumes
was also a concern. We wanted to focus on
what we do best—not necessarily shipping
and logistics. Having UPS take on that aspect
of the process, I’ve gained efficiency through
better shipping systems and our company is
saving approximately 60 minutes in work per
day. The shipping systems also allow us to use
less paper. After our first month of partnering
with UPS, we saved 46% on shipping costs
and subsequently have saved between 40%
and 70% on our monthly costs. The transition
and system integration was seamless,” says
Andracchio.
Future Success
In July of 2011, NBC and MYTRAK Health System
Inc. reached an agreement with TV show “The
Biggest Loser.” Each participant will be equipped
with the all-new MYTRAK SlimCoach device,
rebranded as, The Biggest Loser SlimCoach,
powered by MYTRAK. Viewers of the hit show
will have the chance to see how the device can
help change lives. This mass exposure of their
product and strategic partnerships will help fuel
MYTRAK’s expansion into the global market. With
a staff of over 60 employees and counting, they
plan to leverage their exposure and strategic
partnerships in the U.S. and in foreign markets
including China, Mexico, Brazil, England, Ireland
and Australia. “We hope to work with UPS in
creating an international logistics plan, which
would include warehousing, shipping and
inventory control.” With UPS’s help, MYTRAK can
focus on achieving their business goals and “go
for green.”
UPS Worldwide Express™ is ideal for urgent
international shipments.
For more information on MYTRAK, visit www.mytrak.com.
For more information about the UPS products and services mentioned above,
please visit www.ups.com.
© 2011 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark and the color brown are trademarks
of United Parcel Service America, Inc. All rights reserved.
“I’ve gained efficiency
through better shipping
systems and our company
is saving approximately
60 minutes in work per
day. The shipping systems
also allow us to use less
paper.
The transition and system
integration was seamless.”
—Julio Andracchio
vice-president of operations
MYTRAK