The latest news and views from UPS
Forum
Summer 2011
Customer case study
Canadian Telescopes –
A skyrocketing business
After conducting an extensive
six-month survey of existing
retail and online stores, Babak
Sedehi was inspired by a great
business opportunity for an
untapped market.
which includes 23 products
available exclusively through
the company.
His research revealed that
there was no systemized
distribution centre in
Canada for buyers and
sellers of telescopes and
accessories. Buyers sourced
these items from dedicated
amateur astronomers who
were incapable of fulfilling
the market needs for the
serious hobbyist. Larger
stores lacked the necessary
product expertise to provide
professional customer service.
At the time, the e-commerce
business in this particular
niche market was non-existent
and Babak was determined to
bridge the gap. As a hobbyist
himself, it is his passion.
Since there wasn’t a local
distributor in Canada, Babak
created a secure and easyto-use website to reach his
target market, which is made
up of 90% hobbyists. He
was determined to offer his
customers the incentive of
free shipping for every online
order. Initially, Babak used
different carriers and brokers
to clear each shipment which
was costly. With the goal
of minimizing his overhead,
Babak searched for a single
service provider that was able
to consolidate, carry and clear
all of his shipments, from the
U.S. directly to his Canadian
customers, thereby eliminating
the need for third parties and
multiple carriers, as well as
reducing brokerage fees.
In 2009, Babak founded
Canadian Telescopes, which
grew from humble beginnings
with one vendor, to five,
in less than two years. The
company now sells over 2,000
products from more than 12
top brands. It even designs and
produces its own product line
UPS Import Control™ was
his solution. By combining
UPS Import Control and UPS
Brokerage service, Babak was
able to take control of his
imports and reduce his costs
to the point where he could
maintain the free shipping
incentive to his customers.
By selecting Import Control
for his UPS shipping, Babak is
able to prepare shipping labels
and commercial invoices from
his location in Vancouver and
send them via e-mail in PDF
files directly to a shipping
location in the U.S. Here
the labels and invoices are
printed, affixed to packaged
orders and shipped directly
to the Canadian customer.
UPS Import Control provides
the flexibility for Canadian
Telescopes to determine when
and how quickly a package will
be shipped to meet the specific
needs of their customer.
Because UPS also brokers
these shipments, customs
clearance is fast and reliable,
reducing delays and ensuring
that Canadian Telescope’s
customers do not get charged
import fees. Customers also
have full visibility on the status
of each shipment through UPS
Quantum View Notify® which
sends automatic updates on
their order by e-mail.
Babak says, “Import Control
helped my ‘virtual store’ ship
direct to market – from the
distributor to the customer,
while maintaining a high level
of visibility and integrity for
my order fulfillment. This is a
win-win situation for both me
and my customer.s”
Since combining his logistics
needs under the UPS services
umbrella, Babak has reduced
shipping and brokerage
costs by as much as 77% on
shipments from the U.S. to
Canada. He has also reduced
the amount of time dealing
with customs clearance issues
by 90%, while at the same
time increasing his monthly
sales by 40%.
Canadian Telescopes has
grown to become one of
Canada’s leading online
retailers of telescopes and
accessories. With the cost and
time savings achieved with the
help of UPS, Babak plans to
expand his business to include
customers in both the U.S. and
the Middle East, as well as
increase his own product line
from 23 to 45 by 2012. The
stars are the limit.
For more information on
Canadian Telescopes, visit
www.canadiantelescopes.com.
Improve efficiency with UPS Billing Centre
It’s no secret that managing
paper invoices and statements
is difficult – particularly for
organizations shipping and
receiving a high volume of
packages. When multiple
types of packages and freight
shipments enter the picture,
recordkeeping can become
downright vexing.
As a result, a growing wave of
organizations are embracing
electronic billing which we
make available through the
UPS Billing Centre. In fact,
at UPS, it’s the centrepiece
of a strategy designed to
Inside story
The ultimate in delivery, convience and security
UPS MobileTM is on the move
Do you need to ship something larger
than a small package?
Page Two
allows shippers to pay their
invoices online.
LEARN MORE
UPS Billing Centre
http://www.ups.com/
billing/ca
improve workflow and
processes for customers. Once
enrolled, customers can begin
accumulating up to a year’s
worth of UPS invoices in either
a CSV file or PDF document.
The UPS Billing Centre even
Discover the new logistics
UPS snapshot for small businesses doing business in Mexico
UPS WorldShipTM navigates the globe
Page Three
Not surprisingly, this
approach eliminates paper
and the high-touch processes
that go with it. It allows
organizations to view and
reconcile data faster and
more accurately, trim costs
associated with paper and
postage, and manage cash
flow more efficiently. In many
cases, businesses can actually
accelerate cash flow and
incoming payments. No less
important: e-billing helps a
company become greener.
UPS Road Code gets behind the wheel
The ultimate tool for supply chain visibility.
And it's free.
UPS's "green fleet" drives past benchmark
Special delivery - cows in the air
Page Four
Forum
page 2
Summer 2011
The ultimate in delivery, convenience and security
There’s never been an easier
way to dramatically improve
customer satisfaction and
increase your company’s
efficiency. Now you can utilize
The UPS Store and its more
than 350 locations nationwide
as an Alternate Delivery
Location for your customers
and field employees. It’s the
service that makes product
delivery more convenient and
secure. And it’s just one of
the ways The UPS Store can
help your company stand out
from the competition. Instead
of shipping to an out-of-theway distribution site or your
customers’, mobile employees’
or field technicians’ homes,
now you can direct shipments
to a location of The UPS
Store. Not only does it offer
customers and field employees
the flexibility of picking up
packages when it’s most
convenient; with locations on
virtually every corner, The UPS
Store is an excellent choice for
people on the go who don’t
have the time to drive out of
their way or wait to sign for
a shipment. Your sales force
or technicians can even ship
repair parts, samples or other
items needed for their next
appointment to The UPS Store
on their route.
Using The UPS Store as an
Alternate Delivery Location
also eliminates the risk
of high-value items being
damaged by the weather or
stolen. It’s a smart way to
reduce fraud and increase
customer satisfaction.
How’s that for a welcome
alternative?
The UPS Store®
Alternate
Delivery Location
It’s like expanding your
business by more than
350 locations
With The UPS Store you’ll
have a growing network of
convenient neighbourhood
locations at your disposal.
Customers can pick up
deliveries at their leisure and
your employees can stop in to
The UPS Store that’s right on
the way to work, to a client’s
site or on the way home, when
it fits their schedule. With the
helpful staff at The UPS Store,
you can be sure employees and
customers will consistently
receive the highest level of
service — delivered with the
courtesy and professionalism
you expect.
make finding locations easy
for your customers. The UPS
Store locations can be found
by visiting theupsstore.ca
Consumers who shop online
rank product delivery as their
chief concern, followed by
product returns. Source: AMR
Research, 2003.
Corporate Retail
Solutions - Poised to
take your business to
the next level
With The UPS Store, you can:
n Make product delivery
convenient for your customers
and employees;
n Replace fraud and damage
from unsecured product
delivery;
n Eliminate the need to wait
to sign for delivery;
n Give yourself an advantage
over the competition.
Find The UPS Store
Everywhere
Whether you select all or some
of The UPS Store locations,
you’ll have the option to link
The UPS Store Locator with
your company’s web site to
When your mobile employees
are using The UPS Store as an
Alternate Delivery Location,
they can also take care of
virtually all their business
needs in one convenient
place. The UPS Store offers
a comprehensive selection
of printing, and courier
services. And of course, at
every one of The UPS Store
locations, you’ll find fullservice packaging by helpful
packaging experts and UPS
international, overnight and
ground delivery services to
ensure your packages arrive
on time, every time.
For more information, email
support@theupsstore.ca.
UPS Mobile™ is on the move
Just as the world has
become increasingly
mobile, so has your
business.
Did you know that you can
create or track shipments,
search for the nearest UPS
location or estimate shipping
rates quickly and easily from
your smartphone?
Mobile technologies have
grown exponentially, so UPS
developed a response to the
trend by creating an App
called UPS Mobile™. Our
strategy was to make UPS
available anytime, anywhere.
This way you can stay on top
of your shipments by using
our UPS Mobile™ App on
your Blackberry®, iPhone®
or Android.
UPS mobile is specifically
designed with features that
let you easily manage your
shipments on the go:
n See tracking details for any
package or freight shipment
by tracking or InfoNotice
number without logging in.
Using your My UPS ID, you
can view recent tracks and
assign shipment nicknames.
n Log-in in with your my
UPS ID to access your
address book, payment info,
and other preferences from
UPS.com. You can even
prepare shipments and e-mail
the shipping label for printing.
n Find the nearest UPS
service locations, via GPS.
Calculate shipment costs
and delivery times, and select
n
the right UPS service for you.
As your business moves,
UPS does too. With UPS
Mobile, you can spend more
time growing your business
and less time on your
shipping.
For more information on
how to download the right
App for your smartphone,
visit UPS.com®.
Do you need to ship something
larger than a small package?
Think of UPS’s freight options for any shipment
weighing more than 150 pounds.
Air Freight
With our comprehensive
portfolio of time-definite,
guaranteed and cost-saving
options, UPS can meet your
air freight requirements with
confidence and reliability:
n Within and between the
U.S., Canada and Puerto
Rico: choose from guaranteed
and non-guaranteed services
ranging from delivery next day
to within four business days.
options to fit your schedule and
budget. Choose from truckload
or less-than-truckload (LTL)
services. Rely on one carrier
to pick up your regional,
interregional, and long-haul
services. Service is guaranteed
at no additional cost between
the U.S. and Canada.
Critical Freight
To all International
Destinations: choose
from guaranteed and nonguaranteed services ranging
from one-to-three and threeto-five business days.
UPS Supply Chain Solutions is
a leading provider of global
time-critical freight services
with access to almost any kind
of aircraft or vehicle. Doorto-door expedited ground
service, air service to major
cities worldwide and air
charters are available.
Ground Freight
Ocean Freight
UPS Freight® offers many
UPS is a leading ocean freight
n
provider (NVOCC), handling
more than 700,000 shipments
annually. Maximize your
routing and transit-time
options by managing your
ocean shipments door-to-door
with ease, visibility and global
reach. Choose from flexible
ocean freight services based
on timing, cargo size, and
equipment needs.
The latest version
of UPS WorldShip®,
UPS’s industry leading
shipping software, now
makes handling air
freight shipments a lot
easier.
Customers wanting to use one
of UPS’s freight options can
now process their shipments
efficiently with WorldShip.
Many features are included,
such as the ability to save and
update commodity information
while in shipping mode.
WorldShip is an ideal solution
for those wanting to process
shipments faster, save valuable
time and ultimately improve
daily efficiency. Existing
users of older versions can
also benefit from all the latest
enhancements by upgrading to
WorldShip 14.0.
For more information on this
application or other solutions
that can help your business,
please contact your UPS sales
representative or visit
www.ups.com/worldship.
Freight options are also now
available in UPS Connect®.
Summer 2011
Forum
page 3
Discover the new logistics
Logistics has always been
about getting things where
they need to be, exactly
when they need to be there,
and doing it as efficiently as
possible. But the new logistics
is even more than that. It’s
a strategic way to add value
to your business. It makes
running your company easier,
lets you serve your customers
better, and helps you grow.
The new logistics is more than
just getting things to the right
place at the right time at the
right cost. It’s about using
the movement of goods as a
competitive advantage. It’s a
whole new way of thinking
and a powerful force for
growing your business.
The new logistics from UPS
can change your business
in profound ways, using
technology, innovation and
know-how to make your
world work better.
The new logistics levels
playing fields. You don’t
need a large warehouse,
distribution centre or global
network to access the new
logistics. Our integrated
network lets you tap into the
power and passion of logistics
whatever the size of your
business.
n
Whether you’re sending
overnight packages to a few
places or tons of freight all
around the world, the new
logistics can help drive your
business.
n
You can ship warranty parts
cross-country within hours
to keep a production line up
and running. Get a vaccine
from Switzerland in time to
save lives. Get paycheques or
contracts wherever they have
to be the next morning.
n
You don’t need scale to access
the new logistics. You just
need UPS. We’ve leveled the
playing field with more than
400,000 dedicated employees
worldwide, the world’s largest
transportation network,
96,000 vehicles and one of the
biggest airlines on the planet
with more than a century
of logistics experience. UPS
enables some of the globe’s
largest and most technology
advanced supply chains.
UPS snapshot for small businesses –
doing business in Mexico
For Canadian businesses
seeking to expand into new
markets, there is a world
of opportunity in Mexico.
Mexico’s close proximity to
Canada and participation in
the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) makes it a
cost-effective market to enter,
which is critical for businesses
new to exporting.
Mexico is Canada’s fourth
largest trading partner. Its
economy is stable, with
a market of more than
110 million people, and it
offers businesses plenty of
opportunity to grow. Because
it’s located in the middle of
the Americas, Mexico has
great connectivity with South
America, Europe and Asia.
So working with Mexico
gives Canadian businesses the
opportunity to springboard
into other markets.
Guadalajara, known as
“Mexico’s Silicon Valley”,
is a key industrial centre and
an especially attractive hub
for foreign manufacturers.
With more than four million
residents, Guadalajara
is Mexico’s second-most
populous city. This city is
home to many computer and
telecommunications hardware
manufacturing facilities for
companies such as Kodak, Intel
and GE. With its proximity to
Canada, it’s less expensive and
not as time-sensitive to travel
to Guadalajara, compared
to other fast-growing
manufacturing hubs around
the world.
UPS is the number one
carrier in Mexico. We can
deliver to every address in
the country, and know the
rules of engagement after 20
years of doing business there.
We are a certified importer
of record, which means we
have the authority to pre-clear
packages worth up to $300.
For these goods, we can offer
same-day delivery, and for any
customer that doesn’t have a
registered importer of record
into Mexico, we can help
them work through a broker
to clear packages. UPS helps
you streamline your shipping
with access to our worldwide
logistics network.
To find out more on how
UPS can assist you with
business in Mexico and other
countries around the world,
visit UPS.com.
Facts about Mexico
n Guadalajara is the leading
business centre
n Has signed more than 40
trade agreements with other
countries
n Is the largest export market
for Canada
n 3.8 per cent gross domestic
product growth is predicted
for 2011
UPS WorldShip™ navigates the globe
Do you need a reliable global
shipping solution to support
your expanding business?
Keep reading to learn the top
10 reasons why you should
start shipping with UPS
WorldShip today.
UPS WorldShip is a computerbased shipping solution
that allows you to process
international and domestic
shipments, print shipping
labels, complete international
shipping documents and
electronically transmit daily
shipping information.
Here are the top 10
reasons why you should
switch to UPS WorldShip:
1 You can upload your
customer contact data, which
reduces key entry to improve
consistency and accuracy.
2 You can send freight and
UPS Trade Direct® shipments
(Ground, Air and Ocean).
3 UPS WorldShip aggregates
domestic shipments to the
same destination during End
of Day processing, reducing
your costs.
4 If needed, you can identify
an alternate return address.
5 You can view shipping
rates, receive e-mail status
alerts, speed up shipment
processing and schedule air
freight pickups.
6 UPS Import Control™
provides the new features
you need to better manage
your import shipments,
billing and commercial
invoice information.
you update your
shipper information,
including the shipper
contact name, e-mail
address, phone and
fax numbers.
9 Activate the new automatic
7 Selecting our new UPS
carbon neutral option
allows you to offset the
environmental impact of
your shipment.
address validation option
for both U.S. and Canadian
addresses to prevent
delivery address errors. UPS
WorldShip will flag incorrect
addresses for you and you
can even classify addresses
residential or commercial
during shipment processing.
8 Shipper Editor helps
10 Obtaining UPS
WorldShip® is easy. Simply go
to www.ups.com/worldship
to download or order your
copy today.
When your customers rely
on you to ship on time
worldwide, UPS ensures
that you do every time. For
more information on UPS
WorldShip, visit UPS.com or
call 1-800-PICK-UPS.
Forum
page 4
Summer 2011
UPS Road Code gets behind the wheel
Car accidents are one of the
leading causes of death among
13 – 19 year olds according to
Statistics Canada. UPS Road
Code was designed to teach
young drivers safe driving
principles. Our goal is simple,
to save lives.
Alarmed by the startling
statistics of car accidents
among young drivers, UPS
Canada has partnered with the
Boys & Girls Club of Canada to
teach safe driving techniques
to teens across the greater
Toronto area (GTA) with funds
granted by the UPS Foundation.
On March 9, The UPS
Foundation awarded the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Canada with
a $175,000 grant to bring UPS
Road Code to teenagers across
the GTA. Based on the same
safety training used by our
own UPS drivers, this program
will launch this spring and
will roll out to five clubs
across the GTA throughout
2011. Boys & Girls Club
members ages 14-18 are
eligible to participate. 10
to 15 club members attend
four one-hour sessions of
classroom-based instruction
and time “behind the wheel”
with a computerized driving
simulator. UPS employees
serve as trained volunteer
instructors sharing their safe
driving skills and expertise.
In the UPS Road Code
program, these young drivers
will learn:
a "code” of safety principles
that UPS drivers use each day;
n
n
the consequences of risky
The ultimate tool for supply
chain visibility. And it’s free
Your shipments, inbound,
outbound and third-party,
are important. Here’s how
to always know where your
inventory is when it’s on the
move.
air, ocean and LTL (lessthan-truckload) freight
movements. UPS recently
enhanced this visibility
tool for freight customers,
providing:
Need X-ray vision into
your outbound, inbound
and third-party shipments?
Quantum View® Manage
helps you monitor all
your shipments, including
n Access to additional
shipment details such as item
manifests and invoices.
n Additional freight
document images (such
as Commercial Invoice,
Packing List and Reweigh
Certificate) and the ability to
e-mail them.
Jade Kelly ships a wide range
of digital media, contracts
and equipment for CTV Inc.
in Toronto. “Since we’re in
the TV business, everything
is extremely time-oriented.
We look at these things
almost as fruit in a grocery
store,” Kelly says. “If it
driving behaviours – such as
talking, texting or using cell
phones while driving;
n how to focus on the 10 safe
driving tips and tools used by
UPS drivers featuring a laptopbased hazard-identification
test that is used by UPS to
train new drivers; and,
n to practice what they’ve
learned behind the wheel
of a computerized driving
simulator as they navigate a
virtual roadway.
This is the inaugural year in
which The UPS Foundation
and the Boys & Girls Clubs
of Canada have brought the
doesn’t make it on time,
it spoils. Quantum View
Manage gives us alerts to
irregularities and exceptions,
so it’s essential for our
ability to keep our senders
and recipients informed.”
It provides other advantages,
including:
n Outbound. In addition to
customer service, Quantum
View Manage can speed cash
flow by avoiding potential
credit card payment holds.
For regular returns, you’ll
also have visibility into 120
days of data.
n Inbound. Because you can
UPS Road Code program to
our communities. It was first
implemented in the U.S. in
2009, expanded to the UK in
2010 and this year is being
implemented in Canada
and Germany. Through this
program, UPS is striving to
teach teens the same risk
avoidance driving skills that
make our UPS drivers the
safest on the road.
For more information on safe
driving and UPS Road Code,
visit ups.com/roadcode.
see exactly what will arrive
when, you can staff properly
and control inventories
better. You can even control
your virtual inventory,
carrying less stock, selling
inventory in transit and
shipping directly from
suppliers to customers.
n Third-party. This view
allows you to manage drop
shippers and audit their
performance. You can also
improve vendor compliance
and verify order fulfillment.
Improve your view today
by learning more about
Quantum View Manage.
UPS’s “green fleet” drives past benchmark
Since introducing our
“green fleet” in 2000, our
alternative fuel vehicles
(AFV) have driven the
equivalent of 8,600 trips
around the earth or three
round trips to Mars.
In 1998, UPS “green fleet”
began with Hybrid-Electric
vehicles. In 2004, we followed
up by investing in all-electric
vehicles and then deployed
the first Liquified Natural
Gas (LNG) tractors to our
fleet. Today, our alternate
fuel fleet now consists of
more than 1,900 vehicles
worldwide, with another
62 currently on order. UPS
operates AFVs in Canada,
France, Germany, Brazil,
UK, U.S. and Hong Kong.
Since 2000, our alternative
fuel fleet have driven more
than 320 million kilometres,
the equivalent of nearly
three round trips to Mars
or circling the Earth more
than 8,600 times. This 320
million kilometres benchmark
proves that a number of AFV
technologies are viable over
the long-term in a variety of
working environments. UPS
is committed to exploring the
full potential of alternative
fuel and technologies as
part of our environmental
sustainability practices.
UPS has the world’s most
technologically diverse
and largest private fleet of
non-profit
organizations to
advance new fuel
technologies and find cheaper,
cleaner-burning fuels that are
better for the environment
and more sustainable than
conventional diesel fuel.
alternative fuel technologies
and is the only private
delivery company using LNG
technology. While operating
our current alternative fuel and
technology vehicles, we are
working with manufacturers,
government agencies and
We’re taking advantage of the
best alternative technologies
and it’s paying dividends for
the planet in lower emissions,
increasing energy security
and making efficient use of
our resources. This is part of
our “decision green” strategy
to support environmental
sustainability in our business
and yours. By choosing UPS,
you’ve made a very wise
decision to go “green”.
Special Delivery – Cows in the air
Thousands of jet-setting
cows flew into Gander
Newfoundland’s airport for 90
minute breaks last winter.
Global Beef Consultants and
the Kazakhstan government,
as this small nation attempts
to bolster its beef supply.
In total, about 2,000 cows,
more than 90% of them
pregnant heifers, were airlifted
by UPS from North Dakota
to the former soviet republic
of Kazakhstan. It was part
of a multi-million dollar deal
between a company called
During the stop over, our 747
planes were refueled and the
doors were opened to give the
cattle fresh air.
Accompanying the cows on
these flights were a veterinarian
and a few cowboys who tended
the livestock.
Thank you
for reading!
For more information about any of the products or
services described in Forum, please visit UPS.com
United Parcel Service publishes UPS Forum Canada twice a year for managers and executives of firms whose scope for business is
within Canada and around the world. Reproduction of UPS Forum in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. Persons or
publications quoted and the comments of guest contributors do not necessarily represent the corporate opinion of United Parcel Service.