1.
What external factors affect international operations in UPS? How do these factors cause UPS to adjust its operations?It took several years to build the International system and it presented its own unique challenges. They are in an international market now which is one of their key areas of concern. In some of the areas that they address there are cultural differences that usually are evident such as the data, time, currency, measurements. However, there are a number of other items that have to be considered such as icons that you use that could be offensive in certain countries versus other countries, also technical areas such as hardware area for instance keyboard, mapping and so on. So there are a number of other items that have to be considered external of the actual application itself.
2. Explain how ISPS facilitates the ability of UPS to ship packages internationally.In 1986 UPS committed significant financial resources (1.5 billion dollars) to building the necessary technological infrastructure to support its growing business. To serve the unique information needs of an expanding international marketplace UPS developed the International Shipments Processing System or ISPS.
Vice president of information services recognizes the opportunities of international package movement. He said: “You can’t move packages across international borders the same way you move packages across states. Customers were already satisfied with just moving merchandise from point A to point B. They had opportunities to offer customers services that no one had yet imagined in the area: better delivery, more information.” The system transmits data about each day shipments hours or even days before the packages arrive at customs. The customs’ office can take the information and process the necessary paperwork so that when the actual parcels arrive they can quickly pass through.
3. Describe the role that the DIAD plays in UPS business processes.In most locations when the packages deliver the driver uses a special electronic data collector called the Delivery Information Acquisition Device or DIAD to note delivery information and capture recipient signatures. The Information collected by the device is transmitted back to UPS through a special adapter. Currently, DIAD is available in the United States, Canada and Germany.4.
How important is information for the global expansion of UPS? What advantages does UPS gain by carefully capturing information?It is the underlined information system technology that really drives the company’s success both in the United States and abroad. The trick to meet in the needs with their customers’ transportation requirements today is to provide information. What UPS needs to do is be able to capture information at the pickup and delivery point and provide that information in the manner the customer requests. UPS drivers play an important role in the company’s services by capturing information at the endpoints of each delivery segment.5. Discuss the role of volume in the business activities of UPS.
The solving system of UPS is unique in one way. However, the systems that they develop, the volume they have to process, makes every system unique. You don’t develop a system for 2.085.000 employees the way you would for a 30 employing company.
You don’t truck packages for 12.900 packages the way you would for a 100.000 packages. The volume implication is tremendous and causes the system to be developed differently.
International communications is a real challenge for them, too. In Latin America the telephone systems have not been yet modernized and it presents some significant challenges in getting good reliable communications that will allow them to collect information about their package and their package operations in various countries in Latin America. The same thing is true for east, and there are some especially significant challenges in Eastern Europe. All areas that are business interest to them are going to require the same support infrastructure as their business operations in more developed countries.
