UPS deepens investment in RFID
UPS is rolling out RFID package sensing across its US small package network, a first roll-out from major logistics provider at this scale.
RFID SENSING technology is in all UPS package delivery vehicles in the US, in the company’s delivery facilities across the country and on every package shipped through over 5,500 The UPS Store locations, including customer return shipments.
UPS has invested more than $100 million in RFID to date.
“We’re lighting up customers’ supply chains in real time with RFID, enabling precise tracking, faster insights, a smarter network and smarter packages,” said Matt Guffey, executive vice president and chief commercial and strategy officer. “This is the most significant visibility advancement in the past decade at UPS and in our industry.”
Scanning technology has been the logistics industry standard since the early 1990s with UPS leading the way by putting scanning capability directly into the hands of drivers. Now, the company is moving from scanning to sensing.
Guffey added: “With RFID embedded into labels, on our vehicles and in our loading bays, customers benefit from clear visibility during the entire shipping process – from pick up to delivery, with no manual scanning required. The result is commerce that is smarter and predictable.”
RFID pickup sensing confirms packages have been picked up and are in UPS’s possession.
Packages are automatically sensed as they move through the network and customers gain greater transparency into where their shipments are and how they are progressing.
