UPS rolls out new service in Europe for time-critical shipments

Last month, UPS announced that it rolled out a new service in Europe focused on urgent, time-critical shipments requiring special handling. Called UPS Express Critical, the company said examples of these shipments include things like aircraft parts or surgical tools that are particularly germane to the industries like healthcare, manufacturing and aerospace.

As for how this service works, UPS explained that a UPS team assesses a shipping request though a 24x7 contact center and then identifies transportation alternatives and implements a delivery plan meeting customer time and cost requirements. Services provided through UPS Express Critical include air, charter and surface, as well as a personal courier who can carry the shipment by hand from origin to destination on a commercial flight.

Daniel Gagnon, vice president of global logistics and distribution for UPS, told Logistics Management that increasing customer demand drove the development of this new service.

“Most major market segments UPS serves often require overnight express services,” says Gagnon. “This service appeals to customers when next-day service is not fast enough. Highly specialized services are needed to meet the unique requirements of customers shipping extremely valuable or time-critical—and this is the case in growing industries such as life sciences, aerospace and high-value retail.”

Prior to introduction of the Express Critical Service in Europe, Gagnon explained that the UPS forwarding group offered services on a shipment-by-shipment basis, whereas now the network of third-party couriers and air carriers will be integrated into the new system.

When asked what the competitive advantages of this service are from a UPS perspective, Gagnon cited the company’s experienced industry teams are able to quickly assess a cost effective delivery solution that meets its customers’ specific time and delivery requirements. “Having this flexibility from a single, trusted source is an advantage,” he added.