UPS announces expansion of key international service offerings

Freight transportation and logistics bellwether UPS announced this week it has expanded its UPS Worldwide Express and UPS Express Plus offerings, which are part of the Atlanta-based company’s international suite of shipping services, which are comprised of time- and day-definite delivery for urgent shipments.

UPS Worldwide Express (WWE), which was first introduced by the company as a branded service in 2007, provides customers with guaranteed delivery on the next possible business day by 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, or 2 p.m., based on destination. UPS said individuals and companies of varying sizes can use it, but it is geared towards ones with time-sensitive international shipments. And UPS Express Plus focuses on earliest morning package service and offers guaranteed delivery on the next business day as early as 8 a.m., depending on the destination, said UPS

The UPS WWE service is especially beneficial for shippers in the retail, high-tech, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, in addition to consumers using it for urgent global shipments, said UPS. It also said it is leveraged by businesses whose products have a short shelf life and companies producing goods for special events that require last minute order changes.

With this week’s expansion announcement for these offerings, UPS said that UPS Worldwide Express and UPS Express Plus now are delivering to more than 3,200 new postal codes across 40 countries, including five new countries, and delivery for UPS Worldwide Express Freight, which functions as an express freight service geared towards urgent, time-sensitive, and high-value international shipments, has been expanded by almost 8,000 postal codes across 11 countries, including four new countries. The total UPS Worldwide Express Freight footprint, including these new postal codes, enable shipments to more than 76 countries and territories, along with the ability to receive packages from more than 82 countries and territories.

UPS officials added that UPS express services are now available to businesses across 140 countries and territories, reaching the top 20 countries by GDP with morning delivery. And they also noted that the latest expansion offers morning or midday service for companies looking to improve time to market, speed inventory replenishment and meet urgent needs for time-sensitive shipments to international growth areas around the world.

“Cross-border trade continues to present growth opportunities for us and for customers of all sizes,” said Nando Cesarone, president of UPS International, in a statement. “By expanding the reach of our industry-leading express services, we’re better connecting our customers to where we see continued growth potential. Our time-sensitive services are faster, they speed up time-to-market in high-growth economies and they offer another way for our customers to optimize their cross-border supply chains. Every advantage counts, especially for smaller businesses starting out. Their success is what drives commerce and creates jobs – globally.”

UPS said it is growing its express services footprint within key markets by adding new postal codes in 14 European countries, as well as other markets in Asia, the Americas and the Indian Sub-continent. In the Middle East and Africa, five new markets are now connected to the UPS express delivery network: Algeria, Namibia, Reunion (UPS Worldwide Express), and Nigeria and Qatar (UPS Worldwide Express Plus).