UPS unveiled a new platform on Wednesday that allows shippers to access previously standalone data from its services in one place, with the aim of greater supply chain efficiency and visibility.
UPS Supply Chain Symphony integrates various tools the delivery giant offers shippers, ranging from shipping and warehousing to forwarding and customs brokerage. It also features a dashboard of near-real-time shipping information, including volume summaries by warehouse location.
Previously standalone tools integrated on UPS Supply Chain Symphony
| UPS service | Description |
|---|---|
| Shipping Services | Parcel shipping at a variety of prices and speeds. |
| Global Logistics & Distribution | Outsourced logistics services, including warehousing, fulfillment, transportation management, service parts logistics and returns management. |
| Global Freight Forwarding | Quoting and booking for air and ocean freight. |
| Customs Brokerage | Customer navigation of international trade regulations. |
| Supplier Management | An origin cargo management resource. |
| Express Critical | Urgent transportation, including same-day delivery and next-flight out services. |
| Mail Innovations | A high-volume mailing service that integrates with postal systems around the world. |
| Coyote Logistics | Enables LTL and full truckload 3PL services. |
Source: UPS
UPS is offering access to the platform through a complimentary trial to pre-qualified customers, according to its website. It has already seen "extensive use by our customers across multiple industries," said Bill Seward, UPS Supply Chain Solutions president, in a news release.
"This unmatched connectivity allows UPS customers to easily see their inventory levels, predict potential problems, and make strategic decisions to improve their supply chain operations," Seward said.
The company said in the news release that many shippers often struggle to connect separate supply chain datasets and efficiently turn that information into something useful. The platform helps UPS customers improve asset utilization, forecasting accuracy and other areas of their supply chains, the release said.
Other companies have launched software offerings that aim to help shippers bolster their supply chain visibility and connect disparate datasets. Microsoft rolled out its Supply Chain Center platform in November 2022 before shutting down its preview period last month. Amazon Web Services launched a cloud application last year to help users pool supply chain data from different systems.
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