How Does the UPS Tracking System Work Free Essays

How Does the UPS Tracking System Work? Posted by The Fox on March 8, 2012 UPS is one of the largest mail shipment companies in the world. Every day, UPS handles and delivers nearly 15 million letters, parcels, and boxes to individuals and companies in well over two hundred countries all over the world. It is simply amazing how such an international giant manages to track and transport such a large amount of mail. We will write a custom essay sample on How Does the UPS Tracking System Work? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Following is an overview of how the UPS tracking system works. When a person delivers a parcel to the UPS, a bar code is attached to the parcel. The employees loading the parcels onto a truck or airplane all have bar code scanners, as do all UPS drivers. Those handling the parcel simply have to scan it to see where it came from and where it is going. When a parcel is scanned, the information regarding the parcel’s location is immediately updated on the UPS website. This is the reason why a person can see the step-by-step progression of where his or her package is at the moment. If the package is being sent less than 200 miles from the sender, then it is sent by truck. If the distance the package must travel is more than 200 miles, it is sent by plane. Each time the package is loaded or unloaded, it is scanned. Packages that are transported by plane are all automatically sent to Worldport, the UPS sorting facility in Kentucky. Workers in this facility only handle the package once or twice; the rest of the time, the package is tracked by machine. Sorters sort packages according to size and shape and ensure that the bar code on any given package is facing upwards. Scanners above the conveyor belts are then able to sort the packages according to destination. Is the UPS Tracking System Efficient? It has been estimated that 9% of all packages handled by UPS are either lost or delivered late. However, it should be noted that not all late deliveries are the UPS’ fault. Packages being shipped internationally will not reach their destination on time if all the pertinent forms have not been filled out. If the recipient of the package is not available to receive the package, then the delivery will naturally be late. In such an instance, the delivery van would have to bring the package back at a later time, or the recipient would have to go to the nearest UPS center and pick up the package in person. Considering how many billions of packages the UPS transports every single year, the company’s system is surprisingly efficient. Billions of packages reach their destination on time every single year. While the UPS tracking system is not perfect, it is top of the line and one reason why UPS is the preferred shipping company of millions of people all over the world. While UPS has an efficient website that lets customers know where each package is at any given point in time, those who ship numerous packages on a regular basis may want to take advantage of the Package Fox sorting system. This system enables one to see all of his or her packages in transit at the same time. Best of all, Package Fox will also help one to see at a glance if a package is lost, delayed, or has arrived late. If the UPS is at fault for the package arriving late or not at all, then Package Fox will help the client get the refund that is his or her due. The UPS is a highly efficient shipping service with a top of the line tracking system that enables it to track and ship parcels all over the world. The bar code on each box allows UPS employees to accurately determine where each envelope, parcel, and box is meant to go. This information is instantly uploaded to the UPS website so that a customer can see where the package is at any point in time. However, this system is not perfect and sometimes a parcel or box may get lost in the mail or arrive later than it is meant to. This is one reason why having Package Fox is such a good idea. Package Fox will not only make it easy to track multiple UPS shipments but also help one get a refund for a late or lost shipment. What are the input, processing and output of UPS package tracking system? Input: The inputs include package information, customer signature, pickup, delivery, time-card data, current location (while en route), and billing and customer clearance documentation. Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD) is used to capture all the information about the package from the customer. Again, bar code devices are used throughout the delivery process to collect useful information about the package. UPS also collects information from its website. This website provides customers the facility to input their packageas details (destination, origin, shipment date, weight, size etc. , desired freight media (by air, by vehicle etc. ) and freight service to determine shipping rates and time in transit. Processing: Data collected from DIAD is uploaded to the to the UPS network, called UPSnet, for primary storing. Then all the data are transmitted to a central computer and stored for retrieval. Bar code equipments also send data about the package to the central computer for immediate processing. Data are also reorganized so that they can be tracked by customer account, date, driver, and other criteria. Output: Output occurs when all these information How to cite How Does the UPS Tracking System Work?, Papers