From 65438 to 0907, there was a great demand for private messengers and delivery services in the United States. In order to meet this demand, James E. ("Jim") Kathy ("Jim"), an enterprising 19-year-old young man, borrowed 100 dollars from a friend and established the American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington. According to Jim, there were several express service companies in Seattle at that time, and he himself worked in some of them.
The original name is suitable for the business pursuit of the new company. After receiving the call from the base headquarters, in response, the messenger began to run errands, delivering packages, notes, luggage and food in restaurants. Most deliveries are made on foot, and the longer distance is by bike. At that time, there were few cars, and department stores still used horses and carriages to transport goods. Six years later, the American parcel delivery system was established.
Jim and his partner Claude Ryan run the company's service business in a humble office on the sidewalk. Jim's brother George and several other teenagers are messengers of the company. Despite the brutal competition, the company runs well, which is largely due to Jim Casey's strict principles-courtesy, honesty and reliability, all-weather service and low price. These principles still guide UPS today, and Jim summed it up as the following slogan: best service, lowest price.
1913–1918 retail era
Due to the decline of express delivery business caused by improvements in cars and telephones, this young company focuses on parcel delivery in retail stores. The company also began to use motorcycles to transport goods. In about two years, the company's biggest customer was the US Postal Service, which was responsible for delivering all express mail entering Seattle. During this period, the company began to use fixed delivery, that is, combining a parcel with a delivery car. This can make more efficient use of manpower and mobile devices, while keeping the price low. Several major changes have taken place in 19 13.
The company got its first delivery truck, a Model T Ford, with a new name written on both sides: Merchant Parcel Delivery Company. This new name is partly due to Jim Casey's agreement to merge with rival Evert ("Mac") McCabe, and it also reflects the shift of business focus from message to parcel. Business began to develop rapidly. Because of its high standard of service and personalized attention to each package handled, this young company has established a solid reputation in the shops in the city. 19 16, Charlie Soderstrom joined the company, and brought the car and expert advice. He also brought Brown. By 19 18, the three largest department stores in Seattle have become frequent customers, equipped with their own delivery trucks (which Jim and his colleagues often buy), and transformed their business into merchant parcel delivery.
1919–1930 general carrier services
19 19, the company first expanded to Oakland, California, and adopted the name of "United Parcel Service Company". The word "joint" implies that the company's operation in each city is part of the same organization, "package" indicates the characteristics of the business, and "service" indicates the content it provides.
1922, UPS acquired a company in Los Angeles, and its business was called "common carrier" service. Ordinary carrier service combines many characteristics and operating principles of retail store delivery service, and has characteristics that many other private carriers and even parcel post did not have at that time.
The notable features of ordinary carrier services include daily automatic receiving telephone calls, acceptance of checks by cash on delivery shippers, extra delivery attempts, automatic return of undeliverable packages and simplified weekly payment records. Perhaps the most important feature of UPS is that it can provide a wide range of services at a price comparable to parcel post.
UPS was one of the few companies in the United States that provided general carrier services at that time. The decision to acquire a small company and continue the public carrier service will affect the development of UPS in the next few years.
1924, UPS first introduced another technological innovation that will shape its future: the first conveyor belt system for handling parcels. Although the general carrier service was initially limited to a small area near Los Angeles to 1927, it has expanded to an area 125 miles away from downtown Fiona Fang. At the same time, UPS's retail delivery service has been extended to all major cities along the Pacific coast of the United States.
1930- 1980
1930–1952 extension
From 65438 to 0930, UPS expanded its business to the East Coast by merging the delivery services of several large department stores in new york and Newark, New Jersey. However, the development trend in the 1940s and 1950s prompted UPS to redefine itself. During World War II, the shortage of fuel and rubber led retail stores to reduce delivery business and encouraged customers to take their own packages home. Nevertheless, UPS continues to grow.
This trend continued after the war. Although many people moved to the suburbs, they bought their own cars and shopped in new shopping malls with enough parking spaces. Although UPS continuously expanded the services of its retail stores in 1930s and 1940s, by the early 1950s, the reality clearly showed that the contractual services of retail stores were limited. In this way, although the core business of UPS is still focused on retail delivery, UPS managers begin to look for new opportunities.
They decided to expand UPS service by obtaining the right of "common carrier" to deliver packages between all customers, including private customers and business customers. This decision puts UPS in direct competition with the US Postal Service and directly opposes the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). 1952 UPS decided to carry out public carrier business in cities that do not need the authorization of the state commission of commerce and ICC. 1953 Chicago became the first city where UPS provided public carrier services outside California.
At the same time, UPS decided to use legal means to seek authorized business expansion in California. This has triggered a series of unprecedented legal proceedings (against the supervisory committee and the court), requiring UPS to obtain proper certification and conduct business in a wide enough field to meet the growing public demand for its unique services. In the next 30 years, UPS applied for 100 times for other business authorization.
1953–1974 air transport services
While some people of UPS are striving for a bigger land route market, others are restoring the air transport market of UPS. 1929, UPS became the first parcel delivery company to provide air services through private airlines. Unfortunately, the lack of business (partly due to the Great Depression) and other factors led to the end of the service in the same year.
1953, UPS resumed air service, providing two-day delivery service to major cities on the east and west coasts. UPS packages once again fly in the cargo hold of aircraft on regular routes. This service is called "UPS Blue Label Air Transport", and it has grown. By 1978, every state (including Alaska and Hawaii) provides this service.
1975- 1980 gold link
While expanding its services, UPS is also expanding into new areas. Today, from the east coast to the west coast, fast and convenient delivery services are provided all over the world. However, in the 1950s, UPS was restricted in many parts of the United States. In some cases, shippers are forced to send packages to their final destination through several carriers. Crossing every state boundary requires authorization from the federal government, and each state must authorize the delivery of parcels within its territory.
UPS systematically struggled for 30 years (1950s-1970s) in order to obtain free transportation authorization from all 48 neighboring states. 1975, the Interstate Commerce Commission finally authorized UPS to start interstate service from Montana to Utah, and extended some service areas in Arizona, Idaho and Nevada to the whole state. UPS is also authorized to connect the services of these five States with the existing services of all States along the Pacific coast and east. As a result, UPS became the first parcel delivery company to provide services at every address in 48 neighboring states in the United States. This historic service area integration is called "golden link" in UPS.
198 1- 1990
1981–1988 UPS Airlines
In 1980s, the increasing demand for air parcel delivery and the cancellation of federal aviation regulations created new opportunities for UPS. However, the cancellation of the regulations has also caused changes, such as the establishment of routes, the reduction of flights and the abandonment of some routes. In order to ensure reliability, UPS began to set up its own freight fleet.
With the increasing demand for faster service, UPS has entered the field of overnight air transportation. By 1985, UPS has launched next-day air service in all 48 states and Puerto Rico. Then Alaska and Hawaii joined in. In the same year, UPS entered a new era and launched international air parcel and document service, connecting the United States with six European countries. From 65438 to 0988, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized UPS to operate its own aircraft, so UPS became a formal airline. By hiring the best employees, UPS combines multiple cultures and programs into a seamless business called UPS Airlines.
UPS Airlines is the fastest growing airline in the history of FAA, and it has formed all necessary technologies and support systems in almost one year. Today, UPS Airlines is one of the top ten airlines in the United States. UPS Airlines is characterized by having some of the most advanced information systems in the world, such as COMPASS, which can provide information for flight planning, scheduling and loading. This system can be used to arrange the best flight schedule for six years in advance, which is unique in the industry.
1988–1990 Department for International Development
UPS first went international in 1975, when it provided services in Toronto, Canada. The following year, the business in Germany also started. However, in 1980s, UPS really entered the international transportation market, and established business in more and more countries and regions in America, East and West Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Pacific coast. From 65438 to 0985, UPS started international air service between the United States and six European countries. Then 1989 German domestic air transport business was added.
Today, UPS spans the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and operates international small package and document networks in more than 185 countries and regions. Because of its international business, UPS can serve more than 4 billion people, twice as many as all telephone networks.
199 1- 1999
1991–1994 Embrace technology
By 1993, UPS delivers 1 1.5 million packages and documents to more than one million regular customers every day. Faced with such a huge business volume, UPS must develop new technologies to maintain its efficiency and competitive price, and at the same time provide new customer service. UPS technology covers an incredible range, from small handheld devices and specially designed package delivery vehicles to global computers and communication systems.
Every UPS driver carries a handheld Express Data Collector (DIAD), which is used to quickly record and upload delivery information to the UPS network. DIAD information even includes digital pictures signed by recipients, thus providing customers with real-time information about their goods. This proprietary equipment can also keep drivers in constant contact with the headquarters, so as to keep pace with the changes of important news such as the pick-up schedule and transportation mode.
At the other end of the technical field, UPSnet is a global electronic data communication network, which can provide an information processing channel for international parcel processing and delivery. UPSnet uses more than 500,000 miles of communication lines and dedicated satellites to connect more than 65,438+0,300 UPS distribution stations in 46 countries or regions. The system tracks 82 1 1,000 packages every day. During the years from 1986 to 199 1, UPS *** spent1500 million dollars on technical improvement, and plans to spend another 3.2 billion dollars in the next five years. The purpose of these improvements is to improve efficiency and expand customer service.
1992, UPS began to track all plots. 1994, UPS.com came out, and consumers' demand for package information in transit increased sharply. The following year, UPS added some functions to its website to enable customers to track packages in transit. Therefore, the popularity of online package tracking exceeded everyone's expectations. Today, UPS.com receives millions of online tracking requests every day.
1994–1999 extended service
By the end of 1990s, UPS was in another transition period. Although the core of the business is still the delivery of goods and their accompanying information, UPS has begun to expand its business scope and focus on a new channel, namely services. According to UPS management, the company's expertise in transportation and parcel tracking makes it a global business promoter and a service enterprise that constitutes the three major mobile forces of business (logistics, information flow and capital flow). In order to realize this idea of providing new services, UPS began to strategically acquire existing companies and create new ones that did not exist before.
Through these acquisitions and creations, UPS explores new ways to provide services to its customers. By providing unique supply chain solutions, UPS enables its customers to better serve their customers and focus on their core competitiveness. 65438-0995, UPS established UPS Logistics Group to provide global supply chain management solutions and consulting services according to the individual needs of customers. 1995, UPS acquired a company named SonicAir, making UPS the first company to provide the same-day, "next flight" service and guarantee the overnight delivery service at 8: 00 in the morning. 1998, UPS Capital Company was established with the mission of providing a comprehensive menu of financial products and services for the company to develop its business.
1999–1999 new york stock exchange
1999165438+1October 10, UPS first offered shares to the public. This "IPO" behavior enables the company to take advantage of the security of public transactions to make strategic acquisitions in important markets around the world, thus enhancing the strength of UPS.
2000-2007
Supply chain solutions in 2000-2007
Time flies, UPS has become a global leader in supply chain management. In UPS, global goods distribution and logistics management is no longer a single delivery of goods, but a synchronous coordination of information and funds.
The constant demand of UPS customers for this kind of professional service finally contributed to the development of UPS full-service service. UPS supply chain solutions provide customers with logistics, global air transport, finance and mail services with its efficient organization, helping customers improve their business performance and improve the global supply chain.
In 200 1 year, UPS began to March into the retail industry after owning the world's largest specialized company-mailbox. It is famous for its retail freight, postal service and commercial service center. In two years, about 3000 mailboxes and so on. Brands known as "UPS stores" have mushroomed in the United States, offering more favorable UPS services. These stores are still locally owned and operated and continue to provide the same postal and commercial services. Maintain consistent convenience and first-class service.
UPS continues to expand its services around the world. In Europe, Asia and South America, customers enjoy the perfect combination of limited time express delivery and supply chain services. The two highlights of international service are the expansion of air transit stations in Louisville, Kentucky and Cologne, Germany. For Asia, which is the main development goal, UPS first established a direct delivery service between the United States and China in 2005. In the same year, UPS acquired the shares held by joint venture partners in China, and its business expanded to 23 cities, covering more than 80% of the country's international trade.
New york has been using electric vehicles since 1930s. UPS pays attention to saving water while keeping the brown delivery trucks clean and tidy, and begins to build the world's largest compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet. UPS has always inherited the awareness of environmental protection and innovation. Although UPS is no stranger to the practice of sustainable development, the company still expresses its emphasis on responsible business model through formal document confirmation. In 2003, UPS released the first report of "Enterprise Sustainable Development", emphasizing the importance of balance among economy, society and environment. As an important indicator to measure enterprise performance, this report has become the annual report of UPS.
UPS continues to expand into a broader and more diversified market through acquisition. 1999 acquired Challenge Air, making UPS the largest express delivery and air transportation company in Latin America. The acquisition of Menlo Worldwide in 2004 improved UPS's ability to transport heavy goods by air. At the same time, the acquisition of Overnite in 2005 expanded the company's ground freight service in North America. Other recent acquisitions in Britain and Poland prove that UPS's development in Europe is full of new opportunities.
In the past hundred years, UPS has become a pioneer in innovation, from an unknown courier service company to a pioneer in air, sea, land and electronic services. 2003 is the year with the biggest change in equivalent hours. The company used a new brand logo, representing a brand-new and transformed UPS, and showed the world its outstanding ability beyond small package delivery. The company will take a brand-new step, and the name UPS composed of initials will contain a wider service concept. But its original meaning will never change, that is, the company's lofty reputation based on honesty, reliability, employee sovereignty and providing quality customer service. For UPS, the next century will be a new era for it to realize its promise and make greater achievements.