Corporate Vision March 2017

72 CORPORATE VISION / March 2017 , Anne Bowen-Long of UPS talks to us about the firm, its strategy for growth and what the future holds. Delivering at Pace UPS is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight via ground, ocean and air transport modes; customs brokerage to facilitate international trade, along with advanced inventory control, warehouse management and shipment tracking technology to help customers more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS delivers more than 4.7 billion packages a year in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS works with customers of all sizes, from small businesses to multibillion dollar global corporations, and there is one objective they all have in common – profitable growth. UPS sales professionals serve as logistics consultants taking a holistic approach to understand each organization’s supply chain and how UPS services and capabilities can help drive sales, reduce cost and improve cash flow. As new logistics and transportation challenges arise, UPS helps customers solve them by mobilizing a project team of operations, logistics, IT, sales and customer solutions experts to implement highly customized plans. These experts develop shipping systems and logistics solutions to improve customers’ efficiency and position their company to grow, immediately and well into the future. Anne Bowen-Long, Vice President, Global Sales Strategy explains more about what differentiates UPS from its competitors and marks the firm out as the best possible option for clients. “From our inception in 1907, UPS has grown into a $58 billion corporation by meeting customers’ requirements, by building an unrivalled global infrastructure, and by an ongoing development of innovative technological capabilities. The focus is on outstanding reliability, greater speed, more services and innovative technology.” “For consumers, small business owners and global corporations, UPS offers customers a complete range of logistics services. With extensive global and domestic capabilities, UPS provides a total enterprise solution: package delivery (ground and air), freight services, technology solutions, supply chain management, consulting, mail services and financing solutions from UPS Capital.” “UPS’s infrastructure, scale, financial strength, expertise and skilled workforce make the company unlike any other in the world. UPS delivers more guaranteed packages on time around the world than any other carrier. This level of coverage and service makes UPS a trusted brand in logistics. UPS continues to be recognized in the industry with awards and honours in business, technology, diversity, community and executive leadership.” “UPS believes in being an ethical and responsible corporate citizen. With industry leading sustainability policies, diversity and minority programs, and support of various charitable organizations, the dedication to the community is sincere. UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. The UPS Foundation leads global citizenship programs. In 2016, UPS and its employees invested more than $116 million in charitable giving around the world.” UPS has a long history of promoting from within the company as a means of engaging and retaining its people, along with bringing valuable experience and continuity to customers. Anne tells us more about the culture at UPS. “Our founder Jim Casey had a quote that is used frequently today – ‘Determined people working together can accomplish anything.’ Through this determination, we have developed a culture of ‘Yes’ and ‘How.’ We take on big challenges to improve service to our customers in innovative ways. In a culture of Yes, our customers see UPS as problem solvers. In a culture of Yes, people are encouraged – not discouraged – from challenging the status quo. We’re constructively dissatisfied – another Jim Casey phrase – which keeps us continually asking the key question ‘how can we do things better?’” UPS is always finding new ways to help its customers and Anne lets us in on a recent development. “We recently announced a “chatbot” – it’s an artificial- intelligence-enabled platform that mimics human conversation. You can get it on Facebook Messenger, Skype and Amazon platforms. UPS customers can use simple phrases like ‘shipping rates’ to get voice responses in English. Over time, we’ll integrate 1702CV34