Staying on the leading edge of technology means getting products delivered quickly and efficiently. You rely on suppliers and customers nationwide—and sometimes worldwide—often involving complicated and specialized supply chain processes and knowledge.
Jeri Rogers, the purchasing coordinator at Peoria, IL-based Pearl Technology, was struggling with an all-too-common challenge: shipping carriers that weren’t delivering products on time.
Instead of focusing on growing the business or negotiating new deals and contracts, she was dedicating lots of time, money, and resources to chasing down packages in an effort to keep projects on track and customers happy.
Given the costly impact of these product delays, she knew she had to find a new solution quickly. Rogers found the answer she was looking for when she discovered the UPS® programs that all NSCA members—manufacturers and integrators—have access to. While Pearl Technology has been enjoying UPS discounts on shipping rates for nearly 20 years through NSCA’s partnership with UPS, Rogers also discovered other UPS perks as well.
A Game-Changing Conversation
After consulting with a trusted UPS logistics advisor, Pearl Technology adopted new shipping practices and internal technology that improved time-in-transit and staff efficiency.
Rogers was able to simplify shipping by using UPS WorldShip. This shipping software uses existing customer data to generate shipping labels, helping to easily manifest air, ground, international, LTL freight, and air freight shipments. It streamlines business processes by connecting to existing business systems. ODBC and XML integrations allow WorldShip to import information from—and export shipping details back to—critical business systems and databases.
With the help of UPS, Rogers was also able to create a better customer experience and boost client satisfaction with Quantum View Notify®, which automatically notifies staff and customers via text message about shipment status. “[Now] I prefer UPS to other carriers because my ground packages are usually delivered here before noon,” she explains. “If you have techs waiting for equipment to do a job, then that makes a big difference vs. having to wait until late afternoon for packages to arrive.”
Following advice from UPS, Pearl Technology was able to streamline and simplify shipping processes to reduce errors and delays—adding even more benefit to the discounted shipping rates it already enjoyed. Rogers says these seemingly small changes have made a big impact to help Pearl Technology stay at the top of its game. “These savings really do add up,” she emphasizes.
Get Started with Your Own UPS Discounts
UPS offers all NSCA members a flat-rate discount that applies to every shipment, regardless of volume:
- 10% on UPS Next Day Air® Early
- 50% on Domestic Next Day/Deferred
- 30% on Ground Commercial/Residential
- International: 50% on Export/40% on Import/25% Canada Standard
- Savings begin at 75% on UPS Freight® shipments over 150 pounds
In addition, NSCA members can rely on UPS Smart Pickup® at no cost. This service combines the convenience of recurring pickup with the flexibility of on-demand pickup. UPS comes to your business whenever you have a package to ship.
All you have to do to take advantage of these UPS programs is sign up! Visit this link to get started.