UPS is a brand that’s built on integrity and reliabilty. But what strategy drives this company? Universal Parcel Systems focuses their attention on supply chain strategy. It makes sense that a delivery company would be so concerned with how a good gets from where it is made to where it is sold. But this company has perfected the supply chain, making it a fine art.
UPS implements many tactics in order to ensure that they are the most efficient delivery service possible, but what’s most surprising is that they even implement thorough driver tactics.
* Drivers are told to avoid left turns, as they take longer than right turns
* Drivers are told to carry keys on the pinky of their nondominant hand so they don’t lose time searching through
pockets
This painful attention to tactics is exactly how UPS is achieving its strategy to “Sustain the core and create their future….through practicing innovation that leads to growth.” Obviously they have a plethora of tactics, but the ones presented offer a sense of how dedicated UPS is to their strategy and why they held a 50% share of their ground shipping market in 2009.
Reference: Bloomsberg Businessweek (September 20 – September 26th)