Case Study Questions

Name

1.- What are the inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS`s

package tracking system?
Inputs refer to capture customers` signature along with pickup, delivery
and time-card information. At various points along the route from sender
to receiver, bar code devices scan shipping information on the package
label, the information is then fed into the central computer.
The processing is that into the UPS trucks vehicle adapter, an
information-transmitting device that is connected to the cellular
telephone network.
UPS customers can also access this information from the company Web
site using their own computers or wireless devices, such as pagers and
cell phones
2.- What technologies used by UPS? How are these technologies
related to UPSs business strategy?
UPS implemented a suite of custom-built software that uses operations
research and mapping technology to optimize the way packages are
loaded and delivery. Because 14 million small packages each day of
delivers, the resulting information is cutting the distance that delivery
truck travel by more than 100 million miles each year. The company is
now leveraging its decades of expertise managing its own global
delivery network to manage logistics and supply-chain management for
other companies.
3.- What problems do UPSs information systems solve? What
would happen if these systems were not available?
Every three months the company introduces as many as 10,000 new
apparel items and 4,000 new footwear items. It must handle orders for
many thousands of retails for these orders, and many these orders are
priority requests that must be fulfilled within one or two days. By having

UPS coordinate and manage distribution, it increased its order accuracy

rate, boosted on-time deliveries, and improved customer service.

Analysis
This company divided their products in eight categories in which
one presents their sales in four quarters. For the Beverages
category we can see that for the first quarter their sales started
with $35,858, for the next quarter it had a little decline and for the
others two quarters it continue decreasing, in spite of their
decreasings this category has the second place of the highest
sales. The condiments category started with sales of $11,922 in
the first quarter but for the others three quarter it had a good
increasing. Confection category had a good sales in the first
quarter of $21,083 and increase n a little for the next quarter, in
the third quarter it reduce their sales and for the period it get
better. Dairy products has the first place in sales it started with
sales of $24,119 and it only rise in the other quarters in
comparison with the Beverages category Dairy products has two
products less in the market and still it has the highest sales. Cereal
category increases their sales just to the third quarter because for
the last quarter it reduces the sales. Poultry category started and
finished good but in the two intermediate quarters their sales fall.
Produce category is a good case because in the first quarter it only
had $8,981 in sales but for the next quarter in increase rapidly to
$15,584 and it decline again in the next period and for the last one
quarter it growth up to $20,153. Our last category is seafood and it
started with a low sales and it was increasing during the others two
quarters and for the last one in had a little reduction. The
differences between all of these categories is obvious but we have
to consider that are many factors that can intervene in each
business.