UPS Setting Its Sights on India for Manufacturing Package Tracking RFID Tags

United Parcel Service (UPS), is setting its sights on India for manufacturing some of its radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags used for tracking packages, said a Reuters report. The world's largest parcel delivery company is currently in discussions with various Indian state governments to establish production facilities within the country. This decision aligns with India's ambitious plans to become a global chipmaking hub, an initiative heavily backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While details regarding the scale of investment and the official launch date remain under wraps, UPS's move signifies a potentially significant development on two fronts.

Firstly, for UPS, this could streamline their supply chain by establishing a regional manufacturing base for these tracking tags. Secondly, for India, this could be a major boost to their semiconductor industry, attracting further investment and technological expertise.

Notably, despite initial setbacks in offering $10 billion in incentives to the semiconductor industry, the Indian government continues to invest in semiconductor manufacturing.

Chief Digital and Technology Officer Bala Subramanian stated that they are working with potential partners to leverage the semiconductor investments made by the Indian government. UPS began expanding its use of RFID tags on packages about two years ago, significantly improving package tracking efficiency and reducing lost or misdirected packages. Subramanian mentioned that they plan to build these tags in India for global use, although specific details about the investment size and manufacturing timeline are yet to be disclosed.

While UPS currently lacks manufacturing capability in India, it opened its first technology center in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in August. This center complements its existing U.S. and European teams, allowing UPS to develop in-house technology. Subramanian emphasized that they will continue to grow in Chennai, further enhancing their technological capabilities.

In a conclusion, UPS's collaboration with Indian state governments aims to produce parcel-tracking tags locally, leveraging India's semiconductor investments and contributing to the country's chipmaking ambitions.

UPS Adds Over 200 Flights in April to Support Project Airbridge Coronavirus Relief Efforts

UPS India helped Dr. Reddys Laboratories ship critical compounds for essential medicines to the United States

UPS (NYSE:UPS) said it has added over 200 company-owned and chartered air freighter flights in April to support FEMA's Project Airbridge and other healthcare-related missions. Project Airbridge is a public-private partnership to get vital and life-saving equipment to where it is needed with greater speed. These additional flights serve to meet the soaring demand to ship test kits, personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary for the global response effort.

"With our scale and flexible global network, we are in a unique position to handle Coronavirus response shipments for FEMA and healthcare customers," said David Abney, UPS Chairman and CEO. "In these uncertain times, our customers depend on us more than ever. Our employees are keeping America moving and meeting the urgent needs created by the pandemic. We will continue to serve and do our part to lead in the fight against COVID-19."

The vast majority of the additional flights are carrying products from Asia to the U.S. and Europe. UPS is shipping personal protective equipment, ventilators, emergency room monitoring equipment, Coronavirus test kits and other supplies. The company is also proud to have the capabilities to transport specialized products, such as temperature sensitive compounds. A recent flight for Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., a major Indian pharmaceutical company, originated in Hyderabad, India and contained 30 tons of temperature-sensitive compounds to be shipped to the U.S. on an urgent basis. To maintain product effectiveness, the entire shipment had to be maintained at +15C - +25C. The product was moved within the UPS network through the Cologne, Germany air hub, then to the UPS Worldport in Kentucky, before reaching its final destination on time and as promised.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS was awarded America's Best Customer Service company for Shipping and Delivery services by Newsweek magazine; Forbes Most Valuable Brand in Transportation; and top rankings on the JUST 100 list for social responsibility, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, among other prestigious rankings and awards. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at ups.com/longitudes The company's sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

To ship with UPS, please visit ups.com/ship.

~ Newsvoir