Name: UPS  

Address: 55 Glen Lake Parkway, NE

City: Atlanta, GA 30328   

Phone Number: (800) 833-0056   

CEO:  Michael L. Eskew

Products: Logistics

      UPS TradeAbility and an enhanced version of Quantum View Manage with new features for importers are Web-based management tools that help international shippers better manage the customs clearance process for package shipments.

      In 2003, $1.25 trillion in goods entered the United States. And by 2020 an estimated 85 percent of manufactured goods will be sold across borders, versus about 20 percent in 2002, according to McKinsey & Company.

      However, in today’s environment, managing cross-border shipping is increasingly complicated and risky. There is a bewildering array of rules, issued by more than 200 sovereign nations around the world, and the rules are in a constant state of change. The complexity of trade rules makes manual compliance processes slow, expensive and error prone, and the high cost has led some shippers not to sell internationally, eliminating one of their best opportunities for growth.

      By helping international shippers improve regulatory compliance, reduce operating expenses, and streamline global supply chains, these new services help transform cross-border shipping from a daunting challenge to a competitive advantage.

UPS TradeAbility

      UPS TradeAbility helps international shippers to quickly and easily identify harmonized tariff codes, generate landed cost estimates, and locate up-to-date compliance information.

      TradeAbility tools are available on UPS.com or can be integrated into a customer’s business applications or Web site using Web Services, technology that allows developers to more easily link computers, software and networks through standard interfaces. TradeAbility is the first UPS service to be made available via Web Services technology. Key services include:

      •Harmonizer: Quickly and accurately identify and apply a product’s harmonized tariff code, used to describe goods for duty calculation, tariff assessments and documentation filings. This replaces a process that is often done manually requiring employees to physically search through many volumes of product codes.

      •Landed Cost: Estimate the cost to move a shipment across borders, including duties, taxes, and transportation charges. Accurately estimating landed costs helps exporters provide shipping rates with all duties and taxes included at the time of order, speeding cash flow and reducing the number of refused shipments and returned products.

      •Denied Party Screener: Search for restricted trading partners as defined by the United States government, as well as countries embargoed by the United States.

      •Import Compliance: Verify compliance of import shipments with country-specific trade regulations, procedures, tariffs, laws, and administrative rulings.

      •Export License Detector: Proactively identify U.S. government export licensing requirements and exceptions.

      •International Forms: Complete forms online or browse a library of online and downloadable documentation for both export and import shipments.

      •Transaction History: Provides an audit trail for compliance checks and decrease potential penalties and fines. Customers can store and access detailed records of their TradeAbility transactions for reporting and compliance purposes. Transactions are available for 90 days, and customers also can download a single transaction or their entire transaction history for their permanent records.

      At launch, the services are available to customers in 31 countries, to manage the movement of goods for 34 countries representing more than 85 percent of world trade. Throughout 2005, UPS plans to add trade content for an additional 30 countries.

      Unlike services offered by competitors, TradeAbility requires no up-front outlay of funds or subscription fees. Services are offered free of charge (Harmonizer, Forms), or for a small transaction fee ($2 for Landed Cost; $1.25 for Denied Party Screener, Import Compliance, Export License Detector.

UPS Quantum View

      Quantum View Manage, UPS’s popular visibility solution, has been enhanced to provide U.S. importers access to their UPS customs brokerage data and clearance document images as well as new tools to help facilitate customs clearance and compliance.

      Accessed through a new view called Imports, the tools help U.S. importers clear shipments into the country, audit cleared shipments for correct classification, and efficiently and consistently archive shipments. Customers can:

      •View UPS Customs Brokerage data online in a customizable format.

      •View clearance document images, including the Commercial Invoice and Entry Summary Customs Form 7501.

      •Upload product catalog information.

      •Request a CD-ROM of up to five years of historical clearance document images.

      •E-mail UPS Customs Brokerage regarding the status of specific shipments or to inquire about previously rated shipments.

Primary focus industries

      While these tools can provide a competitive advantage for almost any company engaged in cross-border shipping, they are particularly useful for manufacturers and retailers in what U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) has identified as Primary Focus Industries.