UPS delivers handheld devices to staff

UPS, the world’s largest parcel delivery firm, is providing its drivers with wireless handheld computers using GPS technology to improve customer delivery.

It is providing the lightweight and long-lasting devices to more than 11,600 UPS and Lynx drivers throughout the UK and Europe and a further 30,000 globally.

UPS Europe IE manager Walter van der Meiren says the devices are smaller than its predecessors and its battery lasts a full working day.

‘It incorporates many technical improvements and ol for drivers to offer reliable customer service by putting up-to-date information about each delivery at the driver’s fingertips,’ he said.

The Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD IV) connects with four wireless networks including personal (Bluetooth), local (WiFi) and wide area (GPRS or CDMA).

The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities allow the device to access printers and other devices within a UPS facility or with a customer’s PC.

Van der Meiren says business growth drives the use of new technology at UPS.

‘Our business in Europe is growing at double-digit rates,’ he said. ‘The deployment of this state-of-the-art technology reflects this growth and commitment to making operations more efficient and productive.’

UPS was the first in its industry to equip drivers with a handheld computer in 1991, with each generation of the DIAD co-developed with Symbol Technologies.

‘Over the past decade, the DIAD has been the critical customer-facing, front-end device of an integrated global network that’s now tracking some 14.8 million deliveries every day,’ said van der Meiren.

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Further reading

Parcelforce Worldwide automates delivery data

Web tools help UPS to deliver

Tracking devices form part of UPS's distribution package