Assignment one: UPS competes globally with information technology
Management Information Systems
Renatta Gómez Molina
Read the document and answer the following questions:
1. What are the inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS’s package tracking
system?
Inputs: package information, signature of the customer, package pickup, package
delivery, time card information, current location, billing information and clearance
documents of the customer.
Processing: The process of UPS is transferred to the UP´s computer center and saved
for retrial. Also, data is updated permitting to be able to track by customer account, date,
driver, and other measures for efficient final delivery of the packages.
Outputs: Pickup and delivery times, location track , and package receiver. The
outputs can include reports of a specific account or a specific driver or route of the package.
2. What technologies are used by UPS? How are these technologies related
to UPS’s business strategy?
The technologies used by UPS are DIAD, wireless communication, ERP, web service,
barcode scanner and GPS tracking device. It is related to UPS’s business strategy because it
increases productivity, flexibility and create a lower income package service in the business.
Also, DIAD is effective cause can be accessed by wireless network and drivers can know
more information from customer signatures.
3. What strategic business objectives do UPS’s information systems
address?
The strategic business objectives that UPS’s information system address is to develop
productivity in their global business by attending the logistics needs to have a better customer
satisfaction. Those technologies are solving problems such as:
ensuring they can deliver anywhere in the world by using the built in GPS
save time and money
Electronically records signature from customers, which is automatically recorded
to the company database.
Returns made in a simple way
Manage shipping online
Information is sent directly to drivers on instant messages.
4. What would happen if UPS’s information systems were not available?
UPS wouldn’t be the efficient company that it is currently and could lose to their
competitors. Also, it would be customer insecurity about the service provided due to the
customer wouldn’t be sure if it secure or when it will arrive and such things provide value to
the customer and help the complete task efficiently.
