ATLANTA -- UPS has announced that it is expanding the UPS Access Point network, hoping to sign up convenience stores that will become pickup points for deliveries.
The UPS Access Point network, with the broadest integrated cross-border footprint in Europe, is now available in New York City and Chicago and will expand rapidly to cover all major U.S. metropolitan markets during 2015.
Earlier this year, 37% of U.S. online shoppers participating in the 2014 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study said they want alternate delivery locations when they are not at home.
With UPS Access Point locations, local businesses such as neighborhood convenience stores and grocery stores with evening and weekend hours--ideally approximately 10 minutes or less from the consumer's delivery address--will serve as places where consumers can pick up packages when UPS cannot deliver a package at the consumer's residence. Consumers will go to www.ups.com and use the tracking number on the note to get the address. They will need photo identification to receive their package. In addition, UPS My Choice members will have the ability to send qualifying shipments directly to a UPS Access Point location as their preferred delivery address.
There are nearly 300 UPS Access Point locations in New York City and Chicago with more locations being added each week. As part of the UPS Access Point network, UPS is installing self-service smart lockers in metropolitan Chicago.
With government issued identification, or a mobile device, consumers can retrieve their package from a locker in less time than it takes to withdraw cash from an ATM, the company said. UPS My Choice members can route their packages directly to these lockers when they will not be home to receive deliveries.
In January 2015, the Atlanta-based company plans to add all 4,400 The UPS Store locations throughout the United States to the UPS Access Point network.
Currently, there are more than 12,000 UPS Access Point locations in seven European countries. UPS said it expects to have 20,000 locations in key markets throughout Europe and the Americas by the end of 2015.
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