UPS Opens Supply Chain `Window' with Quantum View Manage.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2004

UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced the launch of Quantum View(SM) Manage, a technology application that allows UPS small package shippers to more easily monitor package movements within their supply chains and use that information to improve service to their customers.

Quantum View Manage is a Web-based application that allows shippers to view shipment information for multiple accounts without a tracking number - easily seeing when a package is processed, in transit or when it arrives - or if and why it is delayed. That information, in turn, also can be used to accelerate cash flow and better manage inventory.

The application already has been used to provide a competitive advantage to shippers of new release films, DVDs and CDs, advertising and promotional materials, contracts and perishables. Other industries that have seen benefits include wholesale trade, manufacturing, retail and business services.

Users can create customized views, with data elements most relevant to the user, of shipment history for outbound and third party-billed shipments. For example, a finance department can use the confirmed delivery notice to automatically trigger invoices and can customize its view to see all outstanding C.O.D.'s. A customer service department can elect to receive - and have its customers receive -- proactive e-mail notification when a package is shipped, when it arrives or if it's delayed.

"By opening a window into customers' supply chains, Quantum View Manage enables more proactive package shipment management, allowing companies to improve efficiency, better manage costs and inventory and enhance customer relationships," said Jordan Colletta, UPS vice president of e-commerce marketing.

Coming later this year are customs brokerage reports for international shipments, and the ability to help resolve brokerage exceptions - a critical need for customers satisfying U.S. Customs requirements for international shipments in a post-Sept. 11 environment.

More than 600 UPS customers piloted Quantum View Manage, and all have migrated to the offering, which became generally available in January. Some examples:

-- Los Angeles, CA-based Forever 21 uses Quantum View Manage to

keep a sharp eye on shipments of hip, trendy clothing to its

more than 145 stores in 25 states and Canada.

"If we're running short on a hot-selling item in Miami or Edmonton, it's imperative that we replenish our inventory immediately, and the visibility provided by Quantum View Manage is crucial," said Chan Chau, Traffic Manager. "Previously, a shipping manager spent most of his day researching the status of clothing heading for our various stores."

-- When Hard Rock Cafe ships a Jimi Hendrix guitar, Beatles

memorabilia, or even a $20,000 computer server to one of its

113 locations worldwide, e-Commerce Fulfillment Manager Paul

Farah uses Quantum View Manage to closely monitor when an item

is ordered, when it is sent, when it arrives, and why a

delivery might be interrupted - by weather or customs, for

instance.

Farah is able to set a default so he will be alerted by e-mail if a problem occurs, rather than having to review every entry. With that information, he's able to address the issue and provide customer service proactively. Farah estimates the feature saves him "three hours a day ... and time is money."

-- Attleboro, MA-based GreatArrivals.com uses Quantum View Manage

to provide exceptional service to customers who purchase the

company's made-to-order, special-occasion gift baskets, said

Customer Service Manager Brad Boudreau.

"If a delivery is delayed because of an incorrect address, or because a customer wasn't present when delivery was attempted, we know immediately, and can call our customer to let them know," Boudreau said. "We've enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty, and Quantum View Manage has helped us cut the time we spend responding to 'where's my order' calls in half."

-- Mitsubishi Motors uses Quantum View Manage to monitor

international packages going to Canada. Mitsubishi can

pinpoint delays due to incorrect addresses and custom delays,

and e-mail package status information to its shipping

locations.

Quantum View Manage is the latest addition to UPS's broad suite of visibility solutions, including:

-- Quantum View Notify provides proactive e-mail notification

when a package is shipped, when it arrives, or if it's

delayed.

-- Quantum View Data provides data about customers' and

suppliers' shipments for inbound and/or outbound packages.

Data files delivered via the Web in .csv, .txt or XML formats

are easy to integrate into internal software applications or

databases.

-- UPS tracking solutions including tracking at UPS.com,

Reference Number Tracking via UPS Worldship, UPS Signature

Tracking, or the UPS OnLine Tracking Tool, which UPS customers

can embed into their own Web sites or business applications.

-- Flex(R) Global View, a visibility tool offered by UPS Supply

Chain Solutions, provides comprehensive supply chain

visibility of multimodal transportation, purchase order,

customs clearances and order and inventory management data to

UPS Supply Chain Solutions customers.

UPS provides Quantum View services to customers as a value-added service. The company has found that customers who use Quantum View services tend to ship more packages, Colletta said.

A demo of the new Quantum View Manage solution is available at http://www.ups.com/QVMdemo and more information can be found at http://www.ups.com/quantumview.