What UPS does

UPS (United Parcel Service of America, Inc.) is a publicly traded global transportation and logistics company founded in 1907, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and listed on the NYSE under ticker UPS. The company operates the world's largest integrated package delivery and supply chain network, serving over 200 countries and territories with approximately 460,000 employees and delivering 20.8 million packages per day. Its service portfolio spans domestic ground and air shipping (UPS Ground, Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air), international services (Worldwide Express, Saver, Expedited, Standard, Economy, Express Critical), specialized healthcare cold-chain logistics, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and consumer delivery management (UPS My Choice). Distribution is multi-channel: direct enterprise sales for healthcare, automotive, and industrial accounts; self-serve via ups.com and mobile app; 5,000+ The UPS Store franchise locations; 40,000+ Access Point drop-off/pickup locations; the Roadie crowd-sourced same-day platform; the Happy Returns e-commerce returns network; the MOVIN B2B joint venture in India; and developer APIs (UPS Global Checkout, Export Assure, UCIX) for embedded integration.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-shipment transaction fees, multi-year enterprise contracts for complex logistics and healthcare cold-chain services, subscription fees (UPS My Choice Premium at $19.99/year), and a layered set of accessorial surcharges (fuel, residential, remote area, per-pound trade). Customer segments are organized vertically, with healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics, automotive and industrial manufacturing, and e-commerce/SMB as primary verticals. The current strategic posture is a deliberate mix shift: cutting Amazon volume by more than 50% by H2 2026, divesting Coyote Logistics for $1.025B, retiring the MD-11 fleet by 2027, and investing in higher-margin healthcare cold-chain ($1.6B in healthcare acquisitions, $48M in new IATA CEIV Pharma cross-docks, $50M in Mexico air freight) and AI-driven operations. Management has framed H2 2026 as the margin inflection point, accepting near-term revenue contraction in exchange for higher-value, lower-volume, higher-margin business.

The technology stack includes AI-powered customer service assistants deployed in 20+ countries, real-time digital twins of the global network refreshing every 10 minutes, an agentic control tower capability deployed on-site with enterprise customers, RFID-enabled package tracking, and AI-driven customs brokerage delivering 97% first-day clearance. The company holds IATA CEIV Pharma certification across temperature-controlled facilities supporting 2-8°C, 15-25°C, and frozen biologics, cell/gene therapy, and mRNA logistics, positioning for the projected $39.1B temperature-sensitive biologics market by 2033.

Name

UPS

Legal name

United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Website

https://ups.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

UPS is a global logistics company operating the world's largest integrated package delivery and supply chain network across 200+ countries, serving enterprise, SMB, and consumer customers with parcel, freight, healthcare cold-chain, and supply chain solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Package Delivery and Logistics Services

NAICS

Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110), Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Local Messengers and Local Delivery (4922), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Air Courier Services (4513), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Express Parcel Carriers (Air + Ground) (THABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parcel Inject / Postal Workshare (Last-Mile Handoff) (TLAAACAJ)

Keywords

• Package delivery services
• Global logistics solutions
• Healthcare cold chain
• Supply chain management
• Freight forwarding services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Package Delivery Services: Core revenue from domestic and international package delivery, including overnight, 2-day, 3-day, ground, and express shipping services. Revenue is generated per shipment based on weight, dimensions, distance, and service level selected.
2. Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Logistics: Temperature-controlled logistics for biologics, GLP-1 drugs, cell and gene therapies, and mRNA platforms. UPS generated $3 billion in quarterly healthcare revenue for the first time in Q1, targeting the $39.1 billion temperature-sensitive biologics market.
3. North American Air Freight: Time-definite heavy air freight services between Mexico, US, and Canada, with 1-, 2-, and 3-day delivery options for automotive and industrial manufacturers. Part of $50 million investment in network capabilities.
4. Supply Chain Solutions: Freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and integrated logistics services under UPS Supply Chain Solutions, including management of complex supply chains for enterprise customers.
5. Accessorial Services and Surcharges: Fuel surcharges, residential delivery surcharges, extended area surcharges, remote area surcharges, and various accessorial fees. International fuel surcharges and surge fees updated periodically.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

UPS is a global integrated package delivery, freight, and supply chain management company that transports documents, parcels, and palletized freight via its owned air and ground network across more than 220 countries and territories. Its core services include time-definite small package delivery (air and ground), freight forwarding and truckload brokerage, healthcare and cold-chain logistics, customs brokerage, contract logistics, and reverse logistics, sold to enterprise shippers, SMBs, and individual consumers.

Product overview

UPS is a global package delivery and logistics company operating a platform-plus-services model with core parcel delivery services (ground, air, international), supplemented by specialized healthcare logistics, supply chain management, and digital delivery management tools. The main shipping products include UPS Ground, UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS Worldwide Express, UPS Worldwide Saver, UPS Worldwide Expedited, UPS Standard, UPS Worldwide Economy, and UPS Express Critical for same-day urgent needs. Supporting services include UPS Healthcare (temperature-controlled pharma logistics), UPS Supply Chain Solutions (freight forwarding/warehousing), UPS My Choice (consumer delivery management), Roadie (crowdsourced same-day delivery), Happy Returns (e-commerce returns), InsureShield (shipping insurance), and Parcel Pro (high-value shipping). The company also operates The UPS Store retail network and maintains a joint venture MOVIN in India. APIs including UPS Global Checkout, Export Assure, and UCIX enable third-party integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MOVIN: Joint venture logistics brand between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises operating in India's B2B logistics sector, offering Express EOD, Standard Premium services, and MOVIN Healthcare for pharmaceutical and MedTech logistics.

Products and services

• UPS Ground Cost-effective, day-definite ground delivery of packages within the U.S. and to/from Canada, targeting residential and business shippers.
• UPS Next Day Air Premium next-business-day air delivery with morning, mid-day, and end-of-day options for time-sensitive shipments.
• UPS 2nd Day Air Second-business-day air delivery within the U.S. for shipments requiring faster than ground but not overnight service.
• UPS Worldwide Express Premium international express service with next-day delivery to select global destinations and end-of-day to major cities, including customs clearance.
• UPS Worldwide Saver Day-definite international air delivery to more than 220 countries and territories, typically one to three business days with customs clearance included.
• UPS Worldwide Expedited Economy international shipping for less time-sensitive parcels, with customs clearance and door-to-door delivery.
• UPS Express Critical On-demand expedited courier service for emergency, same-day or next-flight-out shipments, available globally with door-to-door pickup and delivery.
• UPS Standard Economy cross-border ground delivery from Canada and Mexico into the U.S. for less time-sensitive shipments.
• UPS Worldwide Economy Low-cost international shipping option for non-time-sensitive e-commerce parcels, with customs clearance and delivery to more than 220 countries and territories.
• UPS Healthcare Specialty logistics services for pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and clinical trial customers, including temperature-controlled warehousing, transportation, and distribution with regulatory documentation.
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions End-to-end contract logistics and supply chain services including freight forwarding (air, ocean, road), warehousing, customs brokerage, trade management, and supply chain consulting.
• UPS Freight (North American Air Freight) Air freight services across North America for time-sensitive, palletized shipments requiring air transport with customs handling where applicable.
• MOVIN Digital less-than-truckload freight shipping platform providing online quoting, booking, and tracking for U.S. domestic LTL freight.
• UPS My Choice Residential membership service providing inbound package visibility, delivery alerts, and flexible rerouting, with a paid Premium tier adding delivery window selection and change-of-address.
• Roadie Technology platform connecting shippers with crowdsourced drivers for same-day and last-mile local delivery across the U.S.
• Happy Returns Reverse logistics service offering box-free, in-person returns at Return Bar locations, with aggregation, grading, and disposition for e-commerce retailers.
• InsureShield Shipping Insurance Shipping insurance product covering loss, damage, and shortage for parcels tendered to UPS, available to shippers at the point of label purchase.
• Parcel Pro Specialized high-value shipping, insurance, and chain-of-custody service for jewelers, galleries, electronics, and luxury goods retailers.
• The UPS Store Franchised retail centers offering UPS shipping, packing, printing, mailbox, and small business services in communities across the U.S.
• UPS Developer Portal and APIs Self-serve developer portal providing APIs and SDKs for UPS rating, shipping, tracking, address validation, and trade compliance, enabling integration into customer and third-party applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20.8 million packages delivered daily
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAISE US (Amazon, Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, Bank of America, General Motors, Eli Lilly, Mastercard, AMD, Cisco, IBM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026UPS is an anchor partner in RAISE US, a bipartisan nonprofit launched with over $500 million in funding to help American workers adapt to AI-driven job displacement. The organization partners with major companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, Bank of America, UPS, General Motors, Eli Lilly, Mastercard, AMD, Cisco, and IBM to develop education, training, and policy initiatives targeting workers in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah.
• InterGlobe EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership forming MOVIN, a logistics brand serving India's B2B supply chain sector. The partnership combines UPS's global logistics expertise with InterGlobe's regional market knowledge. MOVIN has expanded across major Indian business hubs including Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Surat, with plans for further expansion.
• WeatherTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS partnered with WeatherTech to provide shipping solutions offering predictable pricing and reliable operations for the automotive accessories manufacturer. The partnership enables WeatherTech to plan staffing, inventory, and customer commitments more effectively during peak demand periods.
• Frigo-Trans and BPL (Germany-based healthcare cold-chain logistics firms)coreOthersUPS completed the acquisition of Frigo-Trans and BPL in early 2025 to enhance end-to-end pharmaceutical logistics capabilities globally. These acquisitions strengthen UPS's temperature-controlled logistics network for healthcare products.
• Andlauer Healthcare GroupcoreOthersUPS acquired Andlauer Healthcare Group for $1.6 billion as part of its healthcare logistics expansion strategy, adding specialized healthcare transportation capabilities to UPS's cold-chain network.
• RXO (Coyote Logistics acquirer)minorOthersRXO acquired Coyote Logistics from UPS for $1.025 billion. This divestiture is part of UPS's portfolio optimization and focus on core competencies.
• Points of LightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS and The UPS Foundation support Points of Light's National Volunteer Strategy, a $100 million plan to double U.S. volunteers to 150 million by 2035. UPS achieved its goal of 30 million volunteer hours four years ahead of schedule through this partnership.
• DHL and FedEx (joint letter to EU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS, DHL, and FedEx jointly urged EU finance ministers to implement a phased approach to new duty regulations on low-value packages, warning that current requirements create implementation complexity that cannot be met by the July 1 deadline. The three logistics companies recommended proceeding with the EUR 3 flat-rate duty while deferring more complex elements.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• SF Express (顺丰控股): SF Express is the leading integrated express carrier in China with growing international capabilities, competing with UPS in cross-border Asia-Pacific lanes. It is comparable on express air-and-ground operating model and on vertical depth in healthcare and cold-chain logistics.
• Yamato Holdings: Yamato is Japan's dominant domestic parcel and logistics provider (TA-Q-BIN), with growing cross-border and cold-chain operations. It is comparable as an integrated parcel player focused on a specific geography but with overlapping service categories UPS also offers.
• Royal Mail (ID Logistics parent: International Distributions Services): Royal Mail is the U.K.'s universal postal and parcel operator, directly comparable to UPS in the U.K. last-mile market where UPS is actively restructuring its driver model. Both compete for e-commerce parcel volumes and cross-border inject in the U.K.

Emerging players

• Aramex: Aramex is a Middle East-based express parcel and logistics company with strong presence in MENA and emerging markets, comparable to UPS's international franchise and freight forwarding business. It is a smaller, growth-stage peer in adjacent geographies.

Direct peers

• FedEx: FedEx is the closest direct competitor to UPS, operating integrated air-and-ground express parcel, freight, and supply chain services globally. Both serve enterprise, mid-market, and SMB shippers with comparable service portfolios (Next Day, 2-Day, Ground, International) and similar revenue scale.
• OnTrac (including LaserShip): OnTrac/LaserShip is a U.S. regional parcel carrier specializing in ground delivery for e-commerce, often at lower price points than UPS. It is comparable as a direct competitor in the U.S. e-commerce ground segment that UPS is de-emphasizing by cutting Amazon volume.
• XPO Logistics / RXO: RXO is a U.S. asset-light freight brokerage that acquired Coyote Logistics from UPS for $1.025B, making it directly comparable in freight forwarding and brokerage. UPS Supply Chain Solutions and RXO compete for the same enterprise shipper freight dollars.
• DHL Group (Deutsche Post DHL): DHL is UPS's primary global competitor across international express, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions, with particularly strong positions in Europe and emerging markets. The two jointly petitioned the EU on low-value duty rules, underscoring their parallel exposure to cross-border parcel dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• United States Postal Service (USPS): USPS provides last-mile delivery across every U.S. address and competes directly with UPS on ground parcel and workshare injection. It is a broad incumbent with a national-mandate mission and is comparable as a final-mile handler for UPS and FedEx alike.
• Maersk (A.P. Møller-Mærsk): Maersk is a global logistics integrator combining ocean, air, ground, and contract logistics, increasingly competing with UPS in end-to-end supply chain solutions for enterprise customers. It is comparable as a broad incumbent building integrated door-to-door capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UPS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UPS
• Facebookfacebook.com/ups
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ups
• Instagraminstagram.com/ups

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A25 records

Investments13 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UPS