Is UPS Ground Saver® Right For Your Small Package Shipping?
Small parcels might be compact, but they bring big logistic challenges. For carriers, these challenges come mostly in the last mile. Weaving a truck through tight city streets or across long rural routes for doorstep delivery creates surcharges and fees that make shippers cringe. And with the recent boom in e-commerce shipping, which shows no signs of slowing, small package challenges, like parcel returns, will continue to grow.
If last-mile delivery for these orders is costly and consumers expect free or low-cost shipping, how can small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) – who don't have the same resources as big-box retailers – compete? To address this problem, UPS® created UPS Ground Saver®. The shipping network and services offered by this program helps SMBs stay competitive with their small parcel services and streamline parcel shipping operations overall.
Getting the most value out of UPS Ground Saver® comes down to fit – having the right operations, customers and order profiles. Here, we explain how this UPS program may benefit your business and open doors.
What is UPS Ground Saver®?
UPS Ground Saver® is an economy, residential-bound ground service designed for small, lightweight business-to-consumer (B2C) parcels. This delivery network combines UPS ground trucks and hubs with the local delivery infrastructure for last-mile logistics. This partnership also makes it ideal for shippers looking to avoid a residential surcharge, one of UPS' shipping fees.
What is the ideal UPS Ground Saver® package profile?
B2C shippers fulfilling at least 10 small package shipments per day could benefit greatly from this lower-cost ground service – as long as their packages fit the parameters. Shipments need to be lightweight with a small footprint so they fit comfortably in a mail truck. These parcels should:
- Weigh less than 10 lbs.
- Measure under one cubic foot
- Head to residential deliveries
- Be for business-to-consumer transactions
- Have a value less than $100 and require limited liability coverage
How does UPS Ground Saver® work?
UPS Ground Saver® packages follow the UPS ground network and workflows through final delivery. UPS picks up parcels and routes them to the UPS center closest to the delivery address. UPS keeps the package in its network and combines it with other volume heading toward the final destination.
These parcels follow the typical UPS tracking experience – receiving delivery and exception scans that are updated daily. Shipments can be easily tracked through ups.com, UPS online shipping tools or the Worldwide Express transportation management system (TMS), SpeedShip®.
Benefits of UPS Ground Saver® Shipping
Beyond simplified logistics, UPS Ground Saver's® lower UPS shipping rates generally help SMBs find room in the budget for value-add shipping services customers care about. Why does that matter? We know that customers care about shipping – be it cheap, free or fast. In fact, 63% of consumers say they abandon online shopping carts because of shipping costs, while 36% are bothered most by longer delivery times1. Behind UPS Ground Saver's® low-cost parcel shipping could be opportunities to beat the competition on ground costs or offset the financial hit for two-day shipping.
Is UPS Ground Saver® shipping right for you?
UPS Ground Saver® could be the missing link for B2C-based SMBs – offering cost-reductions and residential and commercial fulfillment that help them keep up with increasingly demanding shipping standards.
Curious about the possibilities? As a UPS Authorized Reseller, Worldwide Express can offer a UPS Ground Saver® evaluation to determine fit with your operations.
Get started today and be sure check out top UPS Ground Saver® FAQs to further expand your knowledge on this program.
1Primary reason for digital shoppers in the United States to abandon their carts as of November 2018, Statista J. Clement, 2019
