Case Study #1:

UPS Indoor Dropboxes

Synopsis

When UPS changed its graphic identity, it faced the task of replacing drop boxes. Titan worked with box manufacturer AGI Schutz to devise an efficient logistics solution for the delivery and installation of 8,000 indoor drop boxes throughout the U.S. Key to the solution was an Internet-based field reporting system that allowed UPS to verify installation of new boxes and destruction of the old ones.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2004 edition of the Atlas Amplifier, the magazine of Atlas World Group.

There's a new look coming to the familiar UPS indoor drop box. And it's arriving with the help of Titan and Atlas.

Over the next five months, Titan installation technicians and Atlas crews will replace all UPS indoor drop boxes in the continental U.S., installing new units that carry the company's new graphics identity.

"A prime factor in the decision by UPS and box manufacturer AGI Schutz to partner with Titan was the timeliness of our field progress reporting," says Titan Senior Account Executive Mark Sesti.

As Mark describes, Titan developed a solution that allows access to daily progress reports via the Internet. It begins with the installation technician, who scans the bar code on the original unit and affixes a duplicate bar code to its replacement. The technician takes digital before-and-after photos of both units and sends these as email attachments to Titan headquarters. Here they are reviewed and uploaded to the company's Web site. The client can view the photo documents within 48 hours of installation.

"The entire replacement process is documented by photos," says Mark, "including the destruction and disposal of the old boxes."

Like Clockwork, Starting With Training

The rollout kicked off during the week of September 13 with training led by Titan Project Manager Wilda Poehler.

"We will conduct eight major training sessions for crews who handle the replacement work," says Wilda. "Each session includes a formal explanation of the process followed by a supervised replacement in the field. This gives the agents immediate hands-on knowledge and the advantage of expert evaluation, if needed."

Training is scheduled to conclude December 20, with follow-up supervision continuing until the project is completed in late February. At that time, Titan and its logistics partners will have replaced 8,000 UPS indoor drop boxes across the U.S.

Titan delivery crews follow a standardized process to document the installation of 8,000 new UPS indoor drop boxes and the disposal of the old ones. Titan installation and delivery crews underwent detailed training that included a field exercise to perform an actual installation.