UPS Pilots In-Building Apartment Deliveries Through Latch Smart Access Devices
July 17 2018 - 9:00AM
- Provides increased security and convenience to UPS customers in
multi-family residences
- Pilot begins in New York City and may extend to other
markets
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today said it has begun a pilot with Latch smart
access devices to enable in-building deliveries to multi-unit homes
in New York City, providing increased security and convenience for
residents who are not at home to receive packages.
Latch’s smart access devices enable UPS drivers to provide more
reliable customer service and complete more deliveries on the first
attempt. UPS began preliminary tests in Manhattan earlier this year
and has now expanded to Brooklyn. Eventually, UPS may offer the
service in markets throughout the U.S. together with smart access
pioneer Latch.
“The use of smart access devices on doors of apartment and
condominium buildings is a big step forward for the package
delivery business,” Jerome Roberts, UPS vice president of global
product innovation. “It can be difficult to securely deliver
packages in high-density, multi-family urban residences, especially
when people are not at home. Smart access devices give us a keyless
way to deliver packages to buildings and leave packages safely in
lobbies or building package rooms. For our customers, it gives them
peace of mind that their package will be waiting for them when they
get home.”
The system works like this: A UPS driver taking packages to a
Latch-enabled building receives a unique credential on a handheld
UPS® DIAD (Delivery Information Acquisition Device). The credential
works only for a specific building receiving deliveries. Any time a
driver uses a credential to enter a building, Latch records the
entry digitally to create an audit trail that identifies the user
and the time of access, establishing a secure record of the
transaction.
Latch’s smart access system lets residents and others use
smartphones to unlock doors throughout a building, including at the
main entrance. An embedded wide-angle camera within each device
captures a visual record of every interaction by a non-resident
that authorized users can monitor from the Latch mobile app. UPS,
however, is using Latch systems only to enter buildings, not
individual apartments. Residents can use Latch to enter the
building and to manage guest access. To manage deliveries, they use
the UPS My Choice mobile app or website.
The potential market for smart access devices used in this way
is enormous and growing. There are currently about 20 million
multi-family residential units in the United States, with about
350,000 added each year via new construction, Latch says.
“We believe that smart access can fundamentally change the way
people live in urban environments,” said Luke Schoenfelder, Latch
CEO. “Enabling deliveries with UPS is one of the most significant
parts of that evolution.”
Other UPS innovations that provide delivery options for
consumers to manage their deliveries include the free UPS My
Choice® service, which gives consumers more control over their
residential deliveries. UPS Access Point® locations are a related
offering. These are convenient retailers such as neighborhood
grocery stores, dry cleaners and The UPS Store® locations, which
serve as alternative delivery points for consumers who cannot be
home to receive packages.
UPS has been innovating the package delivery industry since 1907
when the company started as a bicycle messenger service. Today,
Internet of Things technology like smart locks play a pivotal role
in UPS operations. The company is investing aggressively in
technologies like these to strengthen the UPS Global Smart
Logistics Network and generate customer solutions.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a
broad range of solutions including transporting packages and
freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced
technology to more efficiently manage the world of business.
Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and
territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web
at ups.com or
pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be
found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news
direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.
About Latch
Latch is the creator of the world's first smart access system
designed for enterprise users and delivery automation. The company
was founded by a team of former Apple employees and has raised more
than $26 million in private funding from leading investors and many
of the world's largest real estate companies. Based in New York
City, Latch is at the forefront of changing the user experience
around access. Find out more at www.latch.com.
Kyle Peterson
404-828-4626
kylepeterson@ups.com
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