UPS Collaborates With AmerisourceBergen to Transport Medical Products Via Drone at Multiple U.S. Hospital Systems
October 21 2019 - 4:17PM
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced its latest drone logistics
partnership with wholesale pharmaceutical distributor
AmerisourceBergen, a leading global healthcare solutions provider.
The collaboration will deploy the UPS Flight Forward drone airline
to transport certain pharmaceuticals, supplies and records to
qualifying medical campuses served by AmerisourceBergen across the
United States, and then expand its use to other sites of care.
This marks a major milestone for unmanned aviation in the United
States. Currently, AmerisourceBergen utilizes courier vehicles to
transport the majority of medical products from its distribution
centers to health systems, community practices, independent
pharmacies and alternative care settings. The addition of drone
transportation provides an option for aerial delivery via UPS
Flight Forward drone services enabling the ability to avoid roadway
delays, increase medical distribution efficiency, lower costs and
improve the patient experience with potentially life-saving
benefits.
“We’re proud to introduce this groundbreaking drone logistics
service to AmerisourceBergen’s distribution network,” says David
Abney, UPS chairman and chief executive officer. “Efficient, timely
delivery of critical medicines is paramount when patient health is
at stake, and drone services can make a big difference when
delivery time is a critical factor.”
AmerisourceBergen operates distribution services that rely on
prompt daily deliveries to ensure that crucial medications
efficiently and reliably reach their destination every day. More
than 1,500 pharmaceutical manufacturers and tens of thousands of
healthcare providers rely on AmerisourceBergen to help patients
access the medications they need, when they need them. The company
distributes medicines to 95 percent of hospitals across the country
through a network of 27 distribution centers.
“Patient-centered care is at the core of our business,” says
Steve Collis, Chairman, president and chief executive officer at
AmerisourceBergen. “This partnership gives us tremendous
flexibility in meeting patient needs with emerging technology that
will improve supply chain efficiencies in unique and innovative
ways. Working with UPS to deliver innovation to our customers
is consistent with our commitment to help solve challenges facing
healthcare providers.”
The collaboration with AmerisourceBergen marks the latest
expansion of UPS drone flights in support of healthcare logistics.
In March, UPS and drone-manufacturer Matternet announced the first
FAA-sanctioned use of a drone for routine flights under a
contractual delivery agreement. UPS was granted permission in
October by the FAA to operate commercial drone flights through its
new business unit, UPS Flight Forward, Inc. This allows commercial
drone flights beyond an operator’s visual line of sight and is an
important distinction as UPS continues to build out its drone
operations. UPS expects to rapidly scale the hospital campus drone
delivery solution and to expand UPS Flight Forward services to
other customer use-cases.
Enhancing the UPS Global Smart Logistics Network to support
hospitals and other healthcare organizations remains a key element
of the company’s transformation strategy. Healthcare and life
science logistics is a priority segment for UPS, and the company
continues to build new relationships and technologies to deliver
better patient care with streamlined logistics and supply
chain.
About UPS Healthcare
UPS provides global supply chain solutions and expertise to
pharmaceutical, biopharma and medical device companies. UPS has
approximately 8 million square feet of cGMP- or cGDP-compliant
healthcare distribution space. UPS also maintains one of the
world’s largest networks of field stocking locations with
approximately 900 sites. For parcels requiring strict temperature
environments, from CRT to cryogenic, and those requiring
around-the-clock monitoring, UPS has solutions such as UPS
Temperature True™ and UPS Proactive Response™ services. UPS is
committed to expanding its healthcare capabilities including recent
acquisitions of Marken, CEMELOG and Poltraf, to meet the complex
and evolving supply chain needs of the healthcare and life science
sectors. Visit ups.com/healthcare.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen provides pharmaceutical products,
value-driving services and business solutions that improve access
to care. Tens of thousands of healthcare providers, veterinary
practices and livestock producers trust us as their partner in the
pharmaceutical supply chain. Global manufacturers depend on us for
services that drive commercial success for their products. Through
our daily work—and powered by our 21,000 associates—we are united
in our responsibility to create healthier
futures. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #10 on the Fortune
500, with more than $160 billion in annual revenue. The
company is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa. and has a
presence in 50+ countries. Learn more at
investor.amerisourcebergen.com.
David Graves
davidgraves@ups.com
United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS)
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