Dave Barnes, CIO of UPS, shares his perspective on the Internet of Everything.

The Internet of Everything has transformed the operations of UPS, the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. For starters, the Internet enables UPS to help businesses everywhere deliver on the promise of e-commerce. UPS connects its customers to their customers in ways that improve global supply chains -and at the same time, allows customers to track their packages as they zip their way through UPS's logistics network.

The Internet also helps UPS optimize its operations: As customers go online to schedule their pickup, UPS computers begin mapping the best way to move this incoming wave of packages -even before they've physically entered the UPS system. Being wired into the world enables UPS to deliver more than 16 million packages each day -and 4 billion packages a year -for nearly 9 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories.

Being wired also helps UPS drive smarter. To reduce the time -and fuel -needed to deliver those 4 billion packages, UPS has pioneered a proprietary new mapping and optimization solution known as ORION. ORION -short for On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation network -reviews the package information, the delivery instructions given by customers and the wireless data feeds from the handheld computers used by UPS drivers. ORION processes this data using advanced routing algorithms and then provides each driver with the optimal path to make that day's run. UPS's network also wirelessly transmits real-time alerts and updates to drivers as they run their routes.

The Internet of Everything is also enabling UPS to offer customers a more personalized delivery experience. Today, UPS customers have the ability to schedule delivery windows, provide special handling instructions -and redirect a package to another location even when it's on its way. Thanks to the Internet, UPS can give customers big and small the VIP treatment.

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