UPS SWOT Breakdown: A Complete Strategic Analysis

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Table of Contents

Company Details

Founder:	James E. Casey
Founded:	August 28, 1907, Seattle, Washington, United States
Headquarters:	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
CEO:	Carol B. Tomé (Jun 1, 2020–)
Revenue:	84.63 billion USD
Number of employees:	534,000 (2022)
Subsidiaries:	The UPS Store, TForce Freight, Mail Boxes Etc.,…

UPS Company Details

It is hard for most companies to operate in an industry for a long time and remain true to its roots. UPS or United Parcel Service Inc is not your average company. Since its inception in 1907, the company has faced and emerged stronger and better from two world wars, several pandemics, and recessions.

Today, UPS is one of the largest and most dominant players in the logistics and cargo delivery business with operations in over 220 countries. With around half a million employees and $84 Billion in revenue through the merchants parcel delivery, the company is set to grow more and thrive.

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SWOT Analysis of UPS

A SWOT Analysis offers a deep study of influential elements that can either make or break a business.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

Strengths and weaknesses are categorized under internal strategic aspects while external strategic factors constitute opportunities and threats.

SWOT Table is a graphical presentation of the key data of both internal and external factors that are discussed in the in-depth analysis. It is plotted in a square with four equal quadrants, with each quadrant representing elements from SWOT Analysis.

Let us explore the elements in detail before moving to the table.

UPS Internal Factors

Internal strategic factors are very much in control of a company. Before we move on to the external factors, it is prudent to take a hard look at the most influential internal factors of UPS.

💪 Strengths

Competitive advantages that a company has over its competitors are known as strengths.

Solid Worldwide Presence

As a delivery service company, UPS needs to have a solid global presence and that’s what it has. With operations in over 220 countries, this is the biggest advantage that UPS has over its competitors.

Superb Cargo Tracking System

To keep its clients updated regarding their packages, UPS as it was renamed United Parcel Service, has the most sophisticated and advanced cargo tracking systems in the world. It uses phone message service for customer satisfaction.

Impeccable Delivery & Distribution Mechanism

Through the SMART (Southeast Metro Automated Routing Terminal) initiative, UPS has devised a delivery service that ensures seamless delivery and distribution options. The company has invested over $20 Billion to connect its equipment and systems in a unified channel.

Market Leading Customer Service

When compared to its closest and direct competitor – FedEx, UPS has the best customer service in the industry with many clients getting postal service referred. This helps the company in retaining current customers and attracting new ones through strategic planning and excellent shipping services.

Innovation & Excellence

One of the strongest points of UPS is its constant pursuit of designing and developing new and innovative equipment and methods to deliver parcels on time, sometimes employing Blue Label Air Service.

Leading Response Time

UPS has the leading response time in the industry when it comes to scanning deliverables, communicating with customers, and so on. This is what makes the company stand out from the competitors.

Value-Based Pricing

Throughout its vast categories for delivering and processing cargo, United Parcel Service takes the crown for being the most affordable. That’s why people depend on the company when it comes to better value and quick services for maximum customer satisfaction.

Industry Honors & Accolades

Being an industry leader, UPS has won many industry honors and accolades throughout its history. The most important one is the Forbes CIO Innovation Award bestowed upon its Chief Information Officer for devising a unique and effective mechanism to streamline cargo processing and delivery.

🤒 Weaknesses

The inherent flaws or vices in the operations or business plan of a company puts it at disadvantage over its competitors.

US-Dependent Revenue Streams

Like many other US-based mega-corporations, UPS is heavily dependent on the US economy for its revenue generation, including Air Express Delivery. For the year 2019, the company generated over 75% of its revenue at home.

Thin Profit Margins During Peak Season

During the peak holiday season, UPS has to spend more to deal with the surge in accelerated demand. This results in poor profit margins for the company due to a poor strategic planning tool, which should be another way around.

Mounting Operational Costs

The company is essentially operating out of the 20th century with heavy reliance on primitive equipment and operations. The overhaul of the system, including supply chain management, is on its way which will set the company $20 Billion back.

Lax Employee Safety

Since the pandemic, the company has faced a lot of backlash in terms of poor employee safety and overall precautionary measures. UPS could face even lawsuits and controversies if it does not set things right.

Rising Third Party Expenditure

UPS employs third-party suppliers to augment its in-house delivery channels. This puts a deep dent in the company’s pocket as it comprises almost 19% of its operating expenses.

UPS External Factors

Both opportunities and threats are the external factors that we will discuss in these sections. Respectively, they offer ways for UPS to improve its revenue streams and financial outlook.

🤑 Opportunities

The external potential for a company to grow its revenue and improve its cash flow is known as opportunities.

Novel Delivery Channels

Cargo delivery companies are developing and devising new and effective delivery channels to improve their services and gain market share. Recently, the company has tested drone delivery channels to transport lab samples from one location to another while maintaining a strong distribution network, even through overnight service.

Focus on E-Commerce

With the immense rise in the e-commerce business, cargo delivery companies are redefining their services to cater to the needs of new customers reliant on online channels. UPS can benefit a lot by focusing on online business and delivery channels.

Strategic Mergers & Acquisitions

As a global player unlike US Postal Service, UPS can enter new market segments quite easily by acquiring new or old entities in the industry as well as merging smaller brands with its large mega-brand.

Diversification of Portfolio

Currently, UPS is only catering to the delivery service of clients in three broad categories; Domestic packaging, international packaging, and freight services.

There is a lot of ground that the company can cover by diversifying its services.

Lead Generation

For now, UPS is a primary choice for the B2B or B2C cargo deliveries. Still, there are a lot of ordinary consumers, like local department stores, that are looking for a reliable alternative to their current service provider. UPS started Air Express delivery to step up in this and gain a new market segment.

All-Week Delivery Services

The company has already started 7-day delivery packages. This will help the company in improving its services by covering more ground in less time.

😨 Threats

Threats are the potential pitfalls and antagonistic market forces that can hurt business operations and even pose a serious risk over its short and long-term survival.

Cut-Throat Competition

FedEx, DHL, Amazon, etc., are some of the few names that pose a serious threat to the business model and operations of UPS. If things go like this, UPS will have a hard time surviving the storm.

Over-Dependence on Amazon

Amazon delivery is almost covering over 11% of the UPS revenue generation. At the same time, Amazon is also thinking about increasing its investments and focusing on its delivery services. This could lead to revenue reduction for the company in the future.

Regional Tensions

Due to political upheaval or changes in regime, companies, like UPS, can face extensive loss in market share and growth potential. Diversification and capturing new markets can resolve this issue.

Potential for Employee Strikes

Many employees of UPS contracted the COVID-19 during the pandemic. People blamed this on the company’s lax counter-measures to stop its spread. UPS has never faced any employee strikes in the last two decades, but a crisis could be boiling under the surface.

Pandemic & its Aftermath

With the rise of the pandemic and the succeeding recession and economic uncertainty afterward, UPS faced immense tremors to its core. In the first quarter of 2020, the company posted a forecast of over 13% in losses which could increase further if the situation continues.

Economic Crunch

UPS lost precious revenue and dived over 7% of its profit in 2020. In the scheme of the continuing rise in economic uncertainty, the company is bound to lose more.

UPS SWOT Table

Strengths

💪 Solid Worldwide Presence
💪 Superb Cargo Tracking System
💪 Impeccable Delivery & Distribution Mechanism
💪 Market Leading Customer Service
💪 Innovation & Excellence
💪 Leading Response Time
💪 Value-Based Pricing
💪 Industry Honors & Accolades

Weaknesses

🤒 US-Dependent Revenue Streams
🤒 Thin Profit Margins During Peak Season
🤒 Mounting Operational Costs
🤒 Lax Employee Safety
🤒 Rising Third Party Expenditure

Opportunities

🤑 Novel Delivery Channels
🤑 Focus on E-Commerce
🤑 Strategic Mergers & Acquisitions
🤑 Diversification of Portfolio
🤑 Lead Generation
🤑 All-Week Delivery Services

Threats

😨 Cut-Throat Competition
😨 Over-Dependence on Amazon
😨 Regional Tensions
😨 Potential for Employee Strikes
😨 Pandemic & its Aftermath
😨 Economic Crunch

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