UPS intensifies effort to attract small businesses

United Parcel Service continues to invest in winning and retaining small-and-medium businesses, a key market constituency it has targeted over two years as a profit center as it deemphasizes low- margin , final-mile deliveries for large e-commerce shippers. On Thursday, the Atlanta-based parcel logistics giant unveiled several digital tools aimed at enhancing and simplifying the shipping experience for sole proprietorships. The updates include a new online dashboard for more control over pickups, faster label creation and a refreshed mobile app that integrates with The UPS Store. The new pickup dashboard centralizes pickup scheduling, management and tracking in one location and allows customers to adjust pickup schedules based on when shipments are ready, rather than having a fixed schedule. With the “Smart Pickups” feature, businesses can save up to 50% over the cost of a daily pickup, UPS said in a news release. A single-view of shipment details and service options simplifies label creation to help reduce repetitive data entry and speed fulfillment. UPS management has centered its growth strategy around industry verticals — small businesses, healthcare, automotive, B2B — that require more complex logistics services for which they can charge a premium compared to simply transporting an online order from a local warehouse to a residential doorstep. Towards that end, it relinquished the handling of 2 million packages per day from Amazon and is in the process of downsizing its delivery network to align with lower volumes. Small-business package volumes grew 4.3% during the second quarter, year over year, the company said Tuesday in an earnings report. In the first quarter, when average daily volume increased 1.6%, SMBs made up 34.5% of total U.S. domestic volume, marking the highest small business penetration in the company’s history, and 60% of volume in Canada. “SMBs are critical to UPS. Often the revenue per piece is higher and helps optimize daily van capacity with smaller pickup areas in the driver’s return route,” said parcel consultant Mark Waverek, in an email exchange. Smaller companies often are unable to get deep shipping discounts that large shippers negotiate with carriers, making UPS a default choice for many of them. Reducing common friction points and providing reliable nationwide service helps UPS attract smaller firms, he explained. The digital shipping upgrades “are table stakes for modern shipping platforms. Every major carrier and most multi-carrier shipping software providers have been investing in similar capabilities for years,” but they demonstrate UPS strategy for customer acquisition, said Gerryann Agovino, head of marketing and strategic partnerships at LJM Group. Why It Matters: UPS and FedEx have made small enterprises a strategic focus because they represent higher quality revenue than e-commerce last-mile deliveries. UPS shift away from Amazon shows bigger payoff New UPS tool helps online shoppers calculate import fees before buying FedEx to implement single pricing structure for express, standard pickups Upcoming FreightWaves Events Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Awards F3 Awards Dinner The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room. October 26, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals. October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026 The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry. The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room. The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Cha