UPS announced plans to boost its global post sales service options by significantly expanding its field stocking location (FSL) network in India. “Despite current economic conditions, Asia continues to be a global manufacturing hub and market research indicates Asia's contract logistics market could overtake North America's in the next five years,” said Brad Mitchell, president of UPS Logistics & Distribution. “UPS is expanding its post sales solutions in the Asia Pacific region to fulfill these market needs.” UPS's network of field stocking locations provides critical logistics support to companies that must respond quickly to customer service needs, such as high-tech electronic firms. UPS will expand its presence in India with plans for more than 130 FSL's through an agency agreement with AFL, one of India's leading logistics and domestic transportation service providers. The expanded network will benefit customers requiring close-to-customer field stocking facilities and a transportation network to support same-day, next flight out and next-business-day delivery of critical service parts. As a result the sourcing time for customers is greatly reduced as they gain immediate access to strategically-located central distribution centers and FSLs across India. “India is a priority market for UPS's contract logistics business,” Mitchell added. “With this enhancement, UPS is well-positioned to support the after-market needs of local businesses as well as multi-national corporations. It gives our global customers improved access to one of the world's largest economies.” AFL will use UPS's post sales technology to manage customers' forward stocking inventory at multiple locations, with the ability to view inventory located in FSLs worldwide. The UPS post sales solution also provides value-added services such as inventory planning and returns management services in India and globally. UPS's SPL network is the world's largest with more than 700 field stocking locations in 120 countries.
