The Microsoft Excel worksheet lists the daily shipping requirements between your publisher client and his customer warehouses. Complete the decision matrix by filling in shipping costs from three shippers: Federal Express, UPS, and the United States Postal Service. Which service would you recommend to your client considering not only costs but also issues such as delivery speed, pick-up schedules, drop-off locations, package-tracking ability, and usability of the website? State the reasons for your recommendation. This question is on this site already, but I’m checking to see if the numbers are still accurate.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To determine which shipping service—Federal Express, UPS, or the United States Postal Service—is the most suitable for your client, you would need to assess both the quantitative and qualitative factors involved. While the exact cost data isn’t available here, I can outline the key factors you should consider when completing the decision matrix:
1. Shipping Costs
- Federal Express (FedEx): Generally more expensive than UPS and USPS for overnight and express services. However, it offers robust tracking and faster delivery speeds, especially for international shipping.
- UPS: Often provides competitive rates, especially for ground shipping and business logistics. UPS is known for reliable delivery times, with flexible options like next-day air or ground shipping at a reasonable cost.
- USPS: Most affordable for small packages and standard delivery services, but it can be slower for larger shipments. USPS is best suited for lightweight or less urgent deliveries.
2. Delivery Speed
- FedEx: FedEx excels in speed, especially with overnight and 2-day shipping options. It’s ideal if the publisher client needs rapid delivery.
- UPS: UPS offers a range of delivery speeds, but its best-known service is ground shipping. Their next-day air and 2-day delivery options are highly reliable, but not always as fast as FedEx.
- USPS: Generally slower, especially for larger packages. Their priority mail is a good option for domestic shipments but doesn’t match the speed of FedEx or UPS.
3. Pick-up Schedules & Drop-off Locations
- FedEx: Provides flexible pick-up schedules, often with the ability to request on-demand pickups. It also has a wide network of drop-off locations.
- UPS: Similar to FedEx, UPS offers flexible pick-up schedules and many drop-off locations. It also allows businesses to request on-demand pickups.
- USPS: Typically doesn’t offer on-demand pick-up, but you can drop off packages at any USPS location, which are widespread, especially in urban areas.
4. Package Tracking Ability
- FedEx: FedEx offers superior tracking, providing real-time updates through its online platform and mobile apps. It’s reliable and accessible.
- UPS: UPS also offers excellent tracking, with updates available through both its website and app.
- USPS: Tracking is available, but it’s less detailed compared to FedEx or UPS. USPS tracking may not update as frequently, which can be a disadvantage.
5. Usability of Website
- FedEx: FedEx’s website is user-friendly and offers all the features you would need, including shipment tracking, scheduling pick-ups, and managing shipments for business accounts.
- UPS: Similarly, UPS has a robust online presence, allowing users to manage shipments easily. Its site is reliable for tracking and managing deliveries.
- USPS: While the USPS website is generally user-friendly for basic services, it may not offer the same level of features or flexibility as FedEx and UPS, especially for business needs.
Recommendation
For most businesses with diverse shipping needs, UPS would likely be the best recommendation due to its balance of cost-efficiency, delivery speed, and excellent service. UPS offers reliable service at competitive rates, especially for ground shipping, and is a great option for businesses that require regular shipments. FedEx would be preferable if speed is the most important factor and the client can afford the premium price for quicker services. USPS would be ideal for small, lightweight shipments or if cost is the most important factor, though it comes with some limitations in terms of speed and tracking.
