UPS SurePost^®shipping: Is it right for your business?

Whether it's going across town or across the country, a small package has a big journey to reach its destination. The trickiest part of your parcel's trip is generally at the end, when it travels from a fulfillment center to be delivered. This final leg is known in the logistics industry as the last (or final) mile.

While the last mile of shipment may not seem too different from all the miles that precede it, there are actually unique costs and challenges at this final stage of delivery. Residential doorstep delivery, for example, creates extra surcharges and complications, contributing to the overall last mile delivery costs.

With the unprecedented rise in e-commerce the last few years, customers expect your shipping to be fast, affordable and accurate. To address these issues in a cost-effective way for small or mid-size businesses (SMBs) like yours, UPS^® created a special last-mile service: UPS SurePost.

What is UPS SurePost^® delivery?

UPS SurePost is a low-cost service that provides economical, last-mile delivery for small, light-weight packages to residential and commercial addresses. This delivery method combines the consistency and speed of UPS's network with the United States Postal Service's (USPS) experience and expertise in last-mile logistics.

UPS SurePost packages are picked up by UPS and utilize their ground network until they near their final destination, when they are usually transferred to USPS for last mile delivery. These packages will generally take an extra day or two to be delivered, but still follow the usual UPS tracking experience all the way to their destination.

If at least one other UPS package is bound for the same address, however, UPS will keep the package in its network and deliver it along with the other shipments. Otherwise, the USPS will take care of final delivery for nearly half of UPS SurePost packages.

So, how do you know if UPS SurePost is a good fit for your business? If you're regularly a business-to-consumer (B2C) shipper fulfilling at least 10 small package shipments per day, UPS SurePost might be a great option. UPS SurePost packages should:

• Weigh less than 10 lbs.
• Measure under one cubic foot
• Be residential or commercial deliveries
• Not require urgent or guaranteed delivery times
• Have a low economical value and require limited liability coverage

UPS SurePost vs UPS^® Ground: How is UPS SurePost different?

UPS Ground differs from UPS SurePost in that it offers speedy, day-definite delivery in one to five days. Residential deliveries via UPS Ground also incur a surcharge.

Another key difference from UPS SurePost is that UPS Ground also covers a wide variety of package sizes and weights. It's always delivered by a UPS driver and stays entirely in the UPS network, part of their comprehensive ground services.

UPS Ground can make more sense than UPS SurePost if you ship larger, heavier packages or ship fewer than 10 parcels on a day-to-day basis. You may also want to consider UPS ground if your shipments require extra speed or specific-day delivery.

Does UPS SurePost use USPS for final delivery?

Yes, UPS SurePost leverages the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the final mile of delivery. Here's how it works and why it benefits your business:

Hand-off process

Packages shipped via UPS SurePost are initially handled by UPS and transported through its ground network. As they near their final destination, they are handed off to USPS for last-mile delivery. This collaboration combines UPS's extensive transportation infrastructure with USPS's local delivery expertise, ensuring timely delivery.

Consistent tracking

Despite the hand-off, tracking remains consistent. You can track packages from pick-up to final delivery via the UPS tracking system using the tracking number, even when USPS completes the last mile.

Hybrid delivery

If another UPS package is headed to the same address, UPS SurePost packages may be kept within the UPS network for final delivery, ensuring efficiency.

Does UPS SurePost services make sense for e-commerce shipping?

If your business mostly operates in the online retail space and ships many small, light parcels each day, UPS SurePost could offer some powerful benefits for you and your customers.

It's the perfect pairing with an e-commerce program for multiple reasons, including:

• Lower UPS shipping rates that also include all fuel, residential delivery, and delivery area surcharges. This leaves room in your budget to offer free shipping to your customers!
• Pickups at the same time as your other parcels, saving you a trip to the post office.
• A residential and commercial delivery focus, making it an ideal, low-cost service for B2C e-commerce shippers.
• Utilizing UPS for all of your packages, large or small, saves you from having to manage multiple systems for your business shipments.
• Tracking information provided in one place through UPS, even if last-mile delivery is handed off to USPS. This means UPS SurePost packages follow the same tracking process as other UPS shipping options.
• Delivery to P.O. boxes, which UPS cannot do with its other shipping options, but UPS SurePost easily manages.
• Opportunities to beat your competitors on ground shipping costs or pass your shipping savings along to your customers
• UPS Saturday Operations: Leveraging UPS's Saturday pick-up capabilities allows for faster processing and delivery times, particularly useful for weekend deliveries.

UPS SurePost FAQs