Now the UK’s ONLY privately owned Pallet Network UPN has evolved over two decades to provide truly first class delivery for palletised freight. “Team UPN” is a united network of over ninety regional logistics companies all linking together underpinned by the most advanced IT systems including the Pallet Network Sectors first real-time signature capture system.
Managing Director at UPN
David Brown, UPN Managing Director spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What products or services do your company offer?
UPN are well known for our high quality service performance and for providing the UK’s most comprehensive range of pallet delivery options from our unique Micro pallet to our 2.2 metre high Half Pallet and 2.2metre high Full Pallet. UPN are renowned across our sector for our cutting edge in-house developed IT support systems and infrastructure. We take great pride in leading our sector in this area of our business.
Which industries do your customers operate in?
Palletised freight comes from a hugely diverse range of industry sectors – from Automotive to Printing and Packaging, from Timber Merchants to Aggregate Producers, from Food Manufacturers to Footwear Manufacturers. More recently with the invasion of the Covid pandemic we have in addition seen an increase in support materials and products for the NHS such as PPE etc. We have also seen a huge increase in business from the DIY, Garden and Home Improvement sectors as people in lockdown seek to manage their wellbeing and mental health by making the most of their enforced time at home.
Do you have any examples of a project you have recently completed?
In May 2020 despite the major impacts of Covid-19 to our business and sector UPN successfully moved our central sortation operation to a new purpose developed SmartHUB facility just a short distance from our previous location and also on Fradley Park. Despite the obvious challenges site developments and expansion were completed on schedule and will now provide all members with significantly upgraded support.
How did the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown affect your business?
It was a great lesson for the logistics sector in general. It highlighted the importance of the excellent flexibility of pallet networks and our ability to manage big swings in volume in a highly efficient and professional manner. This is something service users can draw from in the future as UPN continue to offer that flexibility to provide high quality upscale and downscale solutions for the market.
Our sector has overcome some incredible challenges this year, and I am incredibly proud of our membership. It has been a testing time and they have demonstrated their strength. Getting goods to people, essential goods a lot of the time, is what we do, and I think people have come to realise how important we are.
Did Covid-19 have a negative impact or did the increase in online shopping actually result in a boost to your business?
Covid 19 has had a major impact everywhere not least in UK logistics and the pallet network sector where the APN reported an initial dip in volumes. At UPN we saw some short-term pandemic effects with a drop in volumes at one point, although volumes rose quickly, and we are now operating at record levels. Our growth however was not entirely Covid driven but also from other factors. We have continued to win business through service quality and our reputation for reliability. Furthermore we have attracted some excellent new members who have brought meaningful new business with them.
Is your business back to normal following the Covid-19 outbreak?
Its currently a “new normal” of record volumes as our sector is proving its value as an important and flexible logistics service alternative.
Going forward, will the industry be permanently changed as a result of Covid-19 or will it return to how it was pre-Covid?
We have learnt a lot regarding what is possible through the enforced restrictions of both social distancing and of lockdown. For example virtual meetings via the new medium of systems like “Zoom” and “Microsoft Teams” are now more the norm than the exception. It will be a new world for us all when its all over.
What products or services will you be introducing in the next year?
The UPN service range is already comprehensive. Our development will be more about evolution and improvement rather than introduction. Its now all about fine tuning our proposition to make our services better and better.
In what areas are you making technological advances?
Contactless “SmartHUB” Technology is the latest introduction from UPN. “SmartHUB IT” is a bespoke technology platform that our internal IT team has created to manage smooth operations right across our UK pallet network. UPN are now totally contactless, something that is obviously particularly significant in the current Covid-19 pandemic.
On a European level our Brexit support systems are ready and will be fully in place for 1st January 2021. Systems will be fully compliant with all international protocols, and able to cope with all potential service requirements.
We are also improving systems in terms of handling risk assessments, such as advance detail on point of delivery information to ensure health and safety requirements are met at all delivery points and where necessary, appropriate support equipment is made available.
What training do you provide for your staff?
Our UPN staff are what differentiate us as a network, they are the difference between a good company and a great company. Ongoing staff training and development is integral to our development as UPN.
What is the company’s commitment to social responsibility?
UPN is fully committed to being a good corporate citizen and to operating as ethically as we can right across all aspects of our business.
What improvements have you made to your customer service recently?
UPN continue to be fully focused on application of our ongoing formula of – Challenge – Review – Develop – Improve. Both centrally within UPN and all across our network – ‘Team UPN’ are continually challenged to fully optimise the overall customer experience.
Are you helping customers boost the level of automation in their business?
UPN are continually evolving our customer input systems to improve efficiency and avoid unnecessary inputting. Our unique suite of bespoke “Smart I.T.” systems – SmartPOD, SmartDOC, and SmartHUB are continually being refined to constantly enhance our customers service experience.
Do you help customers maximise the use of their existing warehouse space?
With 90+ members nationwide many with significant warehousing resources we are continually helping them to optimize their own service propositions and to win customers across all aspects of their business including warehousing and storage.
Will you be investing in your premises over the next 12 months?
In 2019 we have already invested over £3,000,000 in our new SmartHUB operation. With growth comes investment and as we grow further we will be investing more in expansion of our facilities and national operation to maintain capacity.
What industries do you believe offer your business the most potential over the next year?
As I highlighted earlier with the impact of Covid and the resultant changes in buyer behaviour we do expect an ongoing increase in online palletised freight business particularly from the DIY, Home Improvement, and Gardenware sectors.
How future proof is your business?
It’s a very strong sector with increasingly strong businesses. At UPN we have the added advantage of being the only privately owned network, a unique point that enables us to both act very quickly and always in the interests of our membership.
Will you be exhibiting at any major trade shows over the next year?
We were due to be at the CV Show in March 2020 and Covid willing are aiming to be participating in 2021.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED!
UPN
0844 833 0300
Comments are closed.