UPS: Keeping a Pulse on The Future of E-Commerce

David Abney, UPS CEO on 9/9/14 at The Executives' Club of Chicago
(Photo courtesy Joe Gallo Photography.  All rights reserved.)

David Abney, UPS CEO (L) on 9/9/14 at The Executives' Club of Chicago
with Cody Phipps, United Stationers Inc. President and CEO (R)
(Photo courtesy:  Joe Gallo Photography.  All rights reserved.) 

I had the great honor to attend The Executives' Club of Chicago's The Changing Face of Retailing with UPS CEO David Abney giving his first speaking engagement as the new CEO of UPS.  Cody Phipps, United Stationers Inc. President and CEO, moderated the Q&A after David's talk.

A brief history on David ... he began his UPS career in 1974 as a part-time package loader so he knows a little something about the inner workings of the company.  He is the 11th CEO in the 107-year history of UPS. Prior to David's current position, he served as President of UPS International, leading UPS's strategic imperative to build global logistics capabilities.

A couple of key points from the event and David's talk:

• The next five years will bring more change to retail than we've seen in the last 100.
• UPS has moved from competing in the $60 billion market of package delivery to helping lead today's $3.2 trillion global supply chain marketplace.
• Retail innovations are transforming traditional retail models - shifting control to consumers.
• Growth in emerging markets with newly discovered buying power will challenge status quo.

UPS furnished a nifty infographic handout at the event where insights were provided by comScore via a study of more than 5,800 U.S. online shoppers:

Today's flex shopper has grown more demanding in pursuit of the best merchandise for the best price with the best customer experience.  The brave new world of multi-channels and multi-devices empowers them to seek more convenience from pre-purchase to purchase to post-purchase. - For more information on the study's findings, visit the UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper:  https://thenewlogistics.ups.com/retail/comscorestudy/

When I chatted with David at the end of the program, one other key point he emphasized is the power of small businesses operating in the global marketplace.  That we already know through this blog.

Photos are provided with permission to use by The Executives' Club of Chicago (Gina Chinino) with credit to Joe Gallo Photography.