Connect India is now a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet through anew agreement

by Shrutee Kate/DNS

Mumbai, December 04,2015: Connect India is now a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet (ASO) through anew agreement that will connect customers in semi-urban and rural regions in India with the rest of world.  The service links UPS’s global network with Connect India’s last-mile logistics capabilities. Customers in remote locations will be able to book international shipments through Connect India Centres which will, in turn, make use of UPS’s global shipping services. Connect India currently operates through a network of Common Service Centres through Common Services Centers e-Governance Services India Ltd (CSC e SPV) and the Entrepreneur-run Connect India Centres. Together they will form a last-mile delivery network covering more than 50 cities, 650 district towns and 8000 small towns across the country. According to Connect India, the company’s vision is to eventually cover about 25,000 pin codes and establish 50,000 Connect India Centres over the next three years.

“The growing cross-border market in India and the renewed focus on boosting exports of indigenous products presents an opportunity to connect rural communities direct to an international delivery network,” said Mark Martyn-Fisher, Managing Director of UPS India. “Our alliance with Connect India is invaluable in opening new markets for the budding entrepreneur and SME company networksthat need a reliable, convenient logistics system in order to survive and flourish.” UPS has been present in India since 1988. This service expansion is part of UPS’s long-term commitment to the country and its customers and will support market growth by helping clients connect even faster to all global markets. With this alliance UPS further expands it presence beyond the metros and urban centres in India. The Connect India Centers will provide customers with easy access to a full range of international shipping options, including packaging and labeling. The centers will also accept prepaid, drop-off packages processed online at ups.com. Households, SMEs, entrepreneurs and artisans throughout India will benefit by using UPS’s global reach with services to more than 220 countries and territories, including every address in North America and Europe. 

Mr. L. R. Sridhar, Founder and CEO of Connect India said, “We aim to become the drop-box for all domestic, international and banking needs in India. This will entail, first and foremost, evaluating possible business models and riding the wave of mobile internet connectivity to create a relevant marketplace platform for rural India. Even as we explore new partnerships to improve our last-mile distribution capabilities, being UPS’s Authorized Shipping Outlet will open up a whole new international market for our customers.” UPS is a global leader in logistics with 435,000 employees worldwide. The over 70 country strong India Sub-Continent, Middle East and Africa region, UPS’s largest in geographic terms, forms a key part of the UPS global network. On a daily basis, UPS transports more than 18 million packages and documents around the world.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be found at Longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

About Connect India

Connect India is a company formed to bridge urban and rural India as well as rural India to the world. Connect India will link communities, producers and customers across the length and breadth of the country. Connect India will establish 50,000 Last Mile Distribution (LMD) points in 25,000 postal pin codes with logistics and Internet, supported by a world class mobile-first technology to revolutionize distribution.