Dive Brief:

• United Parcel Service Tuesday said it has acquired logistics company i-parcel for an undisclosed amount. 

• In addition to its shipping services, i-parcel’s software platform integrates customs duties and taxes in local currencies and local languages.

• The acquisition will enable UPS to more readily meet shipping demands for retailers in the U.S. and the U.K. to fulfill orders to more than 100 countries.

Dive Insight:

Cross-border e-commerce, like e-commerce in general, is booming and posing logistic challenges for retailers and for shippers. UPS and others found last year’s last-minute holiday e-commerce push an especially difficult challenge.

UPS has already hired many more temporary workers ahead of the holidays to meet the anticipated demand this year. The added international logistics capabilities brought by i-parcel could also help, as long as the companies can be well integrated.