By CHIOMA OBINNA

In line with its annual commitment to customers, United Parcel Service Lagos, one of the global leading courier and logistics firm has overcome some of the challenges facing the industry, just as it thrilled its outstanding customers with different categories of awards and gift items all over the country, where they are present.

The event which witnessed a free raffle draw also rewarded customers with top quality phones, wall clocks, movie tickets at Silverbird Cinema for husband and wife, buffet ticket to Sheraton hotels for husband and wife, golden pens, flash drives and umbrellas among others.

However, the highpoint of the event were recognition awards of varying degree to UPS esteemed customers. Some of the wards are Silver Award to Alcatel and Airtel Spares in recognition of their compliance with and utilisation of UPS’sWorldShip, a time-saving IT platform that uploads customers’ information, provides shipping alert, tracking and exporting of shipment data, error free.

This was followed by the gold level category awards to First Bank Nigeria, Diamond bank, Unilever, World-Wide Commercial Ventures (WWCV) and Union Bank with almost 100 percent Worldship technology compliance.

Speaking at the 2014 customers’ appreciation and award giving day, the Business Development Manager for UPS Nigeria, Emeka Nwangwu who applauded the commitment of the recipient companies for their tech savvy, said the occasion not only provides an avenue for the company to interface with her customers in a non-business and relaxed environment but also to intimate them with newer services, new technologies innovations and their benefits to the customers, especially the UPS WorldShip support.

On his part, the Managing Director UPS, Mr. Ralph Ozoude, said the programme is a yearly event organised by the company in appreciation of its customers for believing in them, despite challenges of the economy; and most importantly, organised to get feedback from the customers on how to serve them better.

“I’m happy that we have a very good turnout of customers. There is a remarkable difference from what it was last year. Every year, we try to introduce varieties into what we are doing. Last year, we started giving awards to customers, those, who have been with us for over 20 years. This year, we tried to ensure that every customer goes home with something.”

Comparing the experiences of last year to 2014, he said customers were more forthright with the company this year, saying that such constructive feedback, which would help them improve services, is what they need, despite the challenges in the courier service in the country.

“One of our staff narrowly escaped death when the plaza was bombed in Abuja this year. Added to this is the fact that there have been a number of armed robbery and hijack cases. Infrastructural deficits are also affecting our business but as a company, we are committed to delivering excellent services. We defy challenges to give our customers good services.”