Real-Time Asset Intelligence: What UPS Healthcare’s Volan Implementation Means for Your Operations

Because if you can’t accurately track operational assets, you cannot optimize their utilization, identify and fix inefficiencies, or increase output without increasing costs.

That’s why I’m so excited about this partnership. UPS Healthcare is setting a new benchmark that demonstrates the power of real-time asset location intelligence in one of the most demanding operational environments.

Enhanced Real-Time Visibility

When we deployed at UPS Healthcare, we saw firsthand the challenges of tracking valuable products in motion. In their facility, around 100 carts with temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals move across a million square feet of warehouse space, and knowing exactly where everything is at any moment is mission-critical.

Our system gives them a live map showing the exact location of all carts in real time. They can track every movement from the moment a product leaves the cooler until it ships out. We’ve set up custom alerts to take automated action when operational protocols are at risk—an orange alert at 30 minutes out of refrigeration, a red alert at 40 minutes—so their team can act fast if something needs attention.

This creates an immutable record of “time out of environment” – absolutely critical for biologics compliance and something their operations team immediately saw value in.

Rapid Deployment, Instant Results

What’s remarkable is how quickly this system was deployed. It took less than a day to install the beacons in their million-square-foot warehouse and configure the geofences. Creating those virtual boundaries literally takes seconds – just drag and drop inside our software to create zones.

The system has been running since December 2024, giving UPS Healthcare nearly six months to validate that it scales to their needs. The results? Floor supervisors who previously had to walk miles daily, checking cart status through a paper process, can now see everything instantly on one screen. They embraced the technology immediately because it dramatically simplified their jobs while improving accuracy and reliability.

Why Traditional Tech Falls Short

Traditional location technologies, like RFID, are fixed in place, like a toll reader that only works when cars pass through a specific lane. That doesn’t work in dynamic warehouse environments where products, SKUs, and workflows constantly change.

What’s needed is a wireless network that adapts quickly to changing conditions, which is exactly what our technology provides. In constantly moving environments where people and carts move unpredictably, flexibility is essential.

Beyond Initial Applications

One thing I’ve consistently seen with our customers is how quickly they discover new applications once they experience the value of dynamic real-time location intelligence. The initial use case is just the beginning.

For logistics operations, tracking material handling equipment – forklifts, pallet trucks, and other mission-critical fulfillment assets – represents a natural extension. This addresses a crucial challenge: asset utilization. Warehouses and airports invest hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per piece of machinery. If they purchase new equipment unnecessarily, that’s a major capital expenditure.

With Volan, we show exact utilization patterns so companies can make data-driven decisions about equipment purchases and predict labor needs more accurately. It’s transformative to have visibility into not just where assets are, but how they’re actually being used throughout your operation.

Beyond Cold Chain

We’re seeing similar benefits with other customers. A major US airport is planning to deploy Volan to track 400 items across its site. Currently, several full-time staff members keep track of equipment. With our system, they’ll locate anything in seconds—no more driving around searching for assets.

Whether you’re managing pharmaceuticals, airport ground equipment, or assets in any large operation, real-time tracking transforms efficiency. The UPS Healthcare implementation demonstrates the scalability and reliability of our solution in one of the most demanding logistics environments.

This isn’t just about knowing where things are – it’s about understanding how they move, optimizing workflows, and transforming operations with actionable location intelligence.

Contact us today to learn more about how Volan Technology can transform your operations with real-time asset tracking.