The DIAD IV

The DIAD, when released in 1991 by UPS, was and continues to be a revolutionary device in the package delivery business. The DIAD, which is an acronym for Delivery Information Acquisition Device, is essentially just a small computer shaped like a clipboard with unique image-capturing capabilities. A pressure sensitive screen captures the customer’s signature and records it electronically. At the end of each day, these signatures are uploaded into the UPS mainframe in New Jersey via an intra-company network, vastly diminishing the amount of paperwork and allowing for employees to clock out quicker. With this technology, it is also both more accurate and easier to track packages, which improves customer service. The DIAD IV, the most current version of this technology, has even more technological features which are beneficial to UPS. Each DIAD IV features both a built-in GPRS and CMDA radios, as well as an acoustic modem to facilitate dial-up access. Bluetooth networks and infrared ports on the device allow it to communicate with peripheral apparatuses such as other computers and printers. Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) are the new additions to the DIAD, allowing for UPS to provide drivers with more accurate directions for pick-ups and deliveries. The DIAD’s On-Demand-Services (ODS) is a system that allows dispatchers and management to access any given driver via their DIAD by way of text messaging. Therefore, one-time pickups can be added during the work day almost instantaneously. It also sends delivery information to the UPS mainframe almost immediately after it is entered.
The pros for this emerging technology far outweigh the cons. In the package delivery industry, timeliness, orderliness, and efficiency are three of the top priorities. The DIAD IV takes care of all of these. It greatly reduces time by making pick-ups and deliveries more efficient. All the driver has to do now is scan a bar code, collect an electronic signature, type in the last name of the client, and push a single button to process a delivery or a pick up. This is much faster than previous DIADs, which in turn, were massively more efficient than previous methods.

Sources:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=711

http://pressroom.ups.com/mediakits/factsheet/0,2305,1077,00.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4153/is_n1_v54/ai_19224868/pg_1