UPS acquires international i-parcel

ATLANTA, Ga.–UPS has acquired U.S.-based international e-commerce enabler and logistics company i-parcel, LLC. The acquisition complements UPS’s international cross-border logistics capabilities from the U.S. and U.K., to over 100 countries. 

“UPS continues to look ahead to the expanding worldwide demands in the ever-growing global e-commerce market,” said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “According to a Pay-Pal study cross-border e-commerce will reach $105 billion this year and by 2018 will exceed $300 billion with 130 million cross-border online shoppers. UPS continues to invest in capabilities that enable its e-commerce merchants to meet the growing global demand,” he said.

“i-parcel has been an international bridge linking U.S. and U.K. merchants to global e-commerce consumers throughout the world and our team is excited to join with UPS to further globalize e-commerce,” said Will Gensburg, i-parcel’s CEO, who will remain with the company.

i-parcel Global e-Commerce merchants connect to over 100 million global shoppers with an integrated platform that provides a localized look and feel on the respective merchant’s website. The i-parcel platform supports merchants’ websites with a local language welcome mat, fraud protection, fully-landed total prices (including customs duties and taxes) in local currency and numerous value enhancing features.

These features enable consumers in over 100 countries to shop online in the U.S. and U.K. as if they were shopping in their own country, the release said.

i-parcel also provides low-cost deferred international transportation facilitating higher shopper conversion for merchants on lower-value goods. The combined software and transportation solutions allow merchants in the U.S. and U.K., two of the largest e-commerce markets, to reach a broader international consumer base without expanding their footprint.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.