Are you planning a sale or limited-time offer and want to send direct mail to your clients or customers? Or are you planning a product launch and need to send invites? Whatever the situation, if you have to send direct mail urgently, you need a service that can deliver the next day. This will enhance customer engagement, maximize the marketing campaign's impact, and increase the possibility of customers responding to the mail. 

When you opt for UPS, you can choose Next-Day Air. It balances speed with reliable and affordable shipping to offer next-day delivery nationwide. This blog will look at what Next-Day Air is, how it works, its features, and its dimensional limitations. You will also learn how much it costs to send mail through this service and how to save money.

Key Takeaways

• Next Day Air is one of UPS's quickest delivery services. Depending on the sub-service, your mail will be delivered by 8:00 am, 10:30 am, or 4:00 pm.
• It ensures on-time delivery, offers real-time tracking, and has a money-back guarantee. 
• You can avail yourself of add-on services like Saturday delivery, insurance, and signature confirmation for an additional fee.
• The package weight, shipping zone, package type, and other factors can impact how much you will pay for the service.
• By choosing UPS Next Day Air Service with PostGrid Print & Mail API, you can automate the design, printing, and sending of direct mail pieces like letters, postcards, and more.

It is a premier shipping service offered by United Postal Service (UPS) that guarantees that your mail will be sent the following day by 10:30 am. You can use this service for domestic shipment in the continental USA, with options for remote areas like Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. It is ideal for businesses that have to send time-sensitive mail. Take, for instance,  you are hosting a pre-launch preview with discounts for loyal customers and want to invite them to it. You can send the invites through Next-Day Air to ensure the customers attend. It can also be used to send essential documents like checks or legal notices to get a quick response. 

UPS processes the packages through multiple steps while ensuring they reach their destination quickly. The mail is sorted and sent to a local center. Depending on where it goes, it is again sorted at the center. Then, it is loaded on the truck and into the plane for quick delivery. When the package reaches the destination city, it is again sorted and sent to delivery agents. 

UPS offers three separate Next-day Air delivery options. The options vary regarding how early they can deliver the package and the price they charge.

UPS Next Day Air

As mentioned, this offers delivery by 10:30 a.m. the next day and comes with a delivery guarantee. Hence, if your package is delivered late, you can ask for a refund of the postage. It is suitable for mail that needs to be sent the following day but isn't as urgent for early morning delivery.

UPS Next Day Air Saver

This is one of the cheapest options among the three. The delivery timing depends on the type of destination. The package gets delivered to commercial areas by 3 pm or 4: 30 pm. In the residential area, the mail is delivered by the end of the day. 

UPS Next Day Air Early

This is one of the fastest shipping methods offered by UPS for next-day delivery. The service guarantees package delivery in the lower 48 states by 8 a.m. the next day.

💡Also Read: USPS delivery schedule

Guaranteed Delivery

Using this service, you can rest assured that your customers will receive the package by the next day. This is important for the industry, where precision and speed matter. You will also receive a money-back guarantee, making you eligible for compensation if the delivery is delayed. 

However, you must be careful when you ship the mail. To ensure the package is delivered at 10:30 a.m. the next day, send it to your local UPS office between 10:00 and 12:30 p.m. one day before. 

Tracking and Visibility

Knowing whether your package has arrived on time becomes crucial when sending direct mail. UPS Next Day Air offers door-to-door tracking. To check the status, visit the UPS website and enter the tracking number. However, this can be tiring if you have to send multiple packages. 

You can instead use PostGrid’s Print & Mail API, which provides a centralized location for real-time tracking of packages sent through UPS. We will automate the design generation and sending of mail and provide you with an up-to-date status. This will free you from the worry of buying and maintaining supplies, storing tracking numbers, and running back and forth to the UPS office.

Saturday Delivery

Next Day Air also offers if you want your direct mail to reach your client or customer on the weekend. However, UPS doesn’t consider Saturday a delivery day. Hence, you must pay an additional fee to make this available. 

Money Back Guarantee

You may be eligible for compensation if UPS cannot deliver the package by the promised time. You can receive a refund or credit for the shipping cost. 

Insurance and Signature

Next Day Air comes with a mandatory signature upon delivery feature. Once your package is delivered, you will receive a signature from the signature. Additionally, you can insure your package for $100. If you send high-value items, you can get additional coverage by paying extra money.

Source: UPS

• If the package has a dimensional weight of over 150 pounds, you should multiply the weight by the price per pound. For Next Day Air Early shipments, add $28.50.
• Any package weighing over 70 pounds should have a Heavy Package sticker. 

UPS does not charge a flat rate for Next Day Air services. Numerous factors impact the charge. Additionally, the quicker the delivery speed, the higher the charges. Click here to find out how much you will be charged for the services. 

Factors Affecting the Cost

Package Weight and Dimensions

Heavier and more extensive packages will lead to higher shipping costs. UPS uses a dimensional weight calculator to determine the pricing of heavier packages. This is done so that the price reflects the package's space in the delivery vehicle.

Shipping Zone

UPS has divided the USA into different shipping zones. The distance between the origin and destination of the mail will decide the shipping cost. The longer the distance, the higher the shipping costs would be. Additionally, there might be additional charges if you send mail to remote or rural areas. 

Surcharges

Depending on the destination, you might have to pay various surcharges. It can be for residential deliveries, peak season, fuel, or remote locations. 

Packaging Type

UPS offers free packing for all its Next Day Air services. However, if you opt for custom-branded packing, the DIM weight calculation will be affected, increasing the shipping cost.

Additional Services

Several add-on services improve convenience and enhance the security of your package. You can get insurance, Saturday delivery, signature confirmation, and more. However, they will increase the shipping costs. 

Consolidate Shipment

You can group multiple shipments into a single package. This will maximize package space, lower the handling fee, and reduce transportation costs. A single shipment will also prevent you from paying duplicate surcharges, such as the fuel fee.

Leverage UPS Discounts

If you are a regular shipper with high-volume mailing requirements, you could be eligible for UPS discounts. You can either become a UPS member or enroll in the UPS Smart Pickup service for additional savings.

Use Dimensional Weight to Your Advantage

As mentioned above, UPS uses dimensional weight for pricing. You can proactively strategize packaging to minimize wasted space and reduce packaging costs. 

1. Preparing the Package: Pack the mail in a sturdy box and seal it with proper material to protect its contents and ensure a secure transit.
2. Label the package: Write the recipient's address and contact information in legible handwriting to prevent confusion. Attach the label properly to the mail to avoid mishandling.
3. Mail the Package: You can schedule a pickup through the UPS website. You can also visit the local UPS office to drop the package yourself. To ensure guaranteed delivery, the package must be ready at pickup.
4. Include Additional Services: You can select additional services when sending the package. Next Day Air offers several add-ons, such as Saturday delivery or insurance coverage for high-value items.
5. Track the Mail: You will receive a tracking number when sending the mail. Log in to the UPS website and use it to know where your package is. It will provide your mail with real-time status.
6. Get Delivery Confirmation: After delivery, you will get the confirmation. It will include a delivery time and the recipient's signature. 

Why stress yourself with preparing the package, labeling it, and scheduling for drop-off when professionals can handle it all? With PostGrid's Print & Mail API, you can automate the creation, generation, and sending of the pieces via UPS Next Day Air. There is no minimum requirement or limit to how many mail you can send with us. We process one mail piece with the same accuracy and efficiency as hundreds of thousands. You can track all of them from a single dashboard. Moreover,  you will also receive attractive discounts on bulk mailing. To know more about how you can use our solution to send direct mail via UPS, request a demo now.