ATLANTA – The UPS Access Point network has come to Chicago and New York City. The shipping company announced this week that it has plans to expand rapidly to cover all major U.S. metropolitan markets during 2015. UPS Access Point locations in neighborhood convenience and grocery stores with evening and weekend hours are designed to be approximately 10 minutes or less from the consumer’s delivery address.

UPS drivers, when unable to deliver a package at the consumer's residence, will leave a note informing them when they can expect to collect their package at a nearby UPS Access Point location. Consumers will go to ups.com and use the tracking number on the note to get the address. Consumers will need photo identification to receive their package.

In addition, UPS My Choice members will have the ability to send qualifying shipments directly to a UPS Access Point location as their preferred delivery address. Consumers also can drop off pre-labeled and prepaid packages at a UPS Access Point location during the store's hours.

Currently, there are nearly 300 UPS Access Point locations in New York City and Chicago, with more locations being added each week. As part of the UPS Access Point network, the shipper is installing self-service smart lockers in metropolitan Chicago.

Starting in January 2015, the company plans to add all 4,400 The UPS Store locations throughout the U.S. to the UPS Access Point network. Currently, there are more than 12,000 UPS Access Point locations in seven European countries. UPS expects to have 20,000 locations in key markets throughout Europe and the Americas by the end of 2015.