– In 1969, three men took their first steps on the moon, achieving what had previously seemed impossible. A few months later, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn founded DHL, making the world a smaller place – said Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL – DHL, a pioneer in the international express services market, made it possible to deliver documents overnight rather than in several days.
As an express company, DHL developed at a very rapid pace. Thanks to strategic mergers with two market leaders, Danzas Air & Ocean in 2002 and Exel in 2005, express services were expanded to include air and ocean freight as well as supply chain management. DHL was able to offer a comprehensive package of logistics services within a global logistics network covering more than 220 countries and territories. Today, DHL is an industry leader in many segments: number 1 in air and ocean freight, number 1 in international express services, number 1 in contract logistics, and number 2 in European road freight. By introducing a revolutionary service – an international door-to-door system for time-sensitive documents – DHL has actively supported companies and organizations around the world, thereby participating in the development of the global economy. DHL continues to discover new logistics opportunities and introduce innovative solutions that later become industry standards. These include the use of RFID in inventory management or a technically advanced tracking system that monitors and, if necessary, reroutes shipments in real time to any location in the world. DHL was the first to initiate the Innovation Center in Troisdorf near Bonn (2007). Here, innovative logistics solutions are developed that are both market-ready and flexible as well as eco-friendly. DHL also launched the Global Customer Solutions (GCS) department, which prepares individual, “tailor-made” solutions for key clients worldwide, meeting their needs in this area. DHL was also the first to offer its customers an eco-friendly shipping option, GOGREEN DHL. Its goal is to neutralize carbon dioxide emissions generated during transport. In 2008, DHL also became the first logistics and express company to commit to reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020. The foundation of all innovative changes is the company’s focus on the effective use of modern technologies as a response to customer needs.
– We recognized very early on that the company’s success lies not only in listening to what our customers expect, but, more importantly, in acting quickly and effectively. Very often, we anticipate what our customers will expect and respond to those needs before the customers even ask for them – claims Frank Appel.
Guided by this principle, even during the “Cold War,” DHL blazed trade routes to countries such as Russia and China (DHL Worldwide has been present in Poland since 1983). When the “Iron Curtain” fell, DHL, thanks to its knowledge and logistics capabilities, was able to quickly support companies that began operating in these markets. Such an approach also brought benefits to local businesses, for whom the opening of the market enabled the export of goods. Currently, DHL is gaining a leading position in emerging global markets, such as BRIC – Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which are building their strong economic position today.