On your marks, get set, deliver! With the Olympic Games taking over Paris, Cyril Poupart is making sure DHL Freight continues to deliver.
As thousands of visitors flood into Paris for the Olympics, the city's closed streets and re-routed traffic create significant challenges for on-time delivery. Cyril Poupart, who heads operations for DHL Freight in Paris and the Île-de-France (Paris metropolitan area), talks about how he and his team keep business running during the sports spectacle.
How have the Olympic Games affected your delivery operations?
The Olympic Games have significantly impacted our daily routes and deliveries. There are three main restrictions: reserved traffic lanes on the main boulevards around Paris and near the airports, lower speed limits on the beltway around city, and restricted zones surrounding the Olympic venues. Not surprisingly, all of this has a direct impact on our operations. There is more traffic on the streets and highways, which means longer travel times in the Île-de-France region. This impacts our productivity when it comes to pick-ups and deliveries. But we are well prepared. We’ve adjusted our delivery routes and planning to minimize the impact on our customers and make sure we maintain our usual service quality.
How have you prepared drivers for this extraordinary situation?
Our drivers received special instructions in preparation for the Olympic Games. They also need digital ID cards to be able to access the different areas around the Olympic venues in Paris and the Île-de-France. We’re starting our delivery routes now two hours earlier on average to make sure our drivers get to their destinations on time. We’re also adjusting to any changes in our customers’ needs – like when they need night-time or custom deliveries.
Have you informed customers?
We’ve created a special web page for our customers where they’ll find information about all the restrictions in place. We are determined to ensure smooth operations during the Games, and have informed and prepared both employees and customers.
Does DHL Freight work together with local authorities?
Absolutely. We make sure that every driver and all subcontractors are registered on the official website of the Olympic Games. This allows us to obtain the driver passes that permit access to event areas. Only with this meticulous preparation can we provide our customers with the best possible service.
And privately - what are you particularly looking forward to?
It's really special that the Olympic Games are being held in Paris. I hope I can watch a rugby match. I'd love that.
