In 2030, 600 million more humans will live in the world’s metropolitan areas compared to today. DHL has identified the four main trends that are shaping future delivery services to these customers, in collaboration with Euromonitor. 2008 marked a watershed in human settlement history – for the first time, more human beings were living in cities than in rural areas. And that evolution is showing no signs of abating. Today, the UN expects that in 2050 roughly 70 percent of the world’s population will reside in urban areas. Already 20 years before that this share will exceed the 60 percent marker. To provide some clear figures: The urban population will have grown by 600 million people in 2030. Relocations of this magnitude can impossibly have no implications for urban logistics, even more so considering the constantly rising revenues and volumes within the e-commerce-sector. DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, and market research company Euromonitor took up this issue and identified four main trends in their white paper “Shortening the Last Mile: Winning Logistics Strategies in the Race to the Urban Consumer“: localized delivery, flexi-delivery networks, seasonal logistics and evolving technologies are important for business success of e-commerce companies within the urban area. “The last mile is increasingly becoming the key battleground in the e-commerce supply chain, and companies will have to develop targeted strategies in this area to compete effectively”, says Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer, DHL. Further on: “It’s not just about transportation, but about companies’ overall approach to managing inventory – getting the right items to the right place at the right time.”
Four different aspects will define the foundation of tomorrow’s eCommerce-logistcs in the urban environment. [Graph: DHL]
Volume surges require decentralization
Black Friday, Singles Day, Cyber day – promotional sales days are increasingly popular with the e-commerce customer. For logistics companies on the last mile this is a real
The urban consumer lives in a fast-paced world with increasingly busy schedules and want flexible services. [Graph: DHL]
challenge, because they need to build up capacities and hire resources without knowing if this effort is really worthwhile. As the anticipated run on the offerings does not always materialize. Cost and operational impact is huge, and that every time. The central inventory management currently in use might reach its limit due to these developments. New strategies with local fulfilment and distribution infrastructures will be in demand. Strong partners are of help, as Katja Busch well knows: “DHL is developing focused solutions to help e-commerce companies reach their end customers quickly and efficiently, from using machine learning to better route shipments within cities to adding more automation to our delivery networks.”
Technolgy and flexible networks
This automation can only be handled with the aid of modern digital technology and concepts of Industry 4.0-norm. This is creating many opportunities for new disruptive challengers to position themselves in a dynamic market environment. Incumbents are at the same time required to incorporate new skills for mastering these technologies into their workforce and align their investment decisions along the developments in this area. This is exactly what the F.A.D. (Flexible transport networks, Automation and Data) model is meant for, a joint concept by DHL and Euromonitor. By improving their performance in increasing automation, managing data and building flexibility into their networks, e-commerce companies in all markets will be able to better manage inventory and increase the efficiency of their last-mile delivery networks. This will help retailers and logistics service providers alike to retain their competitiveness on the last mile.
The FAD Triangle identifies three possible areas for adjustments to improve competitiveness. [Graph: DHL]
High dynamics
At the same time, the e-commerce-market will undergo a constant change in the rear future. Predictions are hard to come by, thus agility and efficiency will be even more important for companies, enabling them to operate as close as possible to their customer’s demands. “Those companies that can build effective partnerships to make their urban delivery networks more elastic, invest in the most effective technologies to boost productivity, take advantage of data to build better customer experiences and, most importantly, manage their inventory as efficiently as possible will emerge as winners in the dynamic e-commerce marketplace of tomorrow”, says Lee Spratt, CEO, DHL eCommerce Americas.
Quick and reliable shipment to 22 different countries – with DHL Freight Eurapid From Barcelona to Duisburg, from Warsaw to Bari, from Hamburg to Turin – daily, with fixed delivery [...]
DHL Freight opened a fast route to the Levant. Compared to traditional sea freight, goods on the combined road-sea connection to the Republic of Cyprus only need half of the [...]
Due to their high sensitivity, the transportation of bananas is one of the major challenges in food logistics. DHL FoodLogistics has found the best way of transporting this popular fruit. [...]
No wedding or new years eve without a bottle of bubbly! DHL Freight arranges a smooth transport of the beverages produced by Spains largest winery to the German market. A [...]
Automatic loading and unloading systems save valuable time at the loading ramp. And they can do even more. Truckers know that even a time delay of merely 30 minutes cannot [...]
Customer Satisfaction Survey: Your opinion helps us all!
You want to concentrate on your core business – while we focus on your individual logistics requirements. How well are we doing? What could we do better? These are questions [...]
Saloodo! is the smart solution for shipments to Turkey
Recently, the digital freight platform Saloodo! took connecting transportation companies and shippers in the local language with goods to send to Turkey to the next level. Logistics operations in this [...]
Logistics after the virus: We aren’t in Kansas anymore
Corona has left a lasting impression on international supply chains. When businesses resume trading, a planned ramp-up is key. Questions on strategy also require answers. DHL Freight can provide them. [...]
My personal thanks goes out to all customers and employees of DHL Freight
DHL Freight´s customers and our teams have both shown their flexibility, creativity and commitment in how they responded to the global COVID-19 health crisis. My sincere thanks to you all [...]
“Exciting innovations at a high international niveau – that's why Saloodo! inspires!”
Anja Kappus is Chief Operating Officer of the international digital freight platform Saloodo! Some 50 Saloodo! experts from 23 nations are constantly driving innovation – often together with their customers. [...]
Saloodo! How you benefit from the digital freight platform
The Saloodo! freight platform brings shippers and transport companies together. Every step of the process is digital, convenient and efficient. Registration and use are free of charge.
Incoterms® (the official set of rules of the International Chamber of Commerce for the interpretation of national and international trade clauses) are frequently used worldwide for international and domestic contracts. [...]
DHL FoodLogistics and Gerlach customs services ensure fresh mangos
The colorful selection of fresh fruit and vegetables is part of the everyday life in our supermarkets. We do not think much about the way the products have gone from [...]
The customer satisfaction survey 2019 confirms DHL Freight’s performance. Important criteria are personal service, individual solutions and innovation. Almost 42,000 customers in 31 countries were asked to participate in DHL [...]
10,000 climate-protecting StreetScooters are now in service
Andreas Pinkwart, the Economics Minister of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tobias Meyer, the Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany, presented the 10,000th StreetScooter. [...]
This summer DHL expects a similarly high demand for road freight as last year and has to adjust its prices accordingly. Demand exceeds capacities DHL Freight, one of Europe’s leading road transport [...]
Network Improvements Lead time information can be obtained via the DHL Freight LeadTime Calculator. Information about the freight rates for your goods are available via our Freight Quote Tool.
The new Freight Quotation Tool allows DHL Freight customers and prospects to get information on the prices of scheduled shipments in seconds without even having to register. For instance, how much [...]
There is a shortage of rest areas for HGV across Europe. In order to make better use of the existing space, the EU is promoting “compact parking” controlled by telematics. [...]
Video of the month Please park it, Sir! What tends to be difficult at times even with the car at home is nigh on impossible with a heavy truck: Parking [...]
Another year, another toll increase – in 2019, legislators in many European countries will continue to push up toll fees. What do drivers and freight forwarders have to expect? From [...]
It is a clearly visible sign for highest quality and environmental standards: DHL Freight has received certification of its global management system by DEKRA based on ISO standards. The first [...]
A little celebration every morning Exclusively at our website: The DHL Freight Connections advent calendar brings games and fun until Christmas Eve. Sometimes with interesting information, sometimes funny and sometimes [...]
2.25 million electric powered trucks up until 2025 – that is the market potential estimated by recognized experts for zero emission transport vehicles. Provided that new business models, improved battery [...]
The problem of driver shortage within the logistics sector could lead to significant capacity shortages in the near future. To counteract any adverse effects, DHL Freight has started a pilot [...]
On the way to the road transport of the future, truck platooning plays an important role. Various field tests are currently under way in Europe to see how the networked truck groups work [...]
The WORK XL with even more cargo space is the latest development from the electro-mobility manufacturer StreetScooter. DHL Freight also relies on the emissions-free, quiet speedster. “E-Mobility is the future [...]
In its latest research report, DHL establishes that corporations around the globe are convinced that their business success depends, amongst others, on the quality of road freight transportation. Three quarters do [...]
The Deutsche Post DHL Group remains a forerunner on environmental protection technologies for logistics. The new TRAILAR solution cuts fuel consumption of trucks by five percent and therefore reduces carbon dioxide [...]
Croatia is the EU’s gateway to the Balkans and an important transit country, but shows only a small occurance of industry. DHL Freight Croatia has positioned itself accordingly and relies heavily on [...]
In early 2019, DHL Freight will open a state-of-the-art storage facility in Bremen, offering its customers first-class warehouse logistics to guarantee fast and smooth handling as well as the complete range of standard [...]
Commentary on the current situation in the European logistics industry and the load factor during the second quarter 2018 from Martin Veen, Head of M&A and strategic projects, DHL Freight. [...]
Waiting times and unclear responsibilities: Germany’s loading ramps do not always run smoothly. This is currently reported by the Federal Office for Freight Traffic. The processes on Germany’s loading ramps [...]
Road infrastructure – which countries lead the world? Freshly paved motorway or bumpy dirt track? On a regular basis, the World Economic Forum analyzes the competitiveness of countries around the [...]
Once again, the number of freight thefts increased significantly in 2017. A whole bundle of actions, from protection technology and intelligent route planning to decisive action by politics might alleviate [...]
Vaulting poles, winners’ podiums, plus jerseys and shoes for around 1,600 athletes: when the European Athletics Championships take place in Berlin this August, DHL employees will be in the thick [...]
DHL Freight Finland is working systematically on improving its processes. Rocla Oy, an industrial company based in Järvenpää, also benefits from this. Since 2014, Rocla Oy, Finland’s only manufacturer of [...]
DHL Freight often transports extraordinary freight, but living sharks were also new for the logistics experts. The spectacular passengers survived the 1,320 kilometer ride safe and sound. How do fish [...]
If you need a safe and secure delivery of your high-quality products to your customers, you need a competent partner. For 20 years, the global capsule manufacturer Qualicaps is relying [...]
DHL Freight not only extended it’s partnership with BMW, but also expanded it significantly. A custom-made solution “Connected Supply Chain” will provide the car manufacturer with integrated transparency and control of all [...]
DHL Freight Czech Republic benefits from the favorable geographic position in Central Europe. Exports to Germany and supplying the automotive industry are the focus of their business activities. The Czech [...]
Commentary on the current situation in the European logistics industry and the load factor during the first quarter 2018 from Martin Veen, Head of M&A & Strategic Projects, DHL Freight. [...]
DHL Freight is starting to use four trucks powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Belgium and with that brings environmentally friendly transport to it’s long distance road freight. These [...]
More and more truck manufacturers are focusing on E-Drives. Established brands and newcomers alike find themselves in a head-to-head race. At least since the diesel scandal, alternative drivetrains have been [...]
Photo: DHL]The number of field tests of autonomous trucks is ramping up. Still, there are drivers on board as a last gap safety measure. But in the future there will [...]
Commentary on the current situation in the European logistics industry and the load factor at the turn of the year 2017/18 from Martin Veen, Head of M&A & Strategic Projects, [...]
Who pays and who is liable? Incoterms bindingly define these two central issues in international freight forwarding and have been doing so for more than 80 years. Silently, the container [...]
Did you get a fair offer on your transport order? Saloodo! provides shippers and freight forwarders with a good sense for realistic prices. Too expensive or too cheap – especially [...]
Logistics with zero emissions is an ambitious goal. But how is that zero calculated? Standards are required. Homogeneous measurement methods across all modes of transport are important. If these are [...]
Transport barometer In the second quarter of 2017, the TimoCom transport barometer recorded not merely peak values but in fact the highest freight volumes since statistics began. According to the [...]
The damage of cargo thefts often far exceeds the actual value of the goods – because they threaten delays in the supply chains. The approaches from country to country and [...]
Photo: iStock/SteveAllenPhoto]You will be shown the current status of the survey directly after submitting your opinion. We will publish the final result on this website.[yop_poll id=”10″] * Optional: If you [...]
Daily with DHL to Switzerland and Italy Transporting cargo in 48 hours from Germany to Switzerland or to Northern and Central Italy, and in 72 hours even all the way [...]
Transport barometer Compared to the beginning of last year, the European transport market made a strong start in 2017, as current figures from the TimoCom transport barometer leave in no [...]
The next step change in battery power for the tech revolution could be just around the corner, thanks to a breakthrough in the design of new lithium-oxygen batteries. The search [...]
Uncontrollable circumstances like heavy storms or road closures can strech supply chains to their breaking point. If the influx of necessary goods slows to a trickle, productions stopps, loss of [...]
Top quality transportation while on tour is a must to ensure the sound is just right for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. It is the duty of DHL, the official logistics [...]
On behalf of Fiat, DHL delivers engines from Italy to Japan. The transport is multimodal. The door to door delivery period is just 35 days. How does this work? Since [...]
China wants to be recognized by the West as a market economy and hopes that this will lead to import facilitation. But Europe is not cooperating. The deadline has passed. [...]
The United Nations High Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport has presented its results. The experts call for a well-thought-out future strategy with environmentally friendly engines, a reduction of unnecessary [...]
Veritas, a market leader in innovative system solutions for rubber-metal components in the automotive sector, has been using DHL Freight’s logistical know-how since September 2016. “Achieving greatness through small parts” [...]
After a year working with different General Terms and Conditions, the logistics associations in Germany have once again agreed on a common set of rules for the transportation industry. It [...]
DHL Freight Finland handles approximately 1.8 million tons of freight a year – and has a service to offer for every logistics need. Finland, with its approximately 188,000 lakes, is [...]
Illegal cabotage has become a mass phenomenon. What is needed is state intervention and control. Whoever travels along European highways will inevitably come across a large number of trucks with [...]
DHL Freight is opening up the Iranian export market for German and European companies. Teams of experts are organizing Iran transports from the gateways in Frankfurt and Istanbul. An experienced [...]
Aviation logistics is an extremely complex business, which DHL understands masterfully. This was once again proven by the Best Performer Award from Airbus. The aircraft manufacturer Airbus is a flagship [...]
Food logistics – how produce moves from farm to consumer – is not well-known by the public. These behind-the-scenes steps are vital to ensure quality, safety and traceability in a [...]
Upwind in the autumn The TimoCom transport barometer for the third quarter of 2016 showed a cargo to cargo space ratio of 55:45. This makes it so far the most [...]
DHL Freight provides individual and reliable solutions for highly complex logistics chain in aeronautics. Modern aeroplanes are a complex puzzle consisting of millions of parts. During the assembly process, the [...]
Overland to Asia – new routes for overseas trade The South Korean shipping company Hanjin Shipping recently left the market with a bang: Ships of the Korean shipping company that [...]
DHL Freight Iberia is relying on several pillars to assert itself in the difficult market environment in south-western Europe. With six terminals, DHL Freight Iberia covers an area of 583,000 [...]
The new DHL Freight mobile app Some 84 percent of internet users go online daily. Around 66 percent of Europeans use a smartphone, and check it often. The growing presence [...]
Top and flop countries: Where cargos are in danger Truck broken into, cargo gone – or even the entire truck gone. That can happen anywhere in the world. But there [...]
A roller coaster ride in spring In the 2nd quarter of the year the European transport market recorded a slight cargo overhang with an average cargo to cargo space ratio [...]
Sweden has opened the world’s first e-highway, where trucks can drive with electricity from overhead cables. Trains and trams are often powered by overhead lines. That’s rather normal. In some [...]
The Gotthard base tunnel is driving intermodal transport. 30 days after its official opening, one thing is certain: The Swiss remain on schedule and will send the first scheduled freight [...]
The DHL Carbon Calculator enables emissions calculation for almost all shipment sizes and modes of transport – for local, national and international deliveries. With the introduction of the Carbon Calculator, [...]
USA now protecting truck drivers from schedules that are too tight, and making electronic logging devices mandatory. “Sure we can make it” is a frequently heard sentence by planning managers, [...]
Weak start to the year: an industry in search of freight Marcel Frings [Photo: TimoCom] The European transport sector has experienced a weak start during the first two months of [...]
Preventing the theft of goods with special tracking solutions The theft of goods from trucks is a real problem, which by no means only concerns certain countries that are deemed [...]
Due to its geographical positioning in Central Europe, Hungary has long been an important market for DHL Freight. With its main industries including mining, construction materials, processed foods, chemicals (especially [...]
DHL and Toyota Material Handling Europe Sign Contract for Delivery of Racking Systems
DHL Freight, one of the leading providers of road freight DHL Freight, one of the leading providers of road freight services in Europe, has signed a contract with Toyota Material [...]
DHL Freight’s multimodal service further expands links between Europe and Asia, and Northern Africa and the Middle East As a sign of accelerating trade between Asian and European markets, DHL [...]
In October market capacities are balancedCapacity increase vs. September less pronounced than in previous years (2%-points only) Source: TimoCom www.portatio.com; 1) Freight share: Share of freight offers versus all offers [...]
![Four different aspects will define the foundation of tomorrow's eCommerce-logistcs in the urban environment. [Graph: DHL]](http://dhl-freight-connections.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BI_Last_Mile_Grafik_1-1024x724.jpg)
![Four different aspects will define the foundation of tomorrow's eCommerce-logistcs in the urban environment. [Graph: DHL]](http://dhl-freight-connections.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BI_Last_Mile_Grafik_1.jpg)
![The urban consumer lives in a fast-paced world with increasingly busy schedules and want flexible services. [Graph: DHL]](http://dhl-freight-connections.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BI_Last_Mile_Grafik_3.jpg)
![The FAD Triangle identifies three possible areas for adjustments to improve competitiveness. [Graph: DHL]](http://dhl-freight-connections.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/BI_Last_Mile_Grafik_2.jpg)