DHL celebrates 50 year anniversary with new Americas Innovation Center
13 / 09 / 2019
DHL has marked its 50th anniversary with the opening of a new Americas Innovation Center in Chicago, US.
The grand opening of the Center drew more than 300 guests including technology and logistics industry leaders, customers from across the region, local officials and DHL senior leadership.
The 28,000 sq ft Americas Innovation Center serves as a collaborative space for DHL to work with its customers and partners. It also highlights the cost- and energy-saving technologies that DHL is currently using and investing into for the future.
The logistics firm already has a European Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany, and an Asia Pacific Innovation Center in Singapore.
Ken Allen, cheif executive of DHL eCommerce Solutions and Board Member for Customer Solutions & Innovation at Deutsche Post DHL Group, commented: “Innovation has been a driving force for DHL since its inception in 1969. Now, with three Innovation Centers around the world, DHL can leverage the power of innovation to serve customers and play an active role in shaping the future of logistics.”
Last November, DHL Supply Chain said that it would be invest $300m in 2018 and throughout 2019 to deploy emerging technologies to 350 (of its 430) North American facilities and transportation control towers.
DHL Express will continue to add more automation at its regional hubs, gateways and service centers.
Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding will improve technology used to track packages and handle temperature-sensitive shipments, as well as implementing warehouse automation with RFID tracking to track cargo location, shipment consolidation and shipping schedules.
Yesterday, DHL Global Forwarding unveiled a new advanced data analytics tool designed for highly sensitive cargo, such as pharma items. The tool provides quick analysis and insights for better decision-making, such as the optimal trade lanes to utilize, verification of temperature controls in transit and the ability to analyse and reduce risks.
Matthias Heutger, global head of innovation and commercial development at DHL, said: “Innovation enables DHL to be at the forefront of game-changing solutions for the supply chain
industry.
“The Innovation Centers provide the platform for understanding emerging trends and discovering insights with the potential to drive real-world business impacts.”