Dhl: Features, History, Awards

Introduction to DHL

DHL, or Dalsey, Hillblom and Lynn, is a German corporation that provides transportation and logistics services. The company facilitates the transport of various items, ranging from documents and letters to containers, through several methods. DHL is comprised of three main divisions: DHL Express, DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, and DHL Solutions.

Key Features of Enterprise Services

DHL was founded by Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. The company's name originates from the first letter of each founder's surname. Established in 1969, DHL began by sending documents via plane, initiating customs clearance procedures before cargo ships docked. This innovation allowed for the rapid loading of goods, giving rise to a new industry: the international express shipping business. DHL transports documents and parcels swiftly by air, significantly reducing delivery times.

DHL’s network has experienced rapid growth. The company expanded its business from the west coast of America to Hawaii, and then to the east. By 1988, DHL had extended its reach to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, offering services in 170 countries and employing over 16,000 people. In Thailand, DHL began its operations in 1971 and established its headquarters in Bangkok in 1990.

At the start of the millennium, Deutsche Post World Net became a major shareholder of DHL. By late 2002, Deutsche Post World Net owned 100% of DHL. In 2003, a merger of express and logistics services was announced under the DHL brand, further expanding its business by merging with Exel in December 2005. The merger resulted in 111,000 employees across 135 countries.

History

Danzas was founded in 1815 and was initially based in Basel, Switzerland. Louis Danzas fought at Waterloo for Napoleon and subsequently joined a transport company owned by Michel l’Eveque, becoming a joint owner by 1840. The company, known as Danzas and l’Eveque, secured a mail delivery franchise from Le Havre to New York City in 1846 and opened a Basel branch in 1854.

In 1920, the company began utilizing air transport between France and England and inaugurated its own freight terminal in Paris in 1962. In 2000, Deutsche Post World Net acquired Danzas. By 2002, when Deutsche Post AG acquired 100% of DHL International, it fully integrated Danzas, DHL, and EuroExpress under the DHL brand, rebranding Danzas as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean. In 2005, Deutsche Post retired the Danzas brand, renaming the business unit to DHL Global Forwarding/DHL Freight. By 2006, parts of Danzas and other ground-based freight subsidiaries were integrated into its Global Forwarding, Freight division.

DHL Global Forwarding

DHL Global Forwarding, formerly known as DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, is a division of Deutsche Post DHL providing air and ocean freight forwarding services. It also plans and executes major logistics projects under the brand name DHL Industrial Projects. Together with DHL Freight, it constitutes Deutsche Post’s Freight/Forwarding department.

The Forwarding division transports goods by rail, road, air, and sea under the DHL brand and includes the DHL Freight operation, which manages a ground-based freight network spanning Europe, Russia, and extending into the Middle East. Despite a revenue decline of 7.7 percent to €13.7 billion in 2016, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved from -€181 million in 2015 to +€287 million, indicating enhanced operational efficiency and strategic direction.

Awards

DHL has been recognized for its excellence, winning seven awards in 2013 at the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand awards. Additionally, it received the Gold Award in the “Best Airfreight/Courier Service” category in Asia for the fifth consecutive year. These accolades underscore DHL's commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction, solidifying its reputation as a leading logistics provider.

References

• Deutsche Post DHL Group. (n.d.). Company History. Retrieved from https://www.dpdhl.com/en/about-us/history.html
• Reader's Digest. (2013). Most Trusted Brands 2013. Retrieved from https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/mosttrustedbrands