DHL doubles US international express services
DHL launched a new range of premium express international delivery services into and out of the United States yesterday (18 October), backed by a major publicity campaign. The new “Time Definitive” express (TDX) delivery services include options to deliver items by 9am or by noon to Europe, the Americas, and parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and by 10.30am and noon in Mexico and for items delivered to the US, with most items taking 1-2 days.
DHL Express USA said the TDX services come in addition to its existing express services, offering end-of-day deliveries.
The new services started last week, ahead of yesterday’s full advertising launch, with the company reporting initial response from customers as “tremendous”.
The accompanying multi-million dollar advertising campaign is being run in major newspapers, business magazines, on the web and in airports and other transport hubs. Its “No One Delivers” theme is intended to highlight DHL’s strong links to international locations.
Speaking to Post&Parcel, DHL Express USA chief executive Ian Clough said his firm’s links to cities in Europe and Latin America would be the key to competing with its rivals.
He said: “What we are doing is leveraging our extensive international network. With some locations we will be on parity with FedEx and UPS, but in many areas we will be able to provide an improved service.”
In particular, Clough said DHL’s network meant unrivaled access to all mid-sized cities in Europe and the whole of Latin America.
Overall, the new 9am service is currently available from the US to 20 airport or IATA locations, while the noon service is available from the US to about 99 destinations. The DHL Import Express 10.30 service is available to the US from 500 airport or IATA locations, while the noon service is available from about 600 locations.
DHL has had a troubled relationship with the US market in recent years, withdrawing with singed fingers from its loss-making domestic mail services at the end of 2008.
However, the company has continued its international services in the country, offering express services for the last eight years.
Clough said the US remains a “critical component” in the DHL network, among the top five trade partners for every country in the world.
He said: “DHL and many of our customers have had a tough couple of years, but international trade is going to be one of the central drivers of economic recovery, particularly in US trade. We are cautiously optimistic on the way things are going with international trade. But, we are definitely in growth mode.”
DHL is monitoring the need for expanded infrastructure in supporting the new TDX services, including the possibility of new aircraft, however the new services will not initially call for significant investment in facilities or the work force, Clough said.
He explained that 70% of the company’s international express services are delivered by noon already.
The new services will use the same systems as have been used by the company’s end-of-day offerings, including the company’s online, email and SMS tracking services.
