Tag: DHL

Verastream helps automate package sorting for DHL

Posted by | Aug 14, 2007 | |

The company is smart about optimizing processes and using technology in innovative ways. Its latest feat: improving service and cutting costs for DHL Belgium, thanks to a new automated sorting system with integrated shipping information.

Unlocking vital Unix-based data, DHL Belgium has become the linchpin of DHL’s worldwide express and logistics activities. It has 10 modern sorting centers and nearly 3 700 employees.

At the Zaventem Airport alone, DHL handles an average of 900 tons of packages a night. Sorting that many packages by size and weight is an extremely slow, error-prone and expensive process. In an effort to ensure faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective delivery, DHL Belgium decided to implement an automated sorting system. The system would be able to automatically scan, weigh, and measure packages, and then ship them to their appropriate destinations.

For that to happen, DHL needed to somehow integrate the required shipping information with the new sorting system. The problem was that all shipping information was locked inside a home-grown, London-based UNIX application. The application did not have a programming interface, and there was no way to access the database directly. Rewriting all the business logic was not an option. The only alternative was to access the data through the application’s VT terminal interface.Using Verastream, Vanherck found he could capture selected application logic and data in the central shipping application and wrap them up as easy-to-integrate Web services. The Web services, which retain all the information about the host behavior, can then be consumed by the automated sorting system’s material flow controller software.

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ABX adds flights in Asian market

Posted by | Aug 14, 2007 | |

ABX Air Inc. and cargo delivery competitors including FedEx Corp. and DHL are hustling to expand their services in fast-growing Pacific and Asian markets.

The companies are buying aircraft, or even competitors that already operate in Asia, to serve lucrative U.S.-Asia or intra-Asian routes. The focus is on freight hauled in containers aboard cargo aircraft, either with international or intra-continent range.

Wilmington-based ABX Air has begun a two-year agreement to support Asian cargo operations of All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) of Japan. ABX has deployed two Boeing 767 freighters, and recently flew its first cargo flight for ANA from Osaka, Japan, to Dalian, China. ABX expects annual revenue of USD 22 million from its agreement to support All Nippon Airways.

ABX also said last week that it will spend USD 23 million to buy a Boeing 767-200 long-range aircraft from Air China Ltd. for international cargo service.

FedEx, the company that pioneered overnight delivery of small packages in the United States, has begun next-business-day delivery service available to customers throughout China. FedEx also spent USD 400 million to buy the DTW Group’s domestic express network in China and DTW’s 50 percent share of an express delivery joint venture with FedEx.

U.S. delivery companies also are competing for business in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

In June, DHL said it bought a 49 percent interest in ASTAR Air Cargo, a Florida-based airline that operates out of DHL’s Wilmington hub and serves customers in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. DHL also invested in Polar Air Cargo Inc. of Purchase, N.Y., to improve express delivery service from the United States to Asia.

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DHL’s drive towards clean-fuel vehicles hits a block

Posted by | Aug 13, 2007 | |

Early this year, DHL announced that it would add natural gas (NG)-powered vans to its UAE express delivery fleet, in the hope that this would lead the country’s efforts at promoting alternative fuel vehicles.

“With more roads and bridges being introduced into the country’s transportation network, we believe that the government must and will take steps to increase the supply of alternative fuels”, said Geoff Walsh, operations manger – UAE, DHL.

DHL is hoping to switch 50 per cent of its vehicles to natural gas by 2010. The two vehicles it currently has were converted from regular petrol-fueled vans into NG ones by Al Naboodah Automobiles.

Petrol and diesel-powered vehicles account for 80 per cent of all the environmental pollution in the UAE, a recent study by the Roads and Transport Authority said. As the emirate steps up its drive to promote environment-friendly practices, experts estimate that natural gas will account for 20 per cent of all fuel consumed by road vehicles by 2012.
Walsh said that despite the lack of filling stations, DHL was doing other things to improve its environment credentials. “These include using smaller-sized engines for our vehicles; optimising delivery routes and operating freight consolidation centers which reduce both the number of vehicles and trips needed to deliver packages,” pointed out Walsh.

“In fact, with all these efforts, between 2004 and 2007, DHL reduced fuel consumption by 19 per cent globally,” he added.

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DHL boosts regional operations with appointment of senior marketing professionals

Posted by | Aug 11, 2007 | |

DHL Express Middle East today announced the appointment of two senior marketing professionals to further strengthen the company’s position as the region’s leading express and logistics provider.

Fiona Taag has been brought in to oversee the regional marketing strategies as Area Marketing Manager. Taag was previously the National Marketing Manager at DHL Express New Zealand, where she was involved in the DHL domestic joint venture with New Zealand Post, under the umbrella of Express Couriers Ltd. In addition, Taag was responsible for managing DHL’s title sponsorship of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2005 – a tour of New Zealand by the British & Irish Lions rugby team.

A New Zealand national also with British citizenship, Taag has a Master in International Marketing from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, and is based at DHL’s regional hub in Bahrain.

Elliot Santon has also joined DHL’s regional marketing team as UAE Marketing Manager.

Brought in from the UK, Santon has 10 years experience in UK-based advertising, branding and marketing agencies covering all disciplines of through-the-line communications. Having developed strategies for many well known global brands such as Vodafone, CocaCola and Tesco, including some UK high-street brands in the retail and leisure industries, Santon is well placed to handle UAE marketing requirements for the global express and logistics leader.

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DHL to transfer two centres to Bahrain

Posted by | Aug 11, 2007 | |

DHL has decided to transfer two of its main aviation services centers from Africa and Europe to the kingdom.

Operations of its Harare and Brussels centers would be merged and shifted to Bahrain to serve the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe segments.

Bahrain’s official new agency, BNA, reported that the kingdom’s Civil Aviation Affairs under Secretary made the announcement and said the move would centralize all the company’s aviation services in the region.

Bahrain is a major hub for the cargo leader’s Middle East operations with its regional distribution centre based at the Bahrain International airport. With a fleet of 17 aircraft and 250 vehicles it operates an integrated air and land network catering to the Middle East and Arab worlds.

DHL began its Bahrain operations way back in 1974 with postal parcel services and currently has over 550 employees here to cater to the region’s DHL Express customers. DHL Bahrain became the first centre in its global network to launch a new portfolio of Express products moving to a time and day based range.

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