DHL introduces new tech and delivery solutions Stateside

DHL is trialling a new same-day and next-day delivery offering for online retailers in the US.

The Parcel Metro service will use a network of local and regional contract couriers and crowd-sourced providers to deliver goods. An online and mobile interface allows consumers to track shipments in real-time, communicate instructions to their courier, reschedule a delivery and rate their experience. This is currently available in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, and will be launched in Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and Washington DC later in the year.

Also Stateside, DHL Supply Chain has introduced robotics - including the LocusBots and Sawyer collaborative robots - and augmented reality glasses in warehouse operations to improve productivity in the fulfillment of customer orders. DHL Express has also been piloting artificial intelligence in its customer applications and says that it has registered a 10% increase in shipment processing accuracy through increased automation at its hubs and gateways, while its On Demand Delivery online service has increased the first time delivery success for e-commerce shipments from 80% to 92%.

DHL Supply Chain President of Retail, Jim Gehr, comments: "Innovative technology is becoming an extremely important element in e-commerce logistics because of changing customer demands. We are using software technology to speed order flow and to more efficiently organise distribution centres. Hardware solutions like LocusBots allow for faster picking. What we look for is the smart combination of software and hardware."

Bobby Shome, Global Business Development Director, Centiro, says that these initiatives drive home just how important the last mile has become in retaining and attracting customers. “These new delivery options from DHL will allow smaller online businesses in the US to successfully compete with larger, more established retailers like Amazon, which recently launched its own delivery service. For all the progress that is being made, however, retailers must not lose sight of the fact that they risk damaging relationships with customers if the delivery service does not meet expectations. As such, it is critical for retailers to retain visibility over the delivery process, and ensure they have the technology in place to make this possible, regardless of the promises being made by carriers.”