The e-commerce boom during the global Corona pandemic has boosted demand for mail order and online retail across Europe, with brand stores and smaller sales platforms having to compete against the big retailers and marketplaces.
In response, DHL Supply Chain is offering online retailers access to its European network of 30 DHL e-fulfilment centres. These strategically located sites, in close proximity to the major urban centres and parcel hubs, offer specialisation in processing, picking, packing and shipping online orders.
In this highly competitive market, speed of delivery and price has come to play a critical role in consumer decision making.
More and more customers expect to receive their order the next day, which means that the proximity of the seller’s warehouse to the buyer’s location is a key factor.
“Typically, small and medium-sized shops lack the capacity to be present in each European country, which keeps them distanced from consumers and markets. Even larger retailers find maintaining that kind of presence is often financially heavy from a cash flow perspective or not cost-effective. In response, we are now offering vendors and online shops a multi-user network solution,” explains Hendrik Venter, CEO DHL Supply Chain MLEMEA.
“This gives customers access to all of our established services in a way that is flexible and tailored to their needs. We can support customers across the entire supply chain – from inbound handling and storage, pick and pack, last-mile delivery as well as returns handling. Customers particularly appreciate how we can scale-up this flexibly according to actual order volumes, as well as nationally and internationally.”
