DHL forms teams to expand business with industrial sectors

DHL has set up a dedicated team responsible for expanding the company's interests in specific sectors. The Advantage programme is part of a worldwide strategy. In the Middle East, separate programmes are drawn up for Saudi Arabia, the lower Gulf states and the UAE.

The sectors that come under the programme are precision engineering, software and e-commerce, finance, electronic components, automotive, pharmaceutical, fashion and telecommunications.

"These are the industries we believe can benefit most from air express. We are currently evolving products customised for each sector which are service-built to satisfy specific requirements," said David Wild, general manager for the UAE.

The products and services include strategic inventory management, managing client's stock and distribution at the DHL facility, return and repair inventory, testing services, goods samples and breakbulk services for re-distribution.

"We are looking to partner key industries in their logistics efforts by ensuring that a dedicated DHL consultant will assist in creating tailor-made competitive solutions and providing value-added market advantage."

The Advantage team for the UAE is headed by Dirk Van Doorn. DHL averages a monthly uplift of about one million kilos from Dubai International Airport. It is now looking to expand its airside facility.

Middle East destinations represent about 40 per cent of the volume uplifted. The balance between Asia, Europe and the Western Hemisphere is more or less even.