South Africa Edition 2

THE MARKET
“More performance, more services, more
possibilities” these qualities make DHL the global
market leader in international express, overland
transport and air freight. Owned by Deutsche Post
WorldNet, DHL is also the world leader in ocean
freight and contract logistics.
With a full range of customised solutions -
from express document shipping to supply chain
management - DHL prides itself on transporting
shipments rapidly, safely and on time around the
world.
A comprehensive network combines air
and ground transport for optimal delivery
performance, and DHL’s global reach is matched
by its strong local presence and exceptional
understanding of both markets and customers.
As globalisation creates ever more complex
logistics supply chains, DHL’s international
footprint and local knowledge give it a vital
competitive edge. International businesses
demand ever-higher standards and DHL responds
with tailor-made industry solutions alongside its
basic services.
DHL’s international network links over
220 countries and territories worldwide. All
told, 285,000 employees are dedicated to
providing fast and reliable services that exceed
customers’ expectations in 120,000 destinations
in all continents. Its 6,500 offices arrange 1.5
billion shipments every year to around 120,000
destinations.
The brand’s South African express operation
had modest beginnings in 1978, with three staff
members in a Johannesburg office. Nearly thirty
years later, DHL South Africa’s more than 800
employees make up the staff in 12 offices in major
cities across all nine provinces and a network of
16 agencies in smaller centres.
Of DHL’s 76,200 vehicles, 180 traverse South
African roads, while four dedicated DHL planes
and 25 commercial flights ensure speedy airborne
deliveries. Both Johannesburg and Cape Town
have DHL airside facilities, and the company’s
gateway is situated in Johannesburg.
DHL South Africa is all about the earliest
delivery, the latest pick-up times, and overnight
capacity to more than 100 African destinations.
ACHIEVEMENTS
DHL is justifiably proud of its “firsts”, which
include:
• First international express, overland transport
and air freight company in Africa
• First to develop an integrated ground
network
• First in transit times within Africa
• First to develop a regional air network
• First to link Europe with Africa with dedicated
aircraft
• First in quality (ISO 9002 certification)
• First in market share
• First to have customs bonded areas
• First in customs clearance
• First to offer supply chain solutions
• First with dedicated logistics centres
• First with airside facilities
• First with a proprietary communications
network
In 2000, DHL launched the world’s first
global SMS tracking service to allow customers
to track shipments via text messages on a mobile
phone.
HISTORY
The DHL story began with three men - Adrian
Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn - whose
surname initials formed the company name. On
29 September 1969, the trio launched a courier
service between mainland USA (San Francisco)
and Hawaii (Honolulu).
Each had worked in the shipping business
before. They met by chance one evening outside
a grocery store and began talking about work.
None could have foreseen that this talk was the
beginning of a venture that would touch millions
of lives around the world.
They determined to pool their resources and
start “a new kind of courier company”. Having
xx
SBV2 DHL FA_RFP.indd 2
10/11/07 1:36:37 PM