DHL is currently branded as “The World’s Largest Shipping Company”. The organisation has four central mission objectives. Simplify the lives of customers, to allow customers, employers and investors to enjoy greater success, to positively contribute to the world and to demonstrate respect.
DHL: The company
Focused on worldwide transport and logistics, DHL is relied upon by thousands of individuals and companies alike every day.
DHL employs modern methods to establish, collate, ship and track an order from inception to completion. Thus, a hierarchical flow can be seen and the company adheres to this protocol; breaking the process down into sex steps as follows:
- Order transmission
Therefore, the first step will be the transmission of the order from the costumer to the DHL team. This can be accomplished by fax, telephone, data exchange or email. After the order is received by one of these dedicated means, DHL will begin the preparation process. Of course, this will be streamlined whenever possible to meet the company’s requirements. Some of the main metrics that will be considered are (but will not be limited to) checking that all information is correct, confirming the pricing conditions, making certain that the customer’s credit is valid and confirming any specific delivery conditions. This will assure quality control during the remainder of the processes.
The next step will involve the routing of all relevant information. This entails confirming the delivery as well as the processing of all internal job orders to the relevant DHL personnel. Then an action known as “picking” takes place. In essence, this separates orders based upon size, urgency and multiple deliveries. Shipping will thereafter be considered; factors such as delivery routes, the type of transport and associated paperwork now coming into play.
Finally, the customer will be invoiced. This can occur after the previous processes have been completed or during these steps. One of the advantages of the pre-invoicing process is that much of the paperwork can be completed well ahead of time.
DHL Tracking Procedure
Of course, part of the efficiency that DHL boasts is due to their robust and comprehensive tracking process. Again, this can be broken down into three discrete phases as follows:
- Advance information flow.
- Accompanying information flow.
- Follow-up information flow.
In the first step of the tracking process, advance information flow is designed to confirm to the customer the scheduled delivery time. This allows the customer to make any necessary arrangements well ahead of schedule to ensure the proper receipt of the product being shipped.
As the name denotes, accompanying information flow revolves around providing all pertinent information that may revolve around the specific shipment of a certain item (hazardous materials, for example). This can even involve special sensors monitoring and tracking the shipment along the way; thus ensuring the utmost levels of safety. An ancillary benefit of the accompanying information flow is that the product can be tracked while en route. This will enable DHL to inform the customer of any changes as may be warranted in some circumstances.
Lastly, the follow-up information flow is all information that can be perused after the shipment has been completed. A post-delivery invoice is an example of this. Still, this is perhaps the most important past of the tracking process. This is due to the fact that information can also be sent in reverse order. In other words, checkpoints that were passed along the delivery route can be confirmed. An international border is such a checkpoint. This will allow DHL (and the customer) to be able to systematically track the shipment of goods along the entire route; ensuring higher levels of satisfaction.
DHL Safety Precautions
DHL places a number of safety features into the entire shipping process. This is obviously important for a company that ships countless products to various destinations around the world each and every day. Notwithstanding the aforementioned shipment monitoring procedures in regards to hazardous or delicate items, DHL also works closely with many governmental organisations. A prominent example of this is their collaboration with C-TPAT (The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism). DHL uses these measures to ensure the security of their products as well as the prevention of illegal items along every step of the supply chain. Payment methods are secure and all customer information is kept strictly confidential. In fact, this is likely one of the reasons that DHL is the carrier for all official correspondences within the Department of Homeland Security in the United States.
Of course, the pricing structure will depend upon several different variables. These can include the size and weight of the package, the destination (local, regional or international) and the speed of the delivery. Thus, same-day deliveries are priced higher than those which will take a longer period of time to complete. Additionally, the quotes will vary widely depending on the specifics of an item. For instance, a package with dimensions of twenty square centimetres that weighs twenty kilogrammes which is being sent from the United Kingdom to the United States will cost approximately one hundred and twenty-six pounds. In many instances, the prices can be slightly reduced if the customer drops off a parcel at a DHL collection checkpoint as opposed to utilising the pickup service provided.
The most substantial benefit offered by DHL is fast and efficient worldwide shipping. Their prices are quite amenable compared to similar carriers and their levels of security are some of the highest in the industry. Furthermore, the processes of tracking and logistics will ensure that the parcel arrives at the designated location within the specified time frame. By enacting such a top-down hierarchical workflow, DHL has centralised many of these metrics; allowing for an immense reliability and offering the utmost levels of privacy and discretion to the customer.
Should the tracking service not work, our support team and the support team of the shipping companies would gladly help you.