DHL celebrates its 50th anniversary this month and as an added surprise to elevate the celebrations, DHL Express South Africa was recognised for its excellence of service by receiving the Sunday Times Top Business Award in the category of courier companies last week.

Jed Michaletos, Managing Director of DHL Express South Africa, says that this significant milestone is an opportunity for the company to reflect on its journey so far. “The world has evolved dramatically over the past 50 years. DHL revolutionized the world economy 50 years ago with an idea. In 1969, Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn had the revolutionary idea of transporting cargo vessels’ shipping documents in hand luggage on board aircraft. This meant that the customs clearance for the cargo could begin before the actual arrival of the ships, thereby exponentially reducing waiting times in the port. It also marked the birth of a completely new industry – the international air express service – and the start of DHL’s unparalleled journey. Until today, our approach and dedication has remained the same. With innovative logistics and transport solutions, we want to help simplify peoples’ everyday lives, whether private or professional. Being honored with a Sunday Times Top Business Award serves as further affirmation of our commitment to building a truly customer-centric organisation that evolves with the changing market.”

The outcome of the Sunday Times Top Business Awards was based on a survey of 382 C-level decision-makers, evaluating factors such as brand familiarity and awareness, the perceptions of users and non-users, as well as the size of brand presence in the market.

“DHL is extremely proud to be recognised for the hard work that all of our employees have put into building the forward-thinking organisation that we have today. Every accolade that we receive serves to strengthen our resolve to keep our brand at the forefront of innovation.”

Looking forward, Michaletos says that robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation are going to play ever-increasing roles in global logistics.

“Over the past 50 years, DHL Express has established itself as the global leader in express logistics and is well positioned to connect businesses and private individuals to global opportunities. We are committed to driving the evolution of logistics through ongoing innovation well into the future as we continue test and deploy innovative technologies along the entire supply chain to make the delivery and transport process as efficient as possible and to assist our employees in their work” Michaletos concludes.

Media Contact:
Megan Roper (Collinicos)
Head of Marketing, Sub-Saharan Africa, DHL Express
megan.collinicos@dhl.com

Follow us at: www.twitter.com/DHLAfrica

50 Years DHL
In 2019 DHL is celebrating 50 years since the company’s founding by three entrepreneurs in San Francisco in 1969. DHL began as a disruptor to the traditional delivery industry, circumventing bureaucracy with an innovative new service to deliver documents by air overnight. Since then, DHL has grown into a globe-spanning family of DHL companies with about 380,000 employees in over 220 countries and territories that covers the entire spectrum of logistics and supply chain services. DHL’s customer-centricity and can-do culture have fueled five decades of innovation – from the DHL 1000, one of the first word processing computers in the world, to using the purpose built StreetScooter, an environmentally friendly delivery vehicle powered by an electric drive and developed by Deutsche Post DHL Group. With the Mission 2050 commitment to reach zero group-wide emissions by 2050, DHL is continuing to be a trailblazer in the logistics industry.

DHL – The logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 61 billion euros in 2018.