DHL Supply Chain announced the acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, a division of Inmar Intelligence and a returns solutions provider for the retail e-commerce industry. The strategic acquisition will make DHL Supply Chain the largest provider of reverse logistics solutions in North America.
The acquisition will result in 14 return centers and around 800 associates joining the DHL Supply Chain business expanding the company’s North American footprint which currently stands at over 520 warehouses supported by 52,000 associates. Additionally, DHL Supply Chain will now strengthen its returns capabilities to include product remarketing, recall management, and supply chain performance analytics. Inmar Intelligence will retain its pharmaceutical reverse distribution business.
In light of a rapidly growing e-commerce market and changing consumer behaviour, returns are an increasingly important touchpoint for retail customers, both in-store and online. These solutions will expand the value-added services available to DHL customers and create a more strategic delivery of holistic solutions for their most complex supply chain needs.
“DHL Supply Chain’s logistics expertise and the addition of Inmar’s suite of returns services and its talented workforce will enable us to provide best-in-class logistics services to our industry customer,”says Oscar de Bok, Global CEO of DHL Supply Chain.
“As companies strive to simplify their supply chain strategies and enhance their operational agility, DHL Supply Chain continues to innovate to provide comprehensive and integrated solutions,”says Patrick Kelleher, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, North America.
“This acquisition strengthens our existing capabilities, allowing us to offer our customers a single-source solution for their entire supply chain, including the critical and complex area of returns management. This enhances the value we deliver to our customers by streamlining their operations, reducing complexity, and improving their overall supply chain efficiency.”
Consumers expect retailers to provide a seamless returns process while retailers are faced with new challenges such as returns abuse and rising operational costs. Thus, the acquisition marks a logical step to foster DHL’s customer centric approach that involves collaboration, expertise, and integration to solve the greatest supply chain challenges.
Enhancing commitment to sustainability
The acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions will also contribute to DHL’s strategic goal of decarbonising its business by 2050. In the company’s recently announced Strategy 2030, sustainability is a strategic priority, recognising its growing role as a key differentiator in the logistics sector.
At the core of returns management is the need to drive sustainability, and Inmar’s technology-driven reverse logistics solutions are recognised across the industry for reducing cost and eliminating the waste generated from returned consumer goods. Emphasis is placed on recommerce, which has diverted 99 per cent of consumer returns from reaching a landfill; an approach that aligns with DHL’s commitment to make customers’ supply chains more sustainable.
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