DHL EXPRESS BULGARIA: FASTER, GREENER, MORE EFFICIENT

In the modern world, thousands of companies can reach new markets thanks to the advantages and popularity of e-commerce. However, the timely and reliable logistics and transportation of goods across towns and countries are crucial for their success – and their clients' satisfaction. DHL Express Bulgaria is a company that holds the key towards successful business expansion to new markets and clients and now its services have become better tuned to the needs of an important group of partners – small and mid-size companies.

To learn more about the new focus of DHL Express Bulgaria and how transportation and logistics can be greener, we talked to its executive director, Rumen Ivanov. He has been a part of the company since he graduated in Industrial Management and Marketing from Sofia's Technical University, in 1997. At DHL Express, he went through all the important steps of the professional ladder – he was manager of the department for filling customs documents, a customs agent, manager of DHL's Customs Department and the director of its Operational Network Bulgaria. In the end of 2015, he became the Executive Director of DHL Express Bulgaria.

Why did DHL Express Bulgaria decide to strengthen its focus on small and mid-size companies in the country?

Expanding our business and partnerships with small and mid-size companies is among our core priorities. Our collaboration with them allows us to share our expertise in the field of logistics, to help them optimise their business and to reach new markets.

E-commerce is an excellent example of this cooperation. Years ago we started partnerships with a couple of Bulgarian online stores. Today, they are established brands that send hundreds of packages on a daily basis.

Our global mission as a company is to connect people and to make their lives better. Locally, our goal is to help Bulgarian businesses to grow and expand, to step and thrive on the international markets.

What changes did you have to make in your business approach and services to offer a competitive solution tailored to this client group?

We constantly adapt our services and how we offer them in order to present a competitive solution to small and mid-size companies. One of our key goals is to offer not just solutions that meet these clients' expectations, but that exceed them.

This includes offering special programmes and services, and tailoring individual offers that reflect the needs and requirements of the particular business. And also – technologies that improve effectiveness and parcel tracking, which is of utmost importance to companies.

What are the benefits for small and mid-size companies?

Some of the main challenges that small and mid-size companies face include limited resources, ineffective processes, high transportation expenses, lack of expertise on international transportation requirements.

Our team of professionals effectively assists them to overcome all these hurdles. We provide our clients with information and consultation, improved trackability of parcels, more flexible deliveries, optimisation of the logistic processes and access to a global delivery network.

All of these allow them to access new markets and clients all over the world, giving them a competitive advantage and capability to expand their business immediately.

The logistics and transportation sector is a key link in the modern economy and society, yet it has its responsibility to become greener and more engaged in environment protection. How does DHL Express Bulgaria deal with this challenge?

Our global initiative Mission 2050 aims to reduce our operations' carbon footprint to zero by effective energy management, renewable sources and innovative logistic solutions.

We have been ISO 14001 certified since 2014 and got ISO 50001 certified in 2018. We are focused on environment protection and improvement of energy efficiency through a number of projects and initiatives, and improving the awareness and the engagement of our staff.

In 2017, we introduced the first bicycle route in Burgas, and later – two more cargo bicycles in Sofia. In the end of 2021 we started using e-vehicles, making deliveries in central Sofia entirely "green." In 2022 we included in our operational fleet several dozen e-vans. At the same time, we built our own charging infrastructure of the latest generation technology.

Our plans are large scale and continue in this direction, meaning that we will reach even sooner the planned goal of the DHL group for having 60% green deliveries by 2030.

How do you solve the challenge of having sustainable fuel and energy needed for the transition?

Despite the intensive electrification of our vehicle fleet, planes remain by far the greatest polluter in our industry. This is why in 2023, on a global level, DHL Express started investing in sustainable aviation fuel. With the service GoGreen+ we give our clients the exclusive option to control the quantity of carbon emissions generated during the transportation of their parcels. Simultaneously, we give them an SGS certificate that they can use to report Scope 3 from the GHG Protocol Standard.

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