DHL sees rapid growth in RP

Global express and logistics company DHL expects demand for its Import Express (IMP) service in the Philippines to grow rapidly this year as local companies try to keep up with the fast changing rules of global commerce.

This as company officials revealed that DHL is currently studying the infrastructure in Clark for the possibility of locating its logistics hub in the area. DHL’s gateway in the Philippines is currently located in Villamor Air Base in Pasay.

DHL Express Asia Pacific CEO Scott Price said since its launch in 1995, demand for the IMP service has steadily increased, driven largely by increased trade flows and customers’ need for greater control over the cost, speed and reliability of their imports. IMP allows DHL customers to import goods from overseas suppliers.

In 2004 alone, DHL registered a double-digit growth for IMP, which officials noted reflects the success of the service and highlights a significant increase in customer demand.

Companies in the high-technology, textile, and import and export industries form the majority of IMP’s customers and items imported include samples, return warranty parts, and discounted goods or components from suppliers.

The service basically makes the importation process easier by offering hassle-free importation. Available in 218 countries, there is no need to liaise with local brokers and forwarders. In addition, there are no hidden costs or suprises, with a simple and upfront pricing.

"With Import Express, customers who pay for some of their freight costs within a non-integrated transport chain can now enjoy the simplicity and control of one point of contact, one fixed price, and one invoice for all their import requirements. It underscores DHL’s commitment to simplifying and improving supply chain efficiencies for our customers. As the leader in destination billed express delivery, we are confident that DHL’s extensive international network aligned to the Import Express product offering will continue to offer strong competitive advantages for our customers," Price said.

For his part, DHL Express Philippines country manager Larry Llamzon noted that IMP has not only reinforced DHL’s reputation in the Philippines as a leader in quality, speed and reliability of service but also accentuated its commitment and support to the local arena of trade and commerce.

"Customers can have shipments originating from 220 countries around the world expressed to the Philippines within one to three working days, depending on the country of origin. And with one invoice, the payment system offers the advantage of paying in local currency, which reduces administration time and eliminates the piles of invoices from different vendors, thus, enabling the importer to be in direct control of deliveries and costs when importing. What’s more, DHL pays all custom duties in advance on behalf of the customer and duties are collected on delivery, " Llamzon explained.

On the business level, he said IMP’s international network has greatly benefited the local market by enabling companies, particularly those in semiconductor and consumer electronics, to import goods at a faster pace from a wider range of countries around the world. This has reduced their costs and improved their customer service, granting them a competitive edge.

Last year, DHL introduced Air Cross, an extension of IMP, which enables customers to use their IMP accounts to control the express transport and delivery of shipments directly between any two countries in the world, in addition to their ability to import into their own countries.