DHL Supply Chain has been awarded a long-term contract worth over £100 million (€120 million) withtechnology group Panasonic to manage its warehousing and transport operation.
The contract, which was won as part of a competitive tender, will see DHL assume end-to-endresponsibility for Panasonic’s UK supply chain, resulting in increased efficiency, improvedservices, reduced costs and greater visibility. DHL will carry out order fulfillment of high endconsumer electronic goods, manage a shared warehouse operation, and enhance the leading electronicssupplier’s domestic transport operation.
DHL said the project is set to generate a greater return on Panasonic’s investment in itssupply chain infrastructure through the conversion of its existing facility into a state-of-the-arttechnology campus featuring an enhanced plug and play IT solution plus a dedicated TransportControl Tower, providing full visibility of the secure transport network.
In taking on the contract, DHL will also utilise its global reach and scale to create aplatform for transformational change, replicable across Panasonic’s European supply chain business.The operation will provide further benefits through the ability to aggregate data across theoperation, providing greater insight into operational efficiencies, total product costs andcustomer satisfaction.
Nigel Cowmeadow, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Panasonic Europe, commented: “As our businessevolves, it was necessary to bring in an innovative logistics specialist who understands theemerging needs of the technology sector. Our business needs the flexibility to adapt to the demandsof current and new markets, addressing rapid product lifecycles while consistently improving on ourcustomers’ experience. Panasonic strives to find new ways to deliver customer value and DHL hasdemonstrated that it is a suitable partner to join us on our journey.”
Paul Richardson, Managing Director of Specialist Services at DHL Supply Chain, UK &Ireland, commented: “This is a significant solution that has been constructed in a very shorttimescale. Throughout, we have taken a truly collaborative approach to the project, working inpartnership with Panasonic and adding value by exploiting our flexibility, global reach and focuson commercial innovation.”
