-DHL to scale robotics deployment throughout divisions with over 1,000 robotic items
-DHL Group has invested over €1 billion in automation in its contract logistics division over the previous three years alone
-With strategic partnerships DHL is intensifying its dedication to transcend classical vendor relationships to emphasise much more on co-developing, testing, and scaling robotics options with main innovators
Bonn, Germany / Waltham, Massachusetts (USA), Could 13, 2025 – DHL Group, the world’s main logistics supplier, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boston Dynamics, a worldwide chief in superior robotics. Constructing on the confirmed success of Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robotic—designed for case dealing with and initially deployed by DHL to automate container unloading—the settlement paves the way in which for the worldwide deployment of greater than 1,000 further items. Wanting forward, DHL plans to develop the vary of functions for the robots, together with further use circumstances corresponding to case selecting.
This settlement marks a major milestone in an already profitable collaboration, which started in 2018 and has since delivered tangible enhancements in logistics automation. DHL Provide Chain, the Group’s contract logistics division, has led the way in which, introducing Stretch commercially in North America in 2023 and extra not too long ago increasing deployments to the UK and throughout Europe.
Up to now, the deployments of Stretch have achieved case unloading charges of as much as 700 circumstances per hour and contributed to increased worker satisfaction by decreasing the necessity for bodily demanding work in sizzling or chilly trailers. The partnership has additionally pushed joint product improvement with end-to-end automation options integrating conveyors and palletizers, as demonstrated within the UK mission. To additional construct on these successes, DHL Group is actively exploring how the expertise can profit different enterprise items. A key precedence is case selecting – essentially the most labor-intensive exercise inside DHL Provide Chain – which represents the following main improvement to maximise the influence of Stretch past container unloading.
“By way of our Accelerated Digitalization agenda, we’re dedicated to maximizing the influence of robotics and automation throughout all our operations and enterprise items,” mentioned Sally Miller, International CIO of DHL Provide Chain. “It is a elementary shift that is reshaping how we function and elevate service for our clients. By way of this expanded partnership with Boston Dynamics, DHL will take a extra lively position in shaping and directing robotics improvement alongside key companions, specializing in constructing extra resilient, responsive and smarter options that tackle the distinctive challenges of our firm. Collectively, we’re setting new requirements for the logistics {industry}.”
As a part of its dedication to cross-business innovation, DHL ensures that profitable developments developed inside the Provide Chain division are evaluated and tailored for implementation throughout the broader Group, maximizing influence at scale.
Over the previous three years DHL Group has invested over €1 billion in automation in its contract logistics division alone. Throughout its international community, the Group now makes use of greater than 7,500 robots, over 200,000 good handheld units, and near 800,000 IoT sensors to optimize operations, improve working circumstances for workers, and ship measurable worth for purchasers. At the moment, greater than 90% of DHL warehouses worldwide are outfitted with not less than one automation or digitalization resolution.
DHL is bolstering its industry-leading automation technique by inserting larger emphasis on co-developing options with each new and established robotics companions, moderately than relying solely on off-the-shelf applied sciences.
The DHL and Boston Dynamics partnership mannequin achieves that. DHL Group provides real-world operational environments as a proving floor for superior applied sciences, offering important suggestions and industry-specific insights. Shifting past a conventional vendor relationship, the businesses will collectively develop, check, and scale options in real-time operations. This permits DHL to give attention to their core logistics strengths, whereas the world’s main robotics innovators create tailored applied sciences for the corporate’s and the logistics {industry}’s wants. This open, operationally built-in method additionally permits DHL and Boston Dynamics to collectively advance options like Stretch, whereas additionally exploring additional synergies throughout divisions.
Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, commented: “We’re proud to proceed strengthening our collaboration with DHL Group. Our groups have been on a journey of innovation collectively to create a sensible and efficient warehouse robotics resolution, and that is the pure subsequent step in what has been a superb relationship. Stretch is ideally suited to be the primary multi-use case, field selecting robotic that may meet the varied wants of DHL. Collectively we’re striving to set an instance of sensible management of the trendy provide chain.”
As a part of Technique 2030, DHL Group goals to additional formalize its partnerships with expertise leaders, driving not simply deployment at scale, but additionally joint improvement, co-investment, and deeper collaboration fashions. This built-in method – starting from robotics partnerships to mutually useful incentive applications – will play a central position in establishing robotics and automation as key drivers of sustainable, long-term development throughout DHL Group.
