DHL Supply Chain acquires Inmar Supply Chain Solutions
DHL Supply Chain has acquired 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 to well 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 the light of a rapidly growing e-commerce market and changing consumer behavior, returns are an increasingly important touchpoint for retail customers. These solutions will expand the value-added services available to DHL customers and create a more strategic delivery of holistic solutions, the company noted.
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“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," said 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.”
Kelleher continued, “The strategic growth opportunities that the returns market brings will enhance the success of DHL Supply Chain. It also puts us on the right path to support DHL Group’s plan to achieve 50% revenue growth by 2030 compared to 2023 as outlined in our recently announced Strategy 2030.”
Inmar Intelligence said this strategic move allows Ithe company to prioritize its Healthcare and Martech businesses by continuing to drive innovation and deliver enhanced value to customers and consumers and offering an opportunity to build upon Inmar’s long-standing leadership of returns solutions through DHL. Inmar retains and continues to invest in its pharmaceutical reverse distribution business, including Rx Returns and Rx Recalls.
“The divestiture sets the stage for an even deeper focus at Inmar Intelligence. That focus will be centered on executing an even more aggressive innovation pipeline on behalf of the Healthcare and Martech customers in our network,” said Spencer Baird, CEO of Inmar Intelligence. “That innovation includes upgrades across every aspect of our commercial proposition, not just new or significantly enhanced products.”
Inmar Intelligence noted that it is advancing Healthcare and Martech innovation to enhance safety, access and affordability while helping brands and retailers drive consumer engagement and achieve even stronger loyalty. Both divisions continue to leverage cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence solutions.
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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, DHL said.
“The returns market is valued at over $989 billion, but retailers continue to struggle with the evolving consumer behavior towards the process," said Kraig Foreman, president of eCommerce for DHL Supply Chain, North America. "By adding Inmar’s reverse logistics expertise, dedicated team of experts, and its technology-driven suite of returns services, DHL Supply Chain will be able to provide data-backed, innovative solutions that help returns to be a positive experience for consumers and protect profitability in a competitive marketplace for the retailer.”
The acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions also will contribute to DHL’s strategic goal of decarbonizing its business by 2050. In the company’s recently announced Strategy 2030, sustainability is a strategic priority, recognizing its growing role as a key differentiator in the logistics sector. Assisting global customers to become carbon neutral is crucial, and DHL Group aims to achieve this by remaining the frontrunner in low-carbon logistics operations, the company said.