Freight News

DHL Innovation Center Aims to Shape Logistics

[ October 6, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

DHL Group on Oct. 1 opened its new Europe Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany, a major step in its commitment to shaping the future of logistics through customer-centric innovation.

The expanded and upgraded center near the group’s Bonn headquarters supports development and real-world application of technologies to make supply chains smarter, more sustainable and resilient. It also serves as a platform for collaboration with customers, startups, academic institutions, and industry partners.

The 5,360-square-meter showcases DHL’s advancements, including artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things and technologies that drive sustainability and serve as a cornerstone of DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which focuses on “smart growth,” emission-reduced logistics, and digital transformation, with the Innovation Center acting as a catalyst for next-generation logistics solutions.

Capable of hosting up to 400 visitors, it features a flexible, modular layout that adapts to various events and workshops, dynamic collaboration and innovation. The center is also home to the DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation team.

Technologies showcased in the Innovation Center align with key trends identified in the DHL Logistics Trend Radar, a strategic tool designed to help customers and the logistics community anticipate industry shifts over the next 10 years.

To understand how these trends are being prioritized, DHL conducted a global survey of more than 2,500 supply chain professionals across sectors and regions. Developed and conducted by DHL CSI, the survey collected responses from 2,597 supply chain professionals across Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa; and six key industries: auto-mobility, energy, engineering and manufacturing, e-retail and Fashion, technology and life sciences and health care.

The survey was live from June 15 to Aug. 8. The results revealed the top three trend clusters expected to shape supply chains in the coming years:

• AI was identified as the leading driver of future logistics transformation, among 44 percent of respondents.

• Robotics ranked second with 28 percent, valued for boosting efficiency and automation.

• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) followed at 25 percent, reflecting rising sustainability priorities in supply chains.

“Our customers want solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also sustainable and scalable,” said Katja Busch, chief commercial officer and head of DGL Customer Solutions and Innovation, or CSI.

DHL develops, tests and implements new technologies across global operations. DHL Supply Chain, the group’s contract logistics division, plays a central role in commercializing innovation across the business. To date, the company has rolled out close to 10,000 automation and digitalization projects globally and integrated more than 8,000 collaborative robots into its operations.

The Europe Innovation Center in Germany is part of DHL Group’s global network of Innovation Centers, located in the Americas (Chicago), Asia-Pacific (Singapore), and the Middle East and Africa (Dubai). These centers identify emerging trends, engage with customers, test new technologies and scale impactful solutions across regions and business units.