DHL Supply Chain has announced the acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, a division of Inmar Intelligence and a returns solutions provider for the retail e-commerce industry.
The logistics giant said this 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, which currently stands at over 520 warehouses supported by 52,000 associates.
Additionally, DHL Supply Chain said it will strengthen its returns capabilities to include product remarketing, recall management, and supply chain performance analytics.
DHL noted that 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, both in store and online," the announcement said.
It added that these solutions will expand the value-added services available to DHL customers and create a more strategic delivery of holistic solutions for their most complex supply chain needs.
"DHL Supply Chain's market-leading logistics expertise and the addition of Inmar's suite of returns services and its talented workforce will enable us to provide best-in-class logistics services to our industry customers. Together, we will create a returns business in North America unmatched in its depth, breadth, capabilities, and talent to fuel long-term growth," said Oscar de Bok, Global CEO of DHL Supply Chain.
Patrick Kelleher, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, North America, noted that the acquisition strengthens the company's existing capabilities, allowing it to offer its 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 added.
The DHL executive further said that 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," he said.
Spencer Baird, CEO of Inmar Intelligence, noted that both companies share a "deep commitment" to customer-focused innovation.
"Because of that, we are confident that DHL will build even greater things on top of the Inmar Supply Chain Solutions foundation we developed over time. We are also thrilled that Inmar associates will have an even broader set of supply chain experiences from which they can continue to learn and develop over time at DHL. For Inmar Intelligence, this deal sets the stage for us to apply an even deeper level of focus and investment into our core businesses that are expanding rapidly," he said.
DHL noted that consumers expect retailers to provide a seamless returns process while retailers are faced with new challenges, such as returns abuse and rising operational costs.
The acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions will also contribute to DHL's strategic goal of decarbonizing its business by 2050.
DHL noted that at the core of returns management is the need to drive sustainability, and Inmar's technology-driven reverse logistics solutions are recognized across the industry for reducing cost and eliminating the waste generated from returned consumer goods.
"Emphasis is placed on recommerce, which has diverted 99% of consumer returns from reaching a landfill; an approach that aligns with DHL's commitment to make customers' supply chains more sustainable," the announcement said.