DHL Global Forwarding has launched myDHLi, an innovative, fully integrated online one-stop customer portal for digital logistics allowing for full shipment visibility and control in one platform.

DHL said its myDHLiplatform — which is based on the CargoWise transport management system — will allow its freight forwarding customers to manage shipment transport modes, freight rates, carbon emissions and shipment data, as well as analyses and reports.

It also provides functions like follow and share, so relevant information can be easily accessed across organizations and trading partners.

DHL noted that the ongoing coronavirus would push firms to become more digital.

"One of the most unique aspects is the benefit of full visibility and control over all shipping and transport modes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," DHL said in a statement.

The launch begins with a pilot phase including selected customers from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa. The freight forwarder said myDHLi is being rolled out in waves to ensure a smooth region-by-region transition. 

“We have created a one-stop customer portal that is tailored to the needs of our customers. By combining services like online quotation and booking with shipment tracking, document accessibility, and data analyses we are creating not only 360-degrees visibility but also have laid the foundation for customers to manage their logistics – anytime and anywhere," said Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.

Scharwath noted that digitalization bears the potential to ease and improve the daily business of shippers and freight forwarders simultaneously.

"This is even truer during unpredictable and challenging times such as those we are currently facing with COVID-19, and which might now act as an accelerator for digitizing the industry,” he added.

The platform merges its existing online services like myDHLi Quote + Book and myDHLi Analytics with new services and features and incorporates them into one platform. The new tracking service also uses end-to-end information to make shipments across air and ocean visible nearly in real-time.

DHL said in an online briefing that it started developing myDHLi in-house in March last year.