Wed, 28 Feb 2001

DHL expects 10 percent growth in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): DHL Worldwide Express predicts a 10 percent revenue growth in Indonesia this year partly due to the launching of value-added services, as recently announced in its new Asia campaign.

DHL marketing manager Soraya Rudianti said that the company was upbeat about doubling its revenue growth from last year's 5 percent, with the help of DHL's new advertisement campaign.

"The new campaign underlines our focus on giving better service to our customers," Soraya said.

She said that among the new services were the recent opening of two clearing services in Denpasar, Bali; and Medan, North Sumatra.

Previously, imported goods had to be cleared by local authorities in Jakarta before DHL could deliver the goods to customers across Indonesia, she explained.

But with the new clearing centers, she continued, customers can expect a shorter delivery time because goods no longer have to be cleared in Jakarta.

Soraya said that DHL was set to open a third clearing center in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, sometime this year.

According to her, the launching of the clearing centers is part of DHL's campaign promising customers more added value.

DHL earlier announced the launching of its "DHL Delivers More" campaign throughout Asia.

The company, though, disapproved of a The Jakarta Post report on Feb. 27, which described the campaign as an advertising gimmick.

Soraya said that behind DHL's new campaign was the launching of new services such as the clearing centers offering customers real added value.

The company will invest about $350,000 in the three clearing centers, she said.

"We want to offer our customers more than just delivery," Soraya explained.

DHL senior technical advisor Mike Fitzpatrick has said that customers take it for granted that reputable courier companies offer speed and reliability.

"More important is responsiveness and accessibility to customers," he said, adding that such would allow customers to manager their time more efficiently.

DHL, which operates in Indonesia in cooperation with PT Birotika Semesta, is one of the world's leading air express services, linking more than 85,000 destinations in 228 countries and territories.

The company operates a fleet of over 260 aircraft, and now has a 40 percent market share of international express traffic, according to the Washington-based Air Cargo Management Group.

In Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, DHL serves 51 countries and territories operating in more than 1,300 stations, employs more than 18,000 personnel and operates about 3,900 vehicles.(bkm)