Easier for Japanese SMEs to Go Global With DHL Express Digital Tools

Regardless of the business size, SMEs can now enjoy the benefits of opening an account, including centralized management of multiple shipments, international shipping support and dynamic discount

DHL Express is empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a suite of digital tools to expand their footprint, and increase international trade and shipping activities.

In particular, with the launch of a new account opening process, SMEs, including proprietors and even individuals who do not have a corporate number or trade name, can now open a DHL account, regardless of their business size.  The new process will offer the benefits of DHL accounts, such as centralized and convenient management of multiple shipments, and a dynamic discount based on the shipment volume to SMEs.

Tony Khan, President and Representative Director of DHL Express Japan said, “We are pleased to support SMEs, who are facing various challenges, with our newly enhanced digital tools. By providing the tools and resources necessary to facilitate their international trade and shipping, we are committed to helping SMEs capture growth and reach their full potential in a dynamic global marketplace.”

Evidence from the DHL Global Connectedness Report^[1] shows companies continue to have an appetite for international expansion. Globalization reached a record high in 2022, and most international flows are taking place over stable or longer distances. According to a survey on “Overseas Expansion of Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan"^[2], SMEs often face significant challenges in expanding overseas, such as a lack of internal staffing and insufficient information about overseas laws and regulations. With a series of digital tools, DHL aims to help SMEs address challenges that significantly hinder their ability to enter global markets, such as intricate customs processes and insufficient knowledge or resources regarding exporting and international trade regulations.

Recognizing these hurdles, DHL Express has developed a comprehensive suite of digital solutions to help SMEs and startups quickly sign up for an account anytime, anywhere and start selling globally. From planning to aftersales, the tools help SMEs streamline cross-border trade processes, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency, ultimately driving growth and competitiveness on a global scale. Also, you can see the detail about DHL’s digital solutions for SMEs here.

• Once the business is ready, they can open a DHL account anytime, anywhere. Startups and individual shippers that do not have a credit history can also set up a DHL account.
• My Global Trade Services (myGTS) is useful to sellers when strategizing on where to do business. It is a free, online self-serve pre-shipment planner that companies can use to find the correct Harmonized System (HS) codes to classify products for shipping. Users can also obtain initial information on existing free trade agreements between the origin and destination country. This gives sellers a clear picture of the costs and enables them to price their products effectively.
• DHL Express Commerce integrates DHL Express shipping services with many e-commerce platforms to help businesses automate shipment creation and manage the fulfillment process. This is useful for sellers to ship multiple orders efficiently. 
• As companies start shipping, having visibility of the shipment’s journey becomes useful as a preventive measure to minimize delays. The Track & Trace capability allows the shipper to track all shipments accurately across the DHL Express network.
• Moreover, On Demand Delivery empowers both the shipper and the recipient to customize their delivery preferences. This reduces the probability of undelivered shipments and improves customer experience. 

* About Dynamic Discount: New DHL Express account holders will receive a 50% discount on shipping charges for four months, and up to 70% discount for the fifth and subsequent months, depending on the previous month's shipment volume.

[1]  DHL Global Connectedness Report
[2]  Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, JAPAN, Independent Administrative Agency