DHL launches the international initiative “Discover Logistics”
Online portal "Discover Logistics" comprises logistics business simulation "DHL Fast Forward" and logistics compendium "Logbook"
German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier takes on the patronage of "Discover Logistics"
The winners will receive attractive prizes with a total value of over EUR 50,000 including exclusive VIP tickets for the Formula One or one of the IMG Fashion Weeks, management trainings and travel vouchers.
Higher, Faster, Further – Logistics moves the world
Logistics is a truly global business with excellent career opportunities for highly-qualified graduates and young professionals from all backgrounds, including yourself.
Are you entrepreneurially-minded? Do you thrive in an international, fast-paced environment? Are you keen to take on new responsibilities and challenges?
DHL invites you to experience this dynamic industry through our Internet platform Discover Logistics. Discover Logistics is a comprehensive interactive repository of facts, features and case studies from the logistics industry, including the free online compendium, the DHL Logbook.
Discover Logistics is also home to DHL Fast Forward, the first worldwide business simulation for the logistics industry. Do you have what it takes to be successful in a competitive, challenging market? Then welcome to the world of logistics!
Use your business and team skills to turn a national logistics provider into a globally active logistics company
Present your strategy to the jury at our global headquarters in Bonn, Germany
Stand to win VIP tickets to a Formula One race, one of the IMG Fashion Weeks or vouchers for management trainings and other great prizes
DHL challenges you to prove yourself against other teams from around the world with DHL Fast Forward – the first worldwide logistics business simulation. DHL Fast Forward will allow you to manage the business of a logistics company in a competitive, realistic environment.
Kicking off on May 1, 2008 you will first be working as an individual manager to develop your national business. In the second round, which begins in August 2008, selected participants from round one will compete in teams to manage the international expansion.
In January 2009, the finalists will be invited to Germany to present their ideas to a high-ranking jury and senior managers at our global headquarters in Bonn. The trip will also include a visit to the German Foreign Office in Berlin.
You have a chance to win fantastic prizes, including VIP tickets to a Formula One race, one of the IMG Fashion Weeks or vouchers for management seminars and other great incentives.
Take a deep dive into the world of logistics with the first interactive logistics compendium
Read about interesting facts, news and trends in logistics management and operations
Hear the fascinating stories of successful young managers at DHL
This comprehensive online compendium takes you on an interactive journey through the world of logistics.
Learn about the latest developments, trends and news in this exciting industry. Read about the business environment and the challenges managers face in key regions around the world. Get to grips with the terms and phrases of the industry and see which innovative technologies are set to shape the future of logistics.
You can also gain an insight into the lives of logistics managers through entertaining video testimonials by young managers at DHL. And experience how you can develop your expertise in an international setting.
The Logbook also includes a detailed glossary and interactive quizzes to test your logistics knowledge.
The following questions and answers will help you to understand the DHL initiative Discover Logistics. In addition, this document will facilitate structuring your regional media relations and answering questions raised by journalists.
The initiative Discover Logistics aims to attract students, graduates and young professionals by promoting logistics as a fascinating industry and DHL as a first choice employer. The portal www.dhl-discoverlogistics.com offers valuable insights into logistics through interactive applications.
The reason for developing this initiative is the increased need for qualified young management staff in our industry. Logistics is a key industry in world business, and as a result enjoys an enormous growth rate.
At the same time, expectations on logistics companies are growing, not only with regard to actual logistics and transportation services, but also concerning management and IT. Therefore, in order to maintain current growth, the logistics industry is in need of ambitious and highly qualified employees who are interested in applying innovative management techniques in international projects.
Which elements does Discover Logistics provide?
A central point of reference for information about the initiative can be found on the website www.dhl-discoverlogistics.com. Two applications form the main focus of the site: “DHL Fast Forward – The first worldwide logistics business simulation” and “Logbook – The DHL logistics compendium”. Both interactive tools offer a detailed insight into the world of the express and logistics industry, stimulate interest in the industry and provide information regarding international career perspectives.
What is DHL Fast Forward?
The first worldwide logistics business simulation DHL Fast Forward offers students and young professionals the possibility to prove themselves in a realistic logistics management game, either on their own or in a team. There are attractive prizes to be won while participants also have the opportunity to build up international contacts at the same time.
The overall goal of the business simulation DHL Fast Forward is to develop a virtual express and logistics company into a worldwide leader in logistics services. Fast Forward consists of three levels:
In the first level, all participants have to develop their business into a national market leader.
In level two, the best participants from level one come together in teams with the aim of developing their company into a worldwide market leader.
In the final level, the ten best performing teams from the second level will be invited to the headquarters of Deutsche Post World Net in Bonn, Germany. Team members will meet each other for the first time in real life and will compete with the other teams. The winning team in the final level will have developed its worldwide market leader into a quality leader in the industry.
Schedule:
Level 1: May 1st, 2008 - July 12th, 2008
Level 2: August 6th, 2008 - September 23rd, 2008
Level 3 (final level): January 2009
What is the Logbook?
The Logbook is a unique logistics compendium providing appealing insights into the logistics industry. The target group includes players of “DHL Fast Forward – The first worldwide logistics business simulation”, as well as interested students and young professionals who want to deepen their logistics knowledge.
The interactive logistics compendium offers sound expert knowledge and explains all facets of the logistics industry. Additionally, portraits of international DHL managers, including interviews, movie sequences, and pictures of a typical working day, give a detailed insight behind the scenes of the logistics industry. Ambitious young professionals get an impression of the different working fields through practical reports from DHL managers working around the world. A logistics glossary contains hundreds of technical terms providing profound knowledge to the users. Each chapter of the Logbook is rounded off with a quiz.
Who is the target group of Discover Logistics?
The target group of Discover Logistics are students, university graduates and young professionals who are interested in logistics management and an international career. However, participation in the first level of DHL Fast Forward is open to everyone. Also, the Logbook is open to everybody who wants to gain insights into the multifaceted and challenging world of logistics.
Why is the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier patron of the initiative?
The logistics industry is the most international industry worldwide. It connects different people from around the globe and demands a large amount of intercultural competence. Therefore, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed to be patron of the initiative. Intercultural exchange constitutes a core concern of the German Foreign policy.
What can participants win?
In each other week during the online period of level one, a bi-weekly winner will be determined and promoted in the Discover Logistics newsletter, and the winner will receive an Apple ipod Touch. At the end of level two, there are 10 winning teams in total. These teams are invited to the headquarters of Deutsche Post World Net in Germany as well as a reception at the Foreign Office in Berlin. Attractive prizes await the winners of our final round, including management trainings and travel vouchers. Additionally, the best individual player wins VIP tickets for the Formula 1 or the IMG Fashion Weeks. The total value of all the prizes exceeds 50,000 Euro.
What is more, all participants of the third level have the opportunity to meet top management at DHL. In this way, successful participants will be able to establish contact with one of the most important international employers and the world’s largest logistics company early in their career.
When does DHL Discover Logistics start and how long does it last?
The Discover Logistics portal is online since mid March. The initiative with its interactive applications “Fast Forward - The DHL business simulation”, and “Logbook - The DHL logistics compendium”, will start on 1st of May, 2008. The planning game DHL Fast Forward is divided into three levels and lasts until January 2009. The application Logbook is online during and after the three levels of DHL Fast Forward in order to give participants a chance to get both detailed information about the logistics industry and input for playing the business simulation.
How many people will take part in DHL Fast Forward?
There is no restriction on the number of participants for DHL Fast Forward. Players from all over the world can easily register for free on www.dhl-discoverlogistics.com. Level two of the game will involve 500 participants worldwide. The final level will be made up of the ten best teams from level 2, each with five members.
Do participants form a team with international players?
During the first level of the business simulation, each participant is on their own in developing their virtual logistics company to full national coverage and establishing first international contacts. At the end of the first level, 500 participants will reach the second level, according to both their demonstrated performance and their fit to the target group profile. In this second level, participants will then be assigned to international teams which are formed by players from different regions of the world. This will mean that international communication within teams will become an important building block for success.
What is the challenge of DHL Fast Forward?
In order to succeed in the second level of the simulation, the team members are required to develop a structured team organization and schedule (just like today’s successful managers) to work efficiently. Communication between members of the international teams has to be organized by the teams individually, e.g. by using email, skype, cell phones, or personal messengers.
Participants are challenged to organize their teams independently and keep up the participants’ team spirit and, therefore, should have strong intercultural competence. These aspects are important criteria for a successful career in an international company.
Can participants meet each other?
The ten most successful teams will be selected for the third and final level. They will be invited to visit the headquarters of Deutsche Post World Net in Bonn, Germany. There, team members will meet each other officially for the first time and will compete with the other teams in the final level. On top of that they build up contact with DHL as a potential employer.
dhl discover logistics
