The world in 2020: Deutsche Post DHL presents study of future trends

Bonn / Stockholm, June 4, 2009: Deutsche Post DHL has just published a study with the title "Delivering Tomorrow - Customer Needs in 2020 and Beyond." It provides a number of expert opinions and analyses on issues such as globalization, economy, technology, logistics, environment and society. The study reveals trends in these areas up to the year 2020 and even beyond. By carrying out this study, the mail and logistics group has created an orientation guide for possible future scenarios. Deutsche Post DHL has made use of the knowledge gained by integrating it into its recently presented corporate strategy. "The study's results show that issues such as sustainability, education and social responsibility will gain in importance for companies in the future. By implementing programs like GoGreen and Teach First today, we are already preparing ourselves for the challenges of the future and pointing the way ahead by highlighting key issues early on," said Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL, at the official presentation of the study at the Globe Forum in Stockholm.

The research and analyses for the study "Delivering Tomorrow - Customer Needs in 2020 and Beyond" were carried out between June 2008 and January 2009. 81 future theses were developed and then discussed at length by the participants. 900 people from all corners of the globe, including CEOs from prestigious international companies and scholars from the fields of economics, futurology, and logistics as well as experts provided by selected customers from a wide range of sectors received the comprehensive questionnaire for evaluation. The study utilized Delphi methodology, which has been in use since the early 1950s. It consists of a multistage assessment process, during which experts are presented with various theses and asked to provide their opinions. This systematic approach helps ensure Delphi studies produce prognoses that are generally more precise and coherent than those derived from general surveys. Key predictions arising from this study concentrate on the challenges of climate change, the influence of increasing Internet networking, and the growing importance of the logistics industry.

Climate change and CO2 reduction

Climate change is already widely perceived as one of the greatest challenges facing humankind. The study participants predict that, in the years to come, purchasing decisions will no longer be based solely on brand, quality and price. In the future, the environmental impact of products and services will play a major role. "If you look at the label on a glass of jam today, you'll see it lists the number of calories. But in 2020, likely labels will also indicate how much carbon dioxide was emitted in production and transport of the product," comments Frank Appel. To a certain extent, consumers will be willing to pay more for ecologically sound products and services. With less environmentally conscious providers striving to overcome their competitive disadvantage as quickly as possible, consumer behavior will effectively bring about a steady improvement in environmental standards.

Logistics companies lead the way

In spite of the current financial crisis, the Delphi experts do not foresee far-reaching upheavals within the existing political and social system - in 2020 the world will still be run as a market economy. The competition for growth, wealth, and resources will persist, with countries and companies the major players. The trend toward outsourcing production will continue, and many companies will look to global value chains in the pursuit of a competitive edge. On the other hand, the Delphi study also predicts that companies will have to collaborate more often and more closely than ever before. At the vanguard of change, the logistics industry will be the model that other sectors follow. To combat the high cost of energy, logistics companies will invest more resources than ever before into establishing and operating shared networks. Appel explains: „Ensuring that the logistics of the future is as environmentally friendly as possible is one of our strategic goals. We already offer carbon-neutral shipping, for example. And we were also the first logistics company to create a climate protection program that ties us to specific emission reduction targets. We're already on the right track. But as the Delphi study shows, by 2020 a good number of our competitors will have copied us. So we have to keep on finding new ways to keep ahead."

Business via the Internet - anytime, anyplace

Customers in 2020 may attach great value to the environment, but not at the expense of speedy delivery. They will want all products and services to be available immediately. Consequently, consumers will demand greater transparency and extensive information in real time from suppliers. This will make the Internet more important than ever: by 2020, a good deal of the population of the world, primarily in developed and emerging counties, will be almost permanently online and some three billion people will conduct their business exclusively over the World Wide Web. The pace of events will continue to increase - not just in the commercial world, but rather in all walks of life. The demand for flexibility and permanent availability will increase.

Optimistic outlook

Although terrorist attacks and global pandemics will remain a threat in the future, the experts believe that these scenarios can be kept in check through financial and technological investment. The same applies to the growing global population. The respondents from Asia are confident that state-organized population control will be an effective tool for arresting population growth, and most of them predict that the world population could stabilize between seven and eight billion. By contrast, respondents from other parts of the world are convinced that the population will continue to rise, and with it the consumption of resources. "Nevertheless, our experts were generally optimistic," says Frank Appel, "They believe that these future challenges can be controlled by market economics."

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Deutsche Post DHL is the world's leading postal and logistics services group.

The Deutsche Post and DHL corporate brands offer a one-of-a-kind portfolio of logistics (DHL) and communication (Deutsche Post) services. The Group offers its customers easy to use standardized products as well as innovative and tailored solutions - from dialog marketing to industrial supply chains. Over 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories form a global network focused on service, quality and sustainability. The Group accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education. The Group generated revenue of more than 54 billion euros in 2008.

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