DHL Supply Chain needs no introduction.
As the global leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain drives competitive advantage for its customers with tailored logistics solutions, combining globally standardised warehousing, transportation, and integrated services. Leveraging deep sector expertise, vast global reach, and invaluable local insights, DHL Supply Chain expertly manages end-to-end supply chains—covering everything from raw materials and manufacturing to the seamless delivery of finished goods and return services.
In an exclusive interview with SupplyChain Strategy, Will Heywood, Chief Customer Officer at DHL Supply Chain, shares his insights on what’s to come at Manifest Vegas 2025. He sees the event as a perfect match for his organisation, poised to enhance the future of supply chain innovation.
Can you share some background on yourself and the business?
Will Heywood: “I’ve been with DHL Supply Chain for just over 20 years. Prior to being appointed the Chief Customer Officer in 2024, I led the North American strategy, marketing, and product development teams. I also spent about five years in operations excellence, working closely with our frontline teams on things like labor management and operations development. I’ve worked in the technology sector and have led acquisitions and divestiture projects for the company.”
What inspired you to get involved in logistics?
Will Heywood: “Prior to joining Exel, which was acquired by Deutsche Post in 2005, I was a management consultant and worked in financial services, which I didn’t particularly enjoy. However, I also spent some time in manufacturing, which I really enjoyed. The tangible nature of manufacturing and similar kinds of businesses where you could see with your own eyes what was happening was great. I received a consulting project with Exel and I really liked the people. I liked the nature of the service the company provided so that really resonated with me.”
What are you most looking forward to at Manifest 2025?
Will Heywood: “I’ve been to every Manifest since it started, and I’m blown away by how quickly it’s grown. It’s doubled in size every year and I think this year they’re expecting around 6,000 attendees. The team has done a good job to consistently provide quality content. I look forward to hearing the keynotes, and the educational sessions as well as seeing what’s being presented from an innovation standpoint. The conference has a good mix of manufacturers, shippers, third party logistics companies, technology providers, startups, as well as investors. This mix of attendees provides an opportunity to have interesting conversations around what’s happening in the industry from a variety of perspectives.”
How do you think events like Manifest are contributing to the overall evolution of supply chain and logistics? What makes it so special?
Will Heywood: “As industry leaders in supply chain logistics, we at DHL Supply Chain have an obligation to help define the industry and promote what supply chain means and the value it provides overall. Where we have opportunities to do that publicly, we like to lean into that. With Manifest, we saw an organisation focused on doing things differently in the supply chain space. They’re targeting a younger demographic, which fits nicely with our views on how the workforce is evolving and the exciting challenges that can make a career in supply chain even more interesting.”
What, broadly, do you think 2025 holds for the supply chain space?
Will Heywood: “Regardless of the year I think there is always an aspect of unpredictability in our business. Given developments over the last number of years, there are more explicit challenges that industries will have to deal with. At DHL Supply Chain, we spend a lot of time thinking through various scenarios and how we set our stakeholders up to be successful regardless of the things we think we know and the things that will surprise us. So contingency planning, scenario planning, all those things already feature heavily into what our customers are dealing with and how we continue to support them.”
What does 2025 hold for your business specifically?
Will Heywood: “We have been on a growth trajectory over the last decade, and I believe that will continue. We are exploring different areas – industries and services – that historically we haven’t been involved in and that’s exciting for our business and our people. It presents growth opportunities for our associates, and it also exposes us to new customers who are less familiar with outsourcing supply chain and leveraging some of the value-creating technologies that are coming into the market. We’re pretty excited overall with what lies ahead in the next year.”
Learn more about DHL Supply Chain here.
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