DHL Supply Chain Doubles Down on Digitalization Strategy, Pilots Adaptive Robotics and AI Orchestration

• DHL Supply Chain’s Intelligent Supply Chain model combines physical AI, digital AI and intelligent orchestration to enhance collaboration between people and technology
• Builds on unified digital and physical AI foundation after deploying more than 9,000 robots and recording more than 2.5 million minutes of interactions with conversational AI agents
• More than 95% of the company’s global warehouses are already equipped with advanced digitalization solutions 

DHL Supply Chain, one of the world’s largest contract logistics providers, is advancing the next phase of its Accelerated Digitalization strategy by piloting adaptive AI-powered robotics and moving AI orchestration into live warehouse operations.

The initiatives are part of DHL’s Intelligent Supply Chain framework, a model that brings together digital AI, physical AI, operational data and human expertise to create more adaptive, resilient and efficient operations.

Speaking at a recent Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit, Tim Tetzlaff, Global Head of Digital Transformation, DHL Supply Chain, outlined how the framework is helping the company move even further beyond isolated automation deployments toward connected operations in which people, AI and robotics work together to continuously adapt to changing operational conditions in real time. Unlike traditional warehouse robots that largely follow predefined routes or instructions, this new generation of adaptive AI-powered robotics can work toward a goal, interpret changes in its surroundings and determine alternative actions when conditions differ from plan.

Following a successful proof-of-concept, DHL is deploying AI orchestration in live warehouse operations where it serves as a digital control center connecting data, employees and automated machinery into one coordinated team. The solution helps site leaders respond more quickly to demand fluctuations, balance resources dynamically, improve operational quality and help strengthen employee retention.

DHL’s focus on the next wave of intelligent operations builds on a proven record of technology deployment at scale. The company has deployed more than 9,000 robots across its global network and recently completed 10 million robotic case unloads using Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot. DHL has also completed more than 1.5 billion robotic picks and recorded more than 2.5 million minutes of interactions with conversational AI agents.

“Our immediate priority is to continue scaling our proven robotics  across more sites while moving the next generation of adaptive AI-powered robotics from pilots into live operations,” Tetzlaff said.

One intelligent workflow that the company is testing connects autonomous mobile robots, packaging automation, and warehouse management systems to dynamically allocate resources based on real-time order demand. The approach helps orchestrate people, robotics, and automation into one adaptive operation, improving throughput while maintaining flexibility during demand fluctuations.

Connecting Digital and Physical AI to Achieve Scale

At the heart of DHL’s digitalization journey is an approach that brings digital and physical AI together through a shared, well-governed data foundation. Rather than pursuing separate technology roadmaps, DHL has used this foundation to coordinate people, systems and robotics, adapt to changing conditions and scale AI beyond individual pilots.

“Digital and physical AI are complementary forces,” Tetzlaff said. “Digital AI optimizes how information flows, while physical AI optimizes how material flows. When combined with our human workforce, they create the most efficient, flexible and resilient end-to-end supply chain.”

By managing both under one strategy, DHL has deployed its portfolio of advanced analytics and AI solutions more than 1,400 times across its network, including more than 500 deployments in 2026. More than 95% of the company’s global warehouses are now equipped with advanced digitalization solutions.

“Our experience deploying technologies at scale gives us a strong foundation for realizing the next set of supply chain opportunities,” Tetzlaff said. “We envision supply chains in which people and intelligent technologies work together to adapt faster, solve more complex problems, and create greater value for our customers.” 

Building a Collaborative Human-and-AI Workforce

According to Tetzlaff, DHL’s objective is not to remove people from its operations. As the company aims to increase revenues by 50% through 2030, DHL is building a collaborative model in which people, AI and robotics contribute complementary capabilities to create a more productive, efficient and adaptive workforce.

Robotics can perform physically demanding and repetitive tasks. Digital AI can process large amounts of data to identify patterns and potential actions. Employees contribute operational expertise, judgment, creativity, and the ability to manage situations that fall outside of expected conditions.

“The most successful supply chains will not be fully automated,” Tetzlaff said. “They will combine the speed and analytical capabilities of technology with the experience and judgment of people. The objective isn’t to automate every decision and every movement. We are reimagining how work gets done across processes and roles, and how technology can make both the operation and its people more effective.”

At a Glance

What are AI-powered adaptive robotics?

AI-powered adaptive robotics refers robots that work toward a specified goal rather than following only predefined routes or instructions. These systems interpret their surroundings and adjust their actions when conditions change.

What is Intelligent Supply Chain?

Intelligent Supply Chain is DHL Supply Chain’s digitalization framework that combines digital and physical AI with human expertise to further improve responsiveness, efficiency, and productivity across its operations. This framework expands on DHL’s Accelerated Digitalization strategy and explores emerging technologies to address the disruptions and customer demands of logistics.

What is AI orchestration?

AI orchestration is a digital layer that acts as a control center connecting data, AI agents, robotics, people and other machinery into a unified operating team. It helps operations leaders manage demand fluctuations, allocate resources in real time, improve customer satisfaction, and strengthen employee retention.

How extensively has DHL Supply Chain deployed AI and robotics?

DHL Supply Chain has deployed more than 9,000 robots across its global network, achieving more than 1.5 billion robotic picks and 10 million robotic case unloads. The company also deployed advanced analytics and AI solutions more than 1,400 times, including more than 500 deployments in 2026. DHL’s conversational AI tools have recorded more than 2.5 million minutes of user interactions, and advanced digitalization solutions are now deployed in more than 95% of its global warehouses.

How is DHL Supply Chain exploring the next generation of AI and robotics?

DHL Supply Chain is testing AI-powered adaptive robotics that operate based on a specified goal, interpret changing surroundings, and determine how to respond when they encounter unfamiliar conditions. The company is also moving AI orchestration into live warehouse operations, enabling autonomous multi-agent systems to work together across end-to-end workflows.