DHL Supply Chain Expands Service Logistics Capabilities to Accelerate Data Center Infrastructure Parts Delivery
Press Release: WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Aug. 20, 2026
- Forward stocking network expanded to more than 150 U.S. and Canadian locations, enabling delivery of critical parts within four hours
- Positions inventory closer to major data center markets, helping cooling, power, and capital infrastructure equipment manufacturers meet customer demand for rapid installation support and service response
- Expansion builds on DHL’s broader data center logistics portfolio including server rack configuration, multimodal transportation, and specialized deliveries of high-value power and cooling equipment
To help data center operators meet surging demand without risking critical downtime, DHL Supply Chain has launched a national forward stocking solution to accelerate data center deployment and maintenance across major U.S. and Canadian markets. The expanded data center logistics network speeds up delivery of mission-critical installation and replacement parts to key facilities in hours rather than days.
Operating from more than 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada, DHL’s service logistics network enables delivery of mission-critical installation and replacement parts within four hours of customer requests, helping high-value data center equipment manufacturers support demanding installation schedules and rapidly respond to service events.
The expansion addresses the growing pressure on data center equipment manufacturers to maintain system uptime and support deployment schedules amid extended lead times and increasing demand for digital infrastructure. According to Uptime Institute Intelligence, 57% of major data center outages cost more than $100,000, with one in five exceeding $1 million. Additional research shows that average lead times for data center equipment have increased to 42 weeks, up 83% from 2019 levels, while 57% of data center projects experienced delays of three months or more in 2025.[1]
As hyperscale and colocation operators race to bring new capacity online, equipment manufacturers are increasingly expected to provide rapid access to installation and replacement parts that can keep projects on schedule and critical infrastructure operating without interruption. Traditionally, equipment manufacturers dispatch installation and replacement parts to field technicians from manufacturing facilities, often taking 24 to 48 hours for critical components to arrive on site. DHL’s national forward stocking footprint positions inventory closer to where it’s needed, helping manufacturers accelerate installations, improve service responsiveness, and dramatically reduce response times from days to hours.
The solution is already supporting data center cooling equipment manufacturers, helping them reduce delays associated with traditional fulfillment models while improving responsiveness across large installed equipment bases. Additionally, the forward stocking network is designed to serve a broad range of data center infrastructure providers, including power distribution, backup power, and other capital equipment manufacturers requiring rapid parts fulfillment.
“As demand for AI and other computing workloads outpaces development, data center operators are under pressure to bring new systems online faster while maintaining uptime across existing infrastructure,” said Jenny Sander, Vice President, Service Logistics, DHL Supply Chain North America. “Equipment manufacturers need service models that position these critical installation and replacement parts closer to the point of use to reclaim valuable time from stretched project schedules. Our forward stocking network will accelerate deployment schedules, improve parts availability, and help manufacturers meet customer demand for rapid installation support and service response.”
DHL’s forward stocking solution is supported by warehouse management and parts distribution technology, analytics, and real-time visibility tools that help manufacturers optimize inventory placement, forecast demand, and track parts as they move through the network.
The forward stocking solution complements DHL Supply Chain’s broader portfolio of data center logistics services. Earlier this year, DHL announced the addition of 10 warehouse sites totaling more than seven million square feet of capacity across North America to support the rapid growth of hyperscale and colocation infrastructure. The network provides white-glove handling, rack configuration, and specialized warehouse-to-site transportation for high-value, sensitive equipment.
Through coordination across DHL divisions, customers can combine rapid-response parts support with warehousing, global freight forwarding, multimodal transportation, customs expertise, and specialized road transportation for heavy or oversized components, creating an integrated logistics solution that supports the full lifecycle of data center infrastructure.