DHL Supply Chain Launches New Logistics Solution for U.S. Health Systems

• Central operations hubs bring inventory and medical support activities together 
• Dedicated transportation and final-mile delivery connect supplies to points of care 

As health systems consolidate, manage rising costs, and navigate supply chain disruptions across expanding care networks, DHL Supply Chain today announced a new logistics solution designed to streamline the movement of critical drugs, supplies, and equipment. 

Built for modern health systems, which encompass hospitals, physician groups, and outpatient facilities, the offering brings inventory and medical support activities together in a consolidated service center and connects the center to points of care through dedicated transportation and final-mile delivery. This helps strengthen the flow of critical products across the network. 

Health systems face increasing pressures 

Hospitals and care providers are treating an older, more complex patient population across a wider range of settings. At the same time, drug and supply shortages and rising costs are adding complexity to the logistics supporting patient care. 

These challenges are compounded by inpatient volume increasing 5.3% and outpatient volume increasing 9.8% in 2025. During the same period, total hospital expenses grew 7.5%, including increases of 9.9% for supplies and 13.6% for drugs.¹  

“The supply chain is an essential part of patient care, yet many health systems manage inventory, preparation, and transportation across disconnected locations, networks, and providers,” said Jim Saponaro, President, Life Sciences and Healthcare, DHL Supply Chain North America. “That fragmentation can create blind spots that contribute to shortages, duplicate orders, less favorable purchasing decisions, and costly emergency purchases. DHL brings decades of experience managing complex pharmaceutical, medical technology, and clinical supply chains to help customers improve inventory visibility, reduce complexity, and create a more coordinated flow of critical products to points of care.” 

A central hub for inventory and support activities

At the heart of the solution is a customizable consolidated service center, a central operations hub designed for storing, preparing, managing, and distributing products throughout the care network. This gives leaders a clearer view of inventory, frees valuable space within hospitals and outpatient facilities, and helps strengthen supply chain resilience. 

DHL’s warehouse management system tracks inventory and product movement across the network. Its data and predictive analytics support inventory positioning, replenishment, and continuous improvement. This systemwide view helps leaders reduce product variation, standardize purchasing, and better leverage the scale of their networks. 

Health systems can also incorporate AI, robotics, and automation into their operations to improve speed, accuracy, and labor efficiency within the consolidated service center. 

“As hospitals and physician practices become part of larger healthcare networks, visibility across the supply chain becomes increasingly critical,” Saponaro said. “The ability to combine systemwide data with the right technologies gives them a stronger foundation for making decisions, capturing economies of scale and adapting operations as their networks evolve.”

Connecting supplies to points of care

Dedicated transportation and final-mile delivery extend the centralized operation across the care network. DHL fleets transport consolidated loads, bulk supplies, and large medical equipment to hospital receiving docks and other care locations, while DHL’s healthcare delivery service provides scheduled and urgent final-mile deliveries. 

Expanding DHL’s role across the healthcare supply chain 

The launch advances DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which identifies life sciences and healthcare as a strategic growth initiative supporting the Group’s goal of increasing revenue 50% by 2030. 

DHL Group has committed €2 billion through 2030 to expand its DHL Health Logistics capabilities globally, with 50% allocated to the Americas. 

DHL has also completed construction of its East Coast Center of Excellence, a one-million-square-foot life sciences and healthcare distribution center in Annville, Pa., and acquired CRYOPDP, a specialty courier serving clinical trials, biopharmaceuticals, and cell and gene therapies. 

“Health systems are an important next step as we expand the support we provide across the healthcare ecosystem,” Saponaro said. “This move brings our healthcare logistics expertise closer to the point of care, where reliable product availability directly supports clinicians and patients.”

What is DHL's new logistics solution for health systems?
The solution brings together inventory and medical support activities in a consolidated service center and connects that operation to hospitals, outpatient facilities, physician practices, and other sites of care through dedicated transportation and final-mile delivery.

Why is DHL introducing this solution now? 
Hospitals and physician practices are becoming part of larger healthcare networks, while patient volumes and supply and pharmaceutical costs continue to increase. The solution is designed to help healthcare providers improve supply chain visibility, streamline the flow of critical drugs, supplies, and equipment, and support care delivery across expanding networks. 

How does the offering help health systems?
The offering helps health systems improve inventory visibility, reduce supply chain complexity, strengthen product availability, and support the coordinated movement of critical drugs, supplies, and equipment across their networks. 

What role does technology play?
DHL's warehouse management system provides visibility into inventory and product movement across the network, while data and predictive analytics support inventory management, replenishment, and continuous improvement. Health systems can also incorporate AI, robotics, and automation to improve operational efficiency.

¹ Costs of Caring | AHA