DHL Launches Global Quantum Research Alliance for Next-Gen Logistics

In a significant move for the logistics industry, DHL, a division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, launched the Global Quantum Logistics Research Alliance (GQLRA) on January 12, 2023. The initiative is the first of its kind to coordinate quantum research specifically for commercial logistics, bringing together leading technology companies and research institutions.

This alliance underscores DHL’s commitment to digital innovation, aiming to turn quantum computing into a strategic enabler for global freight efficiency and resiliency. It is also a calculated response to the growing demand for smarter, greener, and more adaptive supply chains amid rising costs, labor shortages, and geopolitical disruptions.

GQLRA's founding members include:

• DHL Innovation Center (Germany)

• IBM Quantum (U.S.)

• D-Wave Systems (Canada)

• University of Cambridge Quantum Hub (UK)

• TU Munich Quantum Supply Chain Lab (Germany)

• National University of Singapore Quantum Centre (Asia-Pacific node)

The alliance aims to unify fragmented research efforts under a shared roadmap, focusing on applied logistics use cases rather than general-purpose computing.

“By collaborating across disciplines and geographies, we hope to bring quantum logistics from theory into enterprise-scale practice faster than any one organization could alone,” said Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer of DHL.

During the January announcement, DHL outlined three primary areas of focus for the alliance:

• Freight Route Optimization at Global Scale
  Quantum-enhanced algorithms will be used to optimize container routes for sea, air, and rail freight. The goal is to reduce fuel use and improve delivery reliability.

• Warehouse Robotics and Scheduling
  Alliance members will test how quantum algorithms can manage task assignment and path planning for warehouse automation systems, especially in high-throughput locations like Leipzig and Singapore.

• Disruption Recovery and Resilience Modeling
  DHL wants to simulate and respond to geopolitical shocks, pandemics, or port shutdowns using quantum-enhanced predictive models.

Each use case will be jointly developed in live DHL environments and simulated quantum hardware platforms, primarily via IBM’s Qiskit Runtime and D-Wave’s Advantage annealing system.

DHL has been exploring quantum technologies since 2019, piloting small-scale quantum annealing models with D-Wave for last-mile delivery routing in Berlin. In 2022, DHL also published a white paper on the "Quantum Supply Chain of the Future," sparking industry-wide discussions. Now, with the GQLRA initiative, DHL aims to transition from isolated experiments to a coordinated, multi-platform development effort.

In a joint research test completed in December 2022 but released with the alliance’s launch, DHL, D-Wave, and TU Munich simulated a quantum-enhanced delivery network for e-commerce fulfillment across Germany. The test showed:

• Up to 17% reduction in vehicle miles traveled

• 15% increase in on-time delivery probability

• 25% faster rerouting response to weather delays

While these are simulation results, they already hint at the power of quantum logistics at scale—particularly as delivery windows shrink and global networks grow more complex.

A central tenet of the GQLRA is to promote open research, interoperability, and benchmarking. DHL committed to publishing results, software modules, and findings through open-access journals and GitHub repositories. The alliance will also engage with ISO/IEC working groups on emerging quantum standards for logistics and participate in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) post-quantum cryptography task force.

DHL emphasized that the GQLRA isn’t just about optimization—it’s about sustainability. By improving the accuracy of freight movements and warehouse workflows, DHL hopes to reduce unnecessary travel, waste, and emissions. This aligns with its “Mission 2050” commitment to achieve zero logistics-related emissions by 2050. DHL’s internal estimate suggests that quantum-enabled logistics could account for up to 6% of total emission reductions in long-haul freight and warehousing operations over the next 10 years.

Despite the momentum, DHL acknowledged the obstacles:

• Hardware limitations: Current quantum systems still lack sufficient qubit fidelity and scalability for certain logistics tasks.

• Integration barriers: Logistics systems built on SAP and Oracle platforms will need specialized middleware to connect with quantum services.

• Talent shortages: There’s a global shortage of engineers trained in both quantum computing and supply chain logistics.

The alliance will help address these challenges through shared training programs and joint PhD fellowships at TU Munich, Cambridge, and NUS.

Global logistics has become a high-stakes balancing act—caught between speed, cost, emissions, and resilience. Traditional algorithms, while powerful, are beginning to reach their limits in real-time, multi-constraint planning. DHL believes that quantum computing, particularly when embedded into control towers and digital twin environments, can create breakthrough improvements across its operations in over 220 countries.

“Our goal is not to wait for perfect quantum computers. Our goal is to build advantage now by developing hybrid tools that outperform traditional systems in key areas today,” said Busch.

The GQLRA has set a 3-year roadmap:

• By Q2 2023: Release a public benchmarking dataset for quantum routing simulations

• By Q1 2024: Pilot hybrid warehouse task scheduling in Singapore and Leipzig

• By end of 2025: Deploy a quantum-enhanced freight control tower prototype integrated with DHL’s global network

DHL has also invited other logistics players—UPS, Maersk, DB Schenker, and even Amazon Logistics—to join as affiliate members, promoting industry-wide acceleration.