‘Winning As One’: a philosophy for modern business success

In a world where agility, integration, and trust are more vital than ever, DSV’s philosophy of ‘Winning As One’ stands out as a blueprint for how global logistics can drive both business performance and meaningful relationships. In conversation with Jesper Hansen, Senior Vice President for Road at DSV, and Rebekah Kemp, Senior Director Road at DSV UK, it’s clear that this unified approach isn’t just a slogan – it’s a practical, lived strategy that’s helping DSV scale new heights, adapt to sweeping change, and serve customers with effectiveness.

DSV is a global force in logistics, offering road, air, and sea freight, as well as contract logistics, to a vast array of clients. In the UK, DSV is among the top three leaders for international road movements, with a strong and growing domestic presence.

Specialisation, collaboration, and customer focus

DSV’s success is closely linked to both its vertical specialisation and its collaborative ethos. The company has shifted from a broad approach to developing deep expertise in core sectors –industrial, healthcare, automotive, technology, and consumer goods. Rebekah highlights this: “We need to be experts within our customers’ industries to be able to deliver true value.”

Crucially, this expertise is powered by the ‘Winning As One’ philosophy: “We call it ‘Winning As One’ when we talk about true collaboration. Obviously in a big corporate organisation, it is easy to fall into the trap of working a little bit in silos. But it’s when we execute the full potential of the horsepower in this company, across our divisions and central functions of the company and through integration, we are showing our customers the true power. That’s where I really think the collaboration is creating value – not only for us but also for the customer,” says Jesper.

“To me, true collaboration means viewing our customers as genuine partners. It’s about working closely with them to truly understand the challenges and developments within their industry – so we can evolve together. That’s how trust is built: through shared journeys, continuous improvement, and a commitment to never stand still. We’re always asking, ‘Where are we today, and how can we do better tomorrow?’”  Rebekah continues, “The most powerful examples of collaboration I’ve seen – both with customers and internally – have come during our biggest challenges, like COVID and Brexit. Watching our teams come together across divisions and borders was a real testament to what effective collaboration looks like.”

The power of network and integration

The acquisition of Schenker earlier this year marks a transformative moment for DSV. “If you put all the previous acquisitions together, this one is still larger,” Jesper points out. “Combining Schenker and DSV, we basically become a world leading transport and logistics company. That will obviously give us fantastic opportunities to improve and enhance our service and product offerings to our customers.”

This integration brings together complementary strengths, expands service offerings, and drives efficiency. “It gives us the full service offering across every corner of Europe, with the fastest and most reliable Groupage network in the industry,” says Rebekah.

Operational quality and a culture of celebration

Delivering for customers is at the core of DSV’s daily operations. Rebekah states, “Operational success is when we deliver an efficient, transparent, and sustainable service to our customers – our customers are at the heart of everything we do.”

This culture extends beyond performance metrics. “We have a very competitive culture, but we again celebrate when we do well,” Rebekah says.

What makes DSV different? Agility, technology, and human touch

DSV isn’t just big – it’s agile. The company’s flat structure enables quick decision-making and strong customer access at every level. “Even though we are a big corporate global machine, the whole DSV DNA is very down to earth. It’s quick decision-making. It’s not particularly bureaucratic,” says Jesper.

Rebekah reinforces this practical value: “We’re a big organisation with all three areas – contract logistics, air and sea, road – so it’s a one-stop shop. But the way that we work and collaborate, we deliver it seamlessly. So, we’re not in silos. And we’re growing all the time.”

Innovation is central. DSV is leading in digitalisation and automation – using AI for customs clearance to make the experience of DSV as smooth and efficient as possible. “Most of the processing of the customs clearance is done by AI, making us super-efficient. Whilst there was initial scepticism from our customs operators, they quickly realised the potential of AI and we are now in an even better position than where we were before. Sometimes we all need a little push in the back,” Jesper shares.

Sustainability is another area defining the future of the industry. DSV are investing in greener fuels via an internal sustainability fund. “DSV has established an internal sustainability fund – when we want to take sustainability initiatives here on the UK market, we can have financial support from this fund. Making the green transformation comes with some relatively large investments and often with operational running costs higher than the conventional way.  The internal sustainability fund is a strong demonstration of DSV’s commitment to a greener and more sustainable logistics,” Jesper explains.

DSV’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond fuel choices and fleet innovation, offering customers practical solutions to actively reduce and compensate for their carbon footprint. Through their partnership with Gold Standard, an industry leader in carbon offsetting, DSV enables clients to offset logistics emissions by investing in impactful projects – such as CO₂ extraction, tree planting, and renewable energy initiatives. The process is transparent and straightforward: DSV helps identify a client’s carbon footprint, arranges the purchase and retirement of carbon credits, and provides certification of the offsets. By supporting accredited projects and offering robust CO₂ reporting, sustainable warehousing, and biofuel options, DSV empowers businesses to work steadily toward their decarbonisation targets while maintaining operational ease.

‘Winning As One’: lessons for leadership and change

The ‘Winning As One’ philosophy is about more than logistics - it’s about harnessing unity and collaboration to navigate complexity and deliver value. For leaders in any sector, DSV’s approach offers a compelling lesson: build deep expertise, foster a culture of recognition and improvement, leverage technology and sustainability, and above all, unite your people behind a shared vision. In a changing world with plenty of complexities, ‘Winning as one’ might just be the edge that turns challenge into opportunity.