Why retail and wholesale workflows are becoming fragmented
A Capgemini study found that only 28% of retailers believe their logistics are agile enough to meet their business needs.
When imports, warehousing, and delivery are managed by separate parties, visibility is lost between the links in the chain. Stockouts occur without warning, replenishment times lengthen, and handling costs increase with each transfer between sites.
Using multiple service providers also leads to more contracts, more points of contact, and more gray areas of responsibility. Only 13% of the companies surveyed have complete visibility into their supply networks, and 54% report knowing more than 50% of their suppliers, according to a study by Qima.
An integrated supply chain coordinates, through a single operational framework, all flows from the supplier or point of import to the point of sale, the B2B customer, the production site, or returns.
The principle is to move goods and information within a single framework, rather than piecing together isolated services.
Integrated planning aims to synchronize demand, inventory, procurement, and distribution capacity across the various channels, as described by McKinsey in its analysis of the omnichannel distribution network [1].
The analysis of a transformation begins with a detailed mapping of current flows of pallets, packages, and units, followed by the identification of necessary capacities and key performance indicators—an approach that BCG considers the foundation of its end-to-end methodology [2].
Before selecting a service provider, map out the handoffs between the supplier, customs, receiving, warehousing, order fulfillment, and delivery. This map reveals where information is lost and where hidden costs lie.
An integrated supply chain from import to delivery
The complete journey of a shipment follows a sequence of links. Each link corresponds to a specific service, a type of customer, shipping formats, information to be transmitted, and an expected operational outcome:
- European supplier or importer — service: international transportation; customer: importer, wholesaler, or distributor; formats: full pallet or consolidated shipment; information to be transmitted: supplier of origin, Incoterm (if applicable), nature of products, and volumes; outcome: organized shipment of goods from Europe
- Import and Customs Brokerage — Service: Franco-Swiss customs broker; Client: Importer subject to customs formalities; Formats: Cleared pallets and packages; Information to be provided: Customs status, value, and accompanying documents; Result: Goods cleared for entry into Switzerland
- Receiving and Quality Control — Service: warehouse receiving; Client: client seeking reliable inventory; Formats: pallet, package, and unit; Information to be provided: product codes, inspection tolerances, and handling restrictions; Result: inventory recorded in a controlled system
- Storage and Inventory Control — Service: warehousing with WMS; Client: inventory owner; formats: pallet and unit by bin; information to be provided: number of SKUs, turnover, and temperature requirements; result: traceability of inventory movements
- Cross-docking or order fulfillment — service: cross-docking, and picking; customer: sales network or B2B customer; formats: broken-down pallets, packages, and prepared units; information to be provided: destinations, order lines, and time slots; result: orders prepared by destination
- Planned restocking of stores or branches — service: national distribution; client: network of stores or branches; formats: pallets and packages per point of sale; information to be provided: restocking frequency, receiving constraints, and volumes per route; result: regular routes to points of sale; Spare parts or urgent deliveries — service: high-priority transport; client: destination site or workshop; formats: packages and individual units; information to be provided: urgency level, destination sites, and receiving times; result: shipment aligned with demand
- Returns and reporting — service: e-logistics and management; client: reverse logistics sender; formats: returned packages and individual units; information to be provided: expected return volumes and processing procedures; result: tracked reverse logistics flow and associated reporting
STAR Logistique is a Franco-Swiss freight forwarder and customs broker based in Geneva. This position enables us to handle customs coordination and transportation through a single system.
Supplier or European imports and customs coordination
The shipment originates from a supplier in France or Europe and arrives in Switzerland. Services include customs clearance, warehousing, packaging, labeling, repackaging, palletizing, and cross-docking. The client is the importer, wholesaler, or distributor receiving goods from the European Union.
Shipping formats range from full pallets to consolidated shipments.
Information to be provided: supplier of origin, Incoterm (if applicable), product type, and expected volumes. The result is a shipment that has cleared customs in Switzerland and is ready for receipt.
Receiving, quality control, and putaway
Upon arrival, the goods are received and inspected before being placed in inventory. The quality control team verifies quantities, the condition of the packages, and the accuracy of the product codes. The client in question is the ordering party, who wants reliable inventory from the moment it arrives.
Information to be provided: product SKUs, inspection tolerances, and handling restrictions. The expected result is inventory recorded in a controlled system, with the goal of minimizing discrepancies between physical and digital inventory.
Storage, inventory visibility, and order fulfillment
Inventory is stored in the warehouse and tracked in real time. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) ensures complete traceability of inventory movements; the software records every receipt, shipment, and unit transfer.
In an omnichannel environment, this visibility makes it possible to select the most appropriate fulfillment location for each order—a central principle of the distribution model described by McKinsey [3].
Fulfillment formats range from unit-level picking to palletized orders.
Data to be provided: number of SKUs, turnover, and destinations. The result is traceable fulfillment, with real-time visibility into available inventory via the WMS.
Cross-docking, replenishment, and urgent deliveries
Cross-docking involves moving goods through the system without them remaining in inventory for any significant period of time. It enables effective inventory control and can support scenarios involving minimal or zero inventory. This method is suitable for the planned restocking of stores and branches, as well as for urgent deliveries of spare parts.
The target customer is a retail network or production site that receives regular shipments. Shipment formats range from broken-down pallets to packages sorted by destination.
Information to provide: restocking frequency, preferred receiving time slots, and urgency level. The result is a delivery synchronized with downstream demand.
Returns and operations management
E-logistics services cover returns management—the reverse flow from the customer or store back to the warehouse. Reporting tracks the entire process to monitor movements and anomalies.
Formats range from individual packages to returned units.
Information to provide: expected return volumes and preferred processing methods. The result is a tracked reverse flow, integrated into the same system as outbound flows.
Before you begin, gather the following information:
- Supplier of origin
- Incoterms (if applicable)
- Nature of the products
- Temperature requirements
- Dangerous goods status
- Volumes
- Product codes
- Destinations
- Preferred time slots
- Delivery frequency
Use cases to evaluate based on your supply chain
Each supply chain has its own constraints. The sections below describe the operations covered, the data to be provided, and the key questions to ask.
Warehousing services are particularly suited to the luxury goods, pharmaceutical, and high-tech sectors —three industries that impose strict handling requirements.
Deliveries to stores and subsidiaries in Switzerland — logistics service provider specializing in supplying stores in Switzerland
The flow goes from the warehouse to a network of stores or branches. STAR Logistique provides next-day deliveries in Switzerland. Operations covered include point-of-sale preparation, cross-docking, and distribution routes.
Data to be provided: restocking frequency, receiving constraints, destinations, and volumes per route.
Key metric: the on-time delivery and compliance of each store delivery.
Qualifying question: How many retail locations do you deliver to, and how often?
Spare parts and urgent deliveries — logistics service providers for spare parts in Switzerland
The supply chain involves critical parts whose availability determines whether a repair or return to service can be completed. Operations include dedicated warehousing, rapid order fulfillment, and delivery to the destination site. For a logistics provider specializing in spare parts distribution in Switzerland, defining the level of criticality is the starting point.
Data to be provided: criticality of SKUs, stock availability, destination sites, receiving hours, and delivery options to be evaluated.
Checkpoint: Actual stock availability at the time of the request.
Qualification question: Which SKUs are critical, and what is the acceptable lead time for each?
Supplying production sites — logistics partner for supplying production sites in Switzerland
The supply stream provides a production line with components or materials. A buffer stock, incoming inspection, cross-docking, and scheduled delivery support the production pace. The logistics partner responsible for supplying production sites in Switzerland must align with the production rhythm.
Data to be provided: production rates, critical SKUs, and receiving constraints.
Checkpoint: ensuring that deliveries align with the production plan.
Qualification question: What is your consumption rate per critical SKU?
France–Switzerland and Europe–Switzerland imports — which France–Switzerland logistics company should you choose?
This logistics flow covers the entry of goods from France or Europe into Switzerland. STAR Logistique specializes in international transport between Switzerland and France. Services include import transportation, customs formalities, VAT management, import-export assistance, and trade facilitation.
Information to provide: origin, Incoterm, nature of the goods, and customs status.
Key considerations: customs compliance and VAT handling.
Question de qualification : quels sont vos volumes d'import et depuis quels pays ?
Combined warehousing and international transportation — Swiss logistics provider specializing in both warehousing and international transportation
The process combines storage and cross-border transportation within a single system. STAR Logistique offers warehouses for both short- and long-term storage as well as cross-docking. Warehousing services include space optimization, quality control, order picking, and precise inventory tracking
Information to be provided: expected storage duration, volumes, international destinations, and anticipated IT integrations.
Checkpoint: consistency between inventory on hand and shipped shipments.
Qualifying question: Does your inventory remain in stock for the long term, or is it quickly shipped internationally?
Let’s use a hypothetical scenario to illustrate. A wholesaler receives pallets from several European suppliers. Upon arrival, each pallet is cleared through customs, received, and inspected. The products are entered into inventory with WMS traceability.
The wholesaler then prepares orders by store, restocks its Swiss network, and processes returns using the same system. No specific volumes or timelines are mentioned here; the example serves to illustrate the sequence of steps.
How to select an integrated logistics provider in Switzerland
Comparing providers requires a clear decision-making framework. The goal is to evaluate equivalent scopes without being swayed by promises that lack concrete figures. Integrated supply chain projects require an initial set of KPIs to assess progress and operational trade-offs [4].
Location, access, and coverage of logistics flows
Evaluate the warehouse’s location, coverage of destinations, and transportation access. A well-located warehouse reduces mileage and delivery times to your delivery points.
For a warehousing provider near Geneva specializing in B2B storage and distribution, proximity to major transportation routes and customs is just as important as available floor space.
Verify whether the service provider covers both domestic Swiss and international operations, and whether its locations align with your actual delivery zones.
Inventory, order, and returns management
Evaluate the provider’s capabilities for receiving, storage, pallet and unit handling, order fulfillment, and returns processing. Request confirmation of several key metrics:
- inventory accuracy
- receiving time
- order fulfillment time
- delivery punctuality
- error rate
- returns processing time
- data availability
Have the service provider confirm these metrics themselves, without assuming any benchmark values. Inventory visibility via a WMS is a key criterion, as it determines the reliability of all others.
Compliance, temperature, security, and regulated goods
Evaluate customs coordination, the cold chain, dangerous goods management, and security. STAR Logistique provides cold-chain logistics for temperature-sensitive products and operatessecure warehouses with 24/7 surveillance and access control.
Verify that the service provider can document its storage and handling conditions for regulated products. Ask how temperature is measured and recorded throughout the entire journey.
Total cost of service and information required for a proposal
The total cost of service includes all items involved in transporting goods from the loading dock to the customer. Request a breakdown by item to compare equivalent scopes of service:
- receiving
- storage
- picking
- packaging
- delivery
- returns
- customs
- value-added services
An integrated operation reduces costs by eliminating transfers between sites and consolidating pricing, as highlighted in an industry analysis on LinkedIn [5]
To obtain a proposal, prepare the following information: inbound and outbound volumes, pallets, packages, or units; number of SKUs; dimensions and weights; turnover; destinations; frequency; seasonality; temperature; hazardous materials; security requirements; customs formalities; expected IT integrations; and delivery constraints.
Before getting started, clearly define the scope, responsibilities, data to be exchanged, exceptions, points of contact, reporting procedures, and approved metrics.
To ensure a realistic analysis, provide a representative month’s worth of order and transaction data, including your seasonal peaks.
FAQ
Yes. A 3PL provider—that is, a third party that handles logistics on your behalf—can coordinate these operations within a single system. However, make sure these services are managed through a single WMS, as shared traceability prevents information gaps between the different stages of the process.
Choose a provider that combines the status of a customs broker with warehousing and distribution capabilities in Switzerland. Verify that they handle import VAT and import-export support under the same contract. Provide details on the country of origin, the Incoterm, and the nature of the products to help tailor the proposal.
Provide the inbound and outbound volumes, the number of SKUs, dimensions and weights, turnover, destinations, frequency, and seasonality. Include temperature requirements, dangerous goods status, and expected IT integrations. A month’s worth of actual data makes the analysis more reliable than an estimate.
Identify the temperature range required for each product and the tolerable exposure time at each stage. For hazardous materials, specify the classification and handling requirements. Then ask the service provider how they measure, record, and document these conditions.
Request full traceability of movements via a WMS, with real-time visibility into available inventory. Verify access to the data and its exchange format with your own system. The reliability of this visibility determines the timeliness and accuracy of the entire rest of the supply chain.
Can’t find the right solution for your supply chain? Contact us.
In Summary
Decision criteria for an integrated retail and wholesale supply chain:
- continuity of the flow between import, warehouse, and delivery
- inventory visibility via a WMS
- warehousing near Geneva
- cross-docking for just-in-time operations
- Swiss distribution and next-day delivery
- French-Swiss customs coordination
- temperature control for sensitive products
- warehouse security and access control
- returns management within the same system
STAR Logistique is a based in Geneva. Its warehouses on the right bank of Geneva offer modular, temperature-controlled zones.
Tell us about your logistics flow
Before contacting us, please have the following information ready: your volumes, product codes, destinations, delivery frequency, temperature requirements, the status of any dangerous goods, and your customs requirements. This information allows us to conduct a detailed analysis of your logistics flow
Our dedicated teams are available to analyze your logistics flow.
Integrated Supply Chain Solutions for Retail and Wholesale