How to Choose the Best Logistics Provider for Retail Stores in Switzerland

A logistics provider for a retail chain manages the receipt, inspection, storage (if necessary), order fulfillment,  and transportation of goods. can also handle proof of delivery, returns, t aussi gérer les preuves de livraison, les retours, les customs formalities, and data synchronization.

The search for a logistics provider to deliver to stores in Switzerland must be based on the retailer’s distribution model. Transportation costs alone are not enough to distinguish between candidates. A low-cost proposal can end up being expensive if it provides poor coverage for certain stores, incurs numerous surcharges, or struggles to handle exceptions.

The evaluation should focus on five interrelated areas:

• The distribution network and receiving schedules
• The logistics flow model, including direct delivery, warehousing, and cross-docking
• Handling of standard, sensitive, or regulated products
• IT visibility into inventory and deliveries
• Operational flexibility and the quality of management

Start by identifying the constraints that cause the most frequent costs or incidents within your retail chain. This list will provide a concrete basis for consultations and demonstrations.

In 2025, traveling 10 kilometers took an average of 31 minutes and 25 seconds in Geneva, compared to 26 minutes and 47 seconds in Zurich, according to TomTom statistics (see their traffic index). These differences show why delivery routes and time slots must be analyzed on a store-by-store basis.

Logistics specifications must describe each store and each region served. A national average often masks local challenges, such as restricted urban access, a shared loading dock, or limited receiving hours.

The mapping should also distinguish between recurring flows and one-time operations. This distinction helps the service provider determine the appropriate size of delivery routes, warehouse capacity, and order-fulfillment resources.

Data to gather before issuing a request for proposals

Create a fact sheet for each store, including its address, delivery frequency, typical volumes, and receiving formats. Include authorized hours, appointment scheduling procedures, loading dock access, available equipment, and handling constraints.

Describe separately the flows that follow different rules:

• Regular restocking
• Collection or product launches
• Transfers between stores
• Returns from stores and customers
• Urgent requests
• Deliveries related to a store opening or a sales promotion

Take into account seasonality, peak days, and foreseeable fluctuations. The candidate must understand when volumes change, which stores are affected by these fluctuations, and which operations require additional resources.

Finally, classify SKUs by turnover rate and handling constraints. High-turnover items may be eligible for rapid transit. A reserve intended to absorb fluctuations requires storage, while an order already assigned to a store can be shipped directly.

Constraints that truly influence the choice

The physical format of the goods influences the vehicles, dock equipment, and order-picking methods. For domestic shipments, goods can be shipped as packages, pallets, or containers. The specifications must detail the dimensions, weight, stackability, and handling requirements.

Certain categories require specific procedures. Temperature-controlled products require documented monitoring of storage conditions. Valuable goods require rules governing access, security, and the chain of custody.  Hazardous materials require transportation methods and documentation appropriate to their classification.

Provide all candidates with an identical set of materials to ensure comparable responses:

• A map of the relevant stores and border areas
• Historical volume data by type of shipment
• Site-specific receiving procedures
• A list of product SKUs and their constraints
• Traceability and reporting requirements
• A representative scenario of peak activity

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right service provider depends on volume, industry, sales channels, and geographic location. e-logik’s selection process recommends evaluating operational criteria such as performance, coverage, technology, flexibility, and contractual transparency [1].​

Use a standardized checklist during each interview. Request maps, procedures, reports, and demonstrations. A documented response allows you to verify the candidate’s actual capabilities.

National coverage and delivery windows

Request a route map and a sample route to the three stores that are most difficult to serve. The exercise must include departure points, any consolidation hubs, and the rules applied in cases of limited access.

For schedules, verify available delivery windows, the booking process, and notice periods. The candidate must also present a procedure for handling delays, the recipient’s absence, or refusal of dock access.

Service level agreements (SLAs) must define each performance metric. Ask for the data source, reporting frequency, the person responsible for monitoring performance, and the process followed when a commitment is not met.

Specialized capabilities and integrated services

A service provider capable of transporting a standard pallet does not necessarily have the appropriate resources for refrigerated, regulated, or high-value goods. Verify the vehicles, storage areas, material-handling equipment, and acceptance restrictions.

Also examine the sequence of services. Receiving, storage, labeling, order fulfillment, distribution, and returns must follow consistent rules. A breakdown between two parties can result in an unclear status or make it difficult to determine liability.

Ask for a complete example involving a product comparable to yours. The candidate must describe each step, the checks performed, and the planned course of action in the event of non-compliance.

Technology, flexibility, and operational responsibility

The IT demonstration must show inventory synchronization, not just a tracking screen. Specify the expected formats, including APIs, EDI exchanges, and connectors with the retailer’s ERP, CMS, or OMS.

To test flexibility, present a scenario involving a seasonal surge in demand. Ask what resources can be mobilized, following what process, and involving which contacts. Apply the same method to a wave of returns or a last-minute change in allocations.

Operational responsibility must be clearly outlined in the documentation. Compare SLAs, reports, incident procedures, escalation processes, and contractual terms. Then weigh the criteria according to your distribution model, without applying a one-size-fits-all approach to all retailers.

The flow model determines how merchandise moves from the receiving area to the store. Direct delivery is suitable for a shipment that has already been assigned. Warehousing maintains available inventory. Cross-docking facilitates rapid redistribution between incoming and outgoing flows.

How do you deliver to multiple stores from a single shipment? Follow this process:

1. Receiving
2. Inspection
3. Sorting or allocation by store
4. Picking
5. Delivery route or shipping
6. Proof of delivery
7. Processing any returns

Direct delivery for simple, scheduled shipments

Direct delivery applies to shipments that have already been prepared for a specific store. The merchandise is shipped from the origin to the point of sale without any intermediate storage or distribution operations.

This model is suitable for scheduled restocking, consistent volumes, and shipments with a known recipient. It minimizes handling, provided that labeling, documentation, and the delivery time are correct prior to departure.

Verify the procedure to follow if the store refuses the shipment. The contract must specify whether the merchandise is returned to the shipper, held at a distribution center, or rescheduled for delivery.

Temporary or controlled storage for inventory management

Storage becomes necessary when it is needed to maintain a reserve, consolidate multiple orders, or manage inventory levels. It also allows the arrival date of goods to be separated from their delivery date to stores.

The warehouse management system must distinguish between available, reserved, blocked, or on-hold inventory. Issuance rules must take into account business priorities and product-specific constraints.

Before adopting this model, evaluate the costs of receiving, storing, picking, and transferring goods. Also determine who decides on allocation when multiple stores request the same SKU.

Cross-docking to distribute an inbound shipment among multiple stores

Cross-docking transfers goods from inbound to outbound flows while minimizing intermediate storage. It is suitable when allocations, time slots, and data are prepared before arrival.

In the 7Days model, single-level cross-docking keeps units intact, and their destination is known before receipt. Break-bulk divides a pallet into units destined for multiple stores. Multi-level cross-docking adds value-added services before reshipment.

The potential benefits stem from faster redistribution, reduced inventory holding time, and fewer handling steps. STAR Logistique offers  cross-docking to streamline the flow of goods and reduce intermediate operations.

This model requires reliable data. Inadequate forecasts, incomplete allocation, non-compliant shipments, or inaccurate labeling can halt the sorting process. Incompatible time slots between warehouses can also necessitate unplanned storage.

Traceability links physical movements to system statuses. It must enable teams to understand where an item is located, which store it is assigned to, and what action remains to be taken.

What visibility is needed from the warehouse to proof of delivery? At a minimum, monitor available stock, reserved stock, order picking, shipping, store allocation, incidents, delivery, and returns.

Consistent data from the warehouse to the store

The WMS manages locations, movements, and statuses within the warehouse. The ERP consolidates the company’s management data. The CMS manages the content and catalog of a digital channel, while the OMS handles orders. An API enables the systems to exchange information according to defined rules.

STAR Logistique uses a WMS that ensures the traceability of inventory movements. During your consultation, ask how data from the WMS is transmitted to your own systems.

The synchronization frequency must be specified in the specifications. Each status must also have a common definition. A product marked as “shipped” may mean that it has been labeled, loaded, or already dispatched, depending on the system used.

Evidence to request during the demonstration

Request a demonstration using a product sold both in-store and online. The scenario should begin with receipt and end with a delivery or return, with status changes visible in each system.

Have them simulate an anomaly, such as a missing quantity or an incorrect allocation. Verify how the incident is displayed, who receives the alert, and who corrects the discrepancy.

Next, request an example of operational reporting. It should allow you to identify the source of a discrepancy, the person responsible for correcting it, and the expected timeframe. Include the data, exchange formats, responsibilities, and correction deadlines in the SLAs.

​ Shipments between Switzerland and other markets involve additional formalities that can hold up a shipment. Customs capacity must therefore be assessed during the selection process, along with transportation and warehousing services.

Sensitive goods and returns also require distinct processes. How they are handled affects costs, liabilities, and the availability of goods.

Plan for customs as soon as shipments cross a border

Define who prepares the documents, who pays duties and VAT, and who monitors transit. The contract must specify who is responsible for handling hold-ups, requests for information, and other customs exceptions.

The teams at STAR Logistique manage Swiss import and export operations, including customs declarations and tax representation. This support must be tailored according to the origin, destination, and role of each party.

STAR Logistique also assists with formalities related to permits, customs duties, and sanitary or phytosanitary standards. To compare candidates, provide them with a sample shipment and ask for a list of the information required prior to shipment.

Require procedures tailored to products and returns

For temperature-controlled products, monitor the measurement, recording, and handling of deviations. For  high-value goods, review access policies, packaging, storage security, and the chain of custody.  Hazardous materials require procedures tailored to their classification and mode of transport.

STAR Logistique operates secure warehouses on the right bank of Geneva, featuring large, modular temperature-controlled storage areas. A site visit allows you to verify that the facilities are suitable for your products.

Treat returns as a separate process. The process must separate warehouse returns from customer returns, then include quality control, restocking, repackaging, or destruction in accordance with the retailer’s policies.

Include a returns scenario and a customs incident scenario with every quote request. This will allow you to compare the total cost and the allocation of responsibilities.

A pilot project reduces risk before rolling out across the entire network. It should remain limited in scope while representing the situations that most significantly impact operations.

Select several store profiles, a scheduled delivery, an anomaly, and a return. If the shipment crosses a border, include an actual or simulated customs procedure.

Organize a representative pilot project

The project lead must verify the quality of preparation, adherence to the time slot, incident reporting, and data accuracy. Also observe the responsiveness of the dedicated teams and their ability to coordinate actions between the warehouse, transportation, and the store.

Prepare the acceptance criteria before the test begins. Evidence may take the form of a report, a status log, a signed document, or an incident report.

Compare total cost and service commitments

Total cost includes all operations necessary to make goods available to stores. Compare the same scenarios and units across each provider.

Total cost to compare

• Transportation
• Pickup at the loading dock
• Storage
• Picking
• Labeling
• Transfers
• Returns
• Non-conformities
• Administrative fees

Each quote must clearly specify the units billed, surcharges, volume commitments, and revision rules. It must also clarify financial liability in the event of delays, refusals, re-presentation, or documentation discrepancies.

Include SLAs, audit procedures, designated contacts, and the escalation process in the contract. Include conditions that apply when store volumes or scope change.

Select the candidate who demonstrates the best-documented alignment with the retailer’s priorities. The initial rate alone is not sufficient to assess the cost or risk of the entire system.

First, map out the network, volumes, and specific constraints for each store. Next, choose the appropriate logistics model, then verify schedules, specialized capabilities, and digital traceability.

Fact in customs and returns before comparing total costs. Finally, validate commitments through a representative pilot project and documented SLAs.

STAR Logistique provides domestic transportation services throughout Switzerland and neighboring border regions. Its capabilities can be evaluated using the same operational criteria applied to other candidates.​

Contact us.