Case Study - Switzerland

"Niche Service in the Swiss Market"



Benefits to the Company

Profit:

The express service to and from Switzerland is now responsible for 40% of the sales turnover of the company. The gross profit achieved in 2005 was £180k and the net profit £45k.

Niche Brand:

Very few forwarders offer a genuine daily service 6 days a week to and from Switzerland. This fact has become well known in the market place and about 30% of the carryings on the service originate from other freight forwarders.

Palletways:

The service is generating approximately 500 pallets per annum input to the Palletways network. This contributes to the financial benefits obtained by the company which are based on the volume input to the Palletways network.

Job Satisfaction:

The bi-annual staff appraisal reports conducted by the company indicate the highest level of job satisfaction for any company by those involved in the Swiss service.

Conclusion:

The first shuttle trucks in each direction were operated on Monday 23rd February 2004 and every working day since. Thus the implementation of the project was completed slightly ahead of schedule. The success and profitability of the service has fully vindicated the foresight of the board to introduce a niche service and the efficiency of the operation is a tribute to the forwarding skills of the IFL team both throughout the planning and on-going organisation and development of the service.

A logistics vision turned into reality six days a week every week.