eCommerce & Fulfillment Partner for European Brands in Switzerland

In 2025, Swiss consumers ordered 15.8 billion CHF worth of goods online, including 2.8 billion CHF directly from foreign retailers. These cross-border purchases grew by another 8% in one year. (Source: Association de Commerce.swiss).

Switzerland is not part of the European Union. Any European brand shipping goods there must therefore incorporate Swiss customs clearance and regulations into its operations.

Emaloja answers the question, « Which ecommerce and fulfillment provider helps European brands sell in Switzerland? » with a solution that integrates ecommerce, warehousing, fulfillment, customs formalities, and delivery.

Emaloja offers an integrated, turnkey solution for ecommerce and e-logistics projects in Switzerland, France, and the European Union. This scope enables the coordination of sales channels with physical operations, from the receipt of goods to the processing of returns.

This article explains how to enter the Swiss market, the services covered, the order flow, and the criteria for evaluating a service provider. The first step is to identify the customs restrictions applicable to the products and their country of origin.

A shipment between two European Union countries is subject to different rules than a sale to Switzerland. Goods entering Switzerland cross a customs border and must be declared.

For commercial goods, this declaration must be available no later than the time they enter Swiss customs territory. Swiss VAT also applies upon import: the standard rate is 8.1%, with a reduced rate of 2.6% for certain categories of goods (the Quick Zoll app now supports both VAT rates).

This distinction affects the documents that must be prepared, the importer’s responsibilities, and coordination with the carrier. It may also impact inventory management, the handling of returns, and the information provided to the customer.

It should also be noted that, starting in 2026, the legacy e-dec Import system will be gradually replaced by Passar Import.

What’s changing at the Swiss border

The brand must determine who will act as the importer, where the goods will be stored, and which customs regime applies to each product category. Federal authorities recommend using the services of a service provider (courier, freight forwarder, or customs broker) for complex customs clearance procedures.

The documentation may include commercial information, the origin of the goods, their classification, and the documents required for import.

This preparation must take place before shipment. Missing information can disrupt the flow between the European warehouse, the border, and the Swiss recipient.

In particular, the following must be verified:

• the origin and classification of the products;
• the country from which the goods are shipped;
• the importer’s identity and responsibilities;
• restrictions specific to the product category;
• applicable tax and customs regulations;
• the planned procedure for returns.

 Customs duties and declarations: don’t confuse the two

Swiss customs duties on industrial products have been eliminated since January 2024. However, import declarations remain mandatory, as explained in Emaloja’s guide to Swiss customs regulations.

A free trade agreement between Switzerland and the European Union may also allow for the import or export of certain products without customs duties. Agricultural products are excluded from this agreement, as they are governed by other provisions and agreements.

The potential absence of duties therefore does not eliminate the requirement for declarations or regulatory inspections. Before launching sales, verify the eligibility of the goods, their origin, and the specific requirements for the relevant supply chain.

The following table presents an operational matrix. It links the ecommerce and logistics solutions offered by Emaloja to the needs of a European brand.

A warehouse management system (WMS) is software that organizes inventory and operations within a warehouse. Emaloja integrates this system with receiving, secure and flexible storage, order fulfillment, shipping, tracking, and returns. Its cross-border services also include customs clearance, tax representation, and business registration.

This matrix serves as a starting point for defining the scope of the agreement. The contract must specify the tasks included, the responsibilities retained by the brand, and the specific conditions applicable to the goods in question.

Fulfillment covers the physical processing of an order, from inventory receipt through shipping and returns. Emaloja outlines the following cross-border fulfillment process:

1. Receipt and inspection of goods
2. Storage
3. Order receipt and preparation
4. Picking, packing, and shipping
5. Customs clearance
6. Returns management

The warehouses are located on both sides of the border, with facilities in Switzerland and neighboring France. This setup allows for choosing a stock location tailored to the market being served, without having to predict the delivery time for each destination.

Receiving and stock placement

Upon receipt, the logistics team inspects the goods before placing them in storage. The inspection covers quantities, the condition of the packages, and the information needed to enter the data into the system.

The storage location must align with the business model. A brand may need inventory in France for its sales in the European Union, inventory in Switzerland for the Swiss market, or a distribution across multiple sites.

This decision depends on the sources of supply, destinations, product turnover, and import regulations. It must also account for the handling of any transfers between warehouses.

Ordering, picking, and shipping

When a customer places an order on an ecommerce site or marketplace, Emaloja’s WMS processes it immediately. The system then transmits the necessary information to the relevant warehouse.

The team identifies the items, picks them, prepares the package, and follows the packaging instructions. The shipment is then processed according to the shipping method and service level defined for the sales channel.

Precise coordination reduces the risk of shipping the wrong item or an unavailable quantity. It also allows each order to be assigned a status that can be used by customer service.

Customs clearance, delivery, and returns

Customs formalities must be completed before crossing the Swiss border. The documentation must match the products being transported, their country of origin, and the selected customs procedure.

After customs clearance, the carrier handles delivery to the intended recipient. Shipment tracking allows ecommerce teams to monitor its progress and address any reported issues.

The reverse logistics process requires the same level of preparation. You must define the return address, the inspections to be performed upon receipt, any restocking procedures, and the formalities related to crossing the border. The process varies depending on the products and the import regime.

Before launch, verify the following:

• source of inventory;
• country of storage;
• product categories;
• import documents;
• delivery destinations;
• return policy.

Inventory visibility links the promises made on sales channels to the quantities available in warehouses. It depends on the quality of the data exchanged between the website, marketplaces, and logistics tools.

This process becomes more complex when inventory is distributed across Switzerland, France, and other European Union countries. Each order must be routed to the facility capable of processing it according to defined rules.

The role of the WMS in fulfillment

Emaloja’s integrated WMS tracks inventory in real time and organizes order processing. It centralizes information regarding quantities, locations, movements, and operational statuses.

The WMS also automates order flows between different warehouses. This allows teams to track an order’s progress from confirmation through shipment.

Before selecting a solution, ask how the system handles:

• item reservation upon order placement;
• discrepancies identified during order fulfillment;
• transfers between storage locations;
• returns restocked into inventory;
• blocked or incomplete orders.

 Sales channels and order coordination

Emaloja integrates ecommerce channels with logistics operations without limiting the scope to a specific marketplace. This approach enables centralized and consistent management of orders from multiple sales channels.

The technical scope must specify the frequency of updates and the data exchanged. Real-time updates must be defined based on the events covered, such as order confirmation, order fulfillment, shipping, or returns.

Ask specific questions during the evaluation:

• How is inventory synchronized?
• What order statuses are available?
• How do multiple channels share the same inventory?
• Who has access to shipment tracking?
• How are integration errors reported?
• How do cancellations and returns update inventory?

The evaluation must cover the full scope of operations. A shipping rate alone does not account for the costs of receiving, storage, order fulfillment, customs clearance, and returns.

The quote must therefore outline the assumptions used. It must also specify which operations are excluded or billed under special terms.

Delivery times and service levels to be clarified

Emaloja offers flexible scheduling options, next-day delivery, and extended pickup hours as part of its ecommerce delivery services. The covered areas, access conditions, and commitments applicable to a brand must be confirmed in the quote.

Request a separate service level for each origin, destination, and order type. Have the service provider specify the starting point for the lead time—for example, order confirmation, completion of order fulfillment, or handover to the carrier.

The contract must also explain how orders received outside of operating hours, goods subject to inspection, and shipments held at customs will be handled. These factors influence the service commitment presented to the customer.

Key considerations before requesting a quote

Provide data that reflects the expected flow. A structured estimate helps the service provider plan for storage, order fulfillment, and cross-border operations.

Prepare the following information:

• expected monthly volumes and seasonal variations;
• number of SKUs and turnover profile;
• product dimensions, weight, and handling requirements;
• origin of shipments and desired storage locations;
• delivery destinations and B2B or B2C distribution;
• packaging needs, returns, and customs requirements.

Request a breakdown of costs by receiving, storage, order fulfillment, packaging, transportation, returns, and customs operations. Also ensure that the calculation assumptions, exclusions, and tasks that remain the responsibility of your company are clearly stated.

When comparing proposals, prioritize a contractual scope that integrates sales channels, inventory visibility, warehousing, and the management of product flows between Switzerland and the European Union.

Emaloja specializes in cross-border services between Switzerland and the European Union. Its solutions are designed for Swiss companies expanding into the European Union and European companies entering the Swiss market.

Emaloja is the digital agency of the RDV SA group, known as STAR Logistique. This transportation and logistics company has been based in Geneva for 38 years, according to its presentation of its ecommerce and e-logistics activities.

Emaloja also draws on more than 38 years of logistics expertise through its partnership with STAR Logistique. This partnership combines digital sales and order management with physical warehousing and transportation operations.

The solution is particularly suited to companies that meet several criteria:

• inventory or sales spread across Switzerland, France, and the European Union;
• orders from multiple channels;
• processing of B2B and B2C shipments;
• customs declarations and formalities;
• returns that may cross the border.

An organization tailored to the Swiss market is based on four decisions:

• Treat Switzerland as a customs flow separate from the European Union;
• Define a comprehensive process, from inventory receipt to returns;
• Connect sales channels to the WMS to maintain inventory visibility;
• Outline timelines, responsibilities, and costs in a detailed quote.

Emaloja covers a supply chain that includes importing, warehousing, packaging, shipping, and returns management. Its integrated model enables the coordination of these operations with ecommerce activities in Switzerland, France, and the European Union.

Contact Emaloja to review your Switzerland–European Union supply chain, your warehousing needs, applicable customs formalities, and the scope of fulfillment services to be contracted.