QoQa and KNAPP Celebrate Startup of New DC in Switzerland

On March 10, the new logistics center for Swiss e-commerce company QoQa successfully came on stream in Eclépens. The go-live is an important milestone in QoQa and KNAPP’s collaboration, as the custom automation solution paves the way for QoQa to continue expanding on the Swiss market and in the German-speaking world.

QoQa awarded KNAPP the contract in summer 2024, taking a proactive, strategic step toward a fully automated, efficient and flexible warehouse solution that will improve QoQa’s internal processes and the service they offer to their “Qommunity”.

Flexibility meets efficiency - now live

QoQa is one of Switzerland’s leading online retailers. Every day, they offer their over one million members new deals on different products – from beverages and sporting goods to cosmetics, electronics and furniture. The new logistics system is designed to reliably handle the vastly differing requirements. Each day’s wide variety of items includes everything from products that have been in storage for a while to goods that are cross-docked – and fulfilling all these orders requires tremendous flexibility and precision. Also important for QoQa is kitting, where different products are grouped to form a single unit to speed up processes leading up to shipping. This form of order fulfillment requires careful planning, different types of picking logic and dynamic stock management so that the right items can be assembled efficiently and in the right quantity.

A wide range of cutting-edge technologies rounds out the system. High-bay racking, stacker cranes, a powerful container and pallet conveyor system, Pick-to-Light work stations and flow racks for fast-moving items make processes seamless from goods-in to shipping.

Designed for growth

The targets KNAPP defined together with QoQa went into the design of the new system which is now well-equipped for future growth. The distribution center operates 250 days a year – five days a week, twelve hours a day, spread out across two shifts. Every day, the system receives around 130 pallets and ships around 21,700 individual items in 7,500 shipping units. With growth in its DNA, the new logistics center features fully automatic pallet storage, automatic transport of shipping units and direct picking and auto-packing processes, delivering a level of performance that takes a future increase in volumes of around 30 percent into account. The sophisticated layout also significantly raises QoQa’s storage capacity to a total of 371,901 items.

The level of scalability and performance behind the new distribution center creates the ideal conditions for QoQa to handle seasonal peaks and a continuously growing range of products with ease. “Throughout this project, KNAPP exceeded its role as a technology supplier, emerging as a first-rate strategic partner. They grasped the core of our business from day one, enabling them to design an end-to-end logistics solution. Today, this solution delivers vital support in driving speed, operational efficiency, and the ultimate satisfaction of our Qommunity,” says Baptiste Lopez, Project Lead Logistics at QoQa.

KiSoft WMS at the helm

The warehouse management system KiSoft WMS plays a key role in the overall system. It controls all stocks, storage locations and orders and, together with the warehouse control system (WCS), directs all material flows precisely. The result is a scalable, end-to-end solution that provides QoQa’s operations with maximum transparency and reliability – a decisive factor in a business environment that relies on speed, flawless service and closeness to customers. Michael Grüneis, Sales Manager at KNAPP, sums it up: “QoQa is a great example of just how dynamic and innovative e‑commerce can be. What was fundamental to this project’s success was understanding how QoQa works and building on that knowledge to develop a totally interconnected solution where mechanical components, software and operational processes mesh perfectly.” The successful go-live is a clear milestone in QoQa’s journey toward the future of their business model, borne by a solution that excels today and can keep growing tomorrow.

About KNAPP

KNAPP is the technology partner for intelligent value chains. Headquartered in Austria, the KNAPP group provides all-in-one solutions for automation and digitalization, from production and distribution to the point of sale. Excellent service and long-term collaboration make KNAPP the strong partner behind the success of their customers in the healthcare, retail, food retail, fashion, wholesale and industry sectors.