Verein Netzwerk Logistik Switzerland - VNL Switzerland

What Verein Netzwerk Logistik Switzerland - VNL Switzerland does

VNL Switzerland (Verein Netzwerk Logistik Schweiz) is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 2008 and headquartered in Zürich at Technoparkstrasse 1. The organization operates as one of eight recognized National Thematic Networks (NTN) in Switzerland, serving as the country's primary innovation network for procurement, logistics, and Supply Chain Management. VNL connects 100+ member organizations across logistics service providers, intralogistics technology vendors, transportation operators (including SBB), manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and academic institutions. Its purpose is to facilitate knowledge transfer and joint innovation between business and research through a structured portfolio of programs including working groups, Special Interest Groups, the Logistics Innovation Lab, and a cross-innovation SaaS platform.

VNL's offerings span recurring flagship events (SCM Summit, Swiss Logistics Innovation Day, Inspiration Day, Health Care Logistics Conference, Freight Transport conferences), the biannual Logistics Innovation professional journal (CHF 50/year subscription or CHF 25 single-issue), working groups and SIGs addressing operational and strategic SCM challenges, the Logistics Innovation Lab collaborative innovation format, the Cross Innovation Network (CIN) SaaS platform for innovation management, and the KI im SCM (AI in SCM) community initiative. The underlying technology stack is modest: a trilingual (German/French/English) web portal built on a CMS framework with third-party email marketing via Cleverreach and cookie management via Cookiebot, plus the CIN platform which provides trend radar, portfolio management, and stage-gate pipeline tracking with AI-supported features hosted in Switzerland.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit model funded through three revenue streams: annual membership fees (providing access to events, research documentation, networking, and web presence), event participation fees for SCM Summit and other conferences, and magazine subscriptions. Additional revenue is generated through project-based partnerships such as the Interreg SWITCH program and the Swiss Supply MOVEMENT'32 initiative. The organization has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and is governed by a board led by President Prof. Dr. Herbert Ruile, with 15 employees and no publicly disclosed revenue.

Name

Verein Netzwerk Logistik Switzerland - VNL Switzerland

Legal name

Verein Netzwerk Logistik Schweiz

Website

https://vnl.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VNL Switzerland is a non-profit logistics and Supply Chain Management innovation association founded in 2008, headquartered in Zürich, connecting 100+ member organizations across industry and academia through events, working groups, publications, and innovation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to networking events, research documentation, discount on event participation, and company presentation on website
2. Event Fees: Revenue from organizing events including SCM Summit, Inspiration Day, Logistics Innovation Day, and various workshops and webinars
3. Magazine Subscriptions: Logistics Innovation magazine published twice yearly, available via annual subscription (CHF 50/year) or single issue sales (CHF 25)

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VNL Switzerland operates as a non-profit industry association serving as Switzerland's innovation network for procurement, logistics, and Supply Chain Management (SCM). It connects business, research, and educational institutions through member-based networking, events (SCM Summit, Inspiration Day, Swiss Logistics Innovation Day), the biannual Logistics Innovation magazine, interdisciplinary Working Groups and Special Interest Groups, the Logistics Innovation Lab (LIL), and a SaaS-based Cross Innovation Network (CIN) platform.

Product overview

VNL Switzerland (Verein Netzwerk Logistik Schweiz) operates as Switzerland's innovation network for procurement, logistics, and Supply Chain Management. Rather than a unified software product, the organization offers a portfolio of interconnected professional services including annual flagship conferences (SCM Summit, Swiss Logistics Innovation Day, Inspiration Day), the biannual Logistics Innovation Magazine, collaborative Working Groups and Special Interest Groups, the Logistics Innovation Lab for joint innovation projects, and a SaaS-based Cross Innovation Network (CIN) platform for innovation management. These services work together to connect industry and science, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting logistics innovation development in Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Logistics Innovation Lab (LIL): Collaborative innovation format combining structured innovation processes with a digital platform for innovation management and development in logistics and SCM.
• Logistics Innovation
• VNL SCM Summit
• Swiss Logistics Innovation Day

Products and services

• SCM Summit
• Logistics Innovation Magazine
• Inspiration Day
• Working Groups (Arbeitsgruppen)
• Swiss Logistics Innovation Day
• Logistics Innovation Lab (LIL)
• VNL Think Tank (VNL-Denkatelier)
• Special Interest Groups (SIG)
• VNL Newsletter
• Health Care Logistics Conference
• Specialized Conferences (Fachtagungen)
• Cross Innovation Network (CIN)
• VNL Membership Program

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Swiss Supply (Fördervereinigung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNL is a member of Swiss Supply and participates in MOVEMENT'32 initiative promoting national cargo circulation with focus on youth promotion, visibility, and knowledge exchange. Swiss Supply is a promotion association with 30 partner organizations and associations.
• HEG Arc (Haute école de gestion Arc)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with HEG Arc and IPG to launch 'SCM in times of COVID-19' survey as part of Special Interest Group (SIG) 'SC Risk Management'. Joint survey development to assess organizational readiness for supply chain disruptions.
• Interreg Projekt: SWITCHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNL Switzerland is a partner in the Interreg SWITCH project developing Optimodal - a digital platform for intermodal transport optimization. Partners include LIUC - Università Cattaneo, SUPSI, Region Piemont, Region Lombardei, SpedLogswiss, and Assologistica Italia.
• CSCMP Roundtable SwitzerlandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil of Supply Chain Management Professionals Swiss roundtable collaboration for supply chain professional development and networking.
• RailValleymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for promoting innovation in rail freight transport; VNL member organization supporting rail logistics development.
• Cargo sous terrain AGmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNL member organization developing underground cargo logistics infrastructure in Switzerland.
• EALTH (European Association for Logistics & Transport in Healthcare)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean association for logistics and transport in healthcare; VNL member supporting healthcare logistics innovation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GS1 Switzerland: Swiss non-profit standards organization for supply chain and logistics (barcodes, traceability, data exchange). Directly comparable to VNL as a membership-based Swiss logistics/SCM association serving similar enterprise member segments.
• Spedlogswiss: Swiss association of freight forwarders and logistics providers. Directly comparable as a Swiss logistics industry association; VNL is already an Interreg SWITCH project partner.
• Swiss Supply (Fördervereinigung): Swiss promotion association for supply chain and logistics. VNL is a member of Swiss Supply and participates in the MOVEMENT'32 initiative — directly comparable as a peer Swiss logistics/SCM association.

Broad incumbents

• CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals): Global SCM professional association providing education, networking, and research. VNL already partners with CSCMP Roundtable Switzerland; comparable as a broader incumbent in SCM professional community building.
• GS1 Global: Global supply chain standards organization. Comparable as the broader incumbent in supply chain community building, with VNL operating in an analogous but Swiss-focused scope.

Regional players

• Swissmem: Leading Swiss industry association representing the mechanical and electrical engineering industries. Comparable to VNL as a Swiss national industry association with member services, events, and policy engagement.
• ELA (European Logistics Association): Federation of European national logistics associations. Comparable as a peer-tier logistics association operating across European markets with member association partnerships.
• BVL (Bundesvereinigung Logistik): Germany's leading logistics association, organizing logistics congresses and member programs. Comparable to VNL as a regional DACH-based logistics association with similar event, publication, and working group formats.
• ASLOG (Association Française de la Logistique): French supply chain and logistics association providing networking, events, and certification. Comparable as a regional logistics association with similar SCM community-building activities.

Peers

• ECR Europe (Efficient Consumer Response): European collaborative platform bringing together retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers on supply chain efficiency. Comparable to VNL as a multi-stakeholder supply chain collaboration network operating working groups and events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verein-netzwerk-logistik-schweiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Verein Netzwerk Logistik Switzerland - VNL Switzerland