High-precision logistics

Watchmaking & Luxury

In luxury watchmaking, each component—whether a 0.4 mm screw or a decorated barrel—can sometimes be worth more than an entire smartphone. Swiss watch exports exceeded CHF 24 billion in 2023, driven by the high-end segment (+8% per year). On top of that value come three imperatives: flawless “movement-case-bracelet” traceability to fight counterfeiting, reinforced physical security against theft of high-value cargo, and the ability to serve collection launches, global e-commerce and vintage after-sales service simultaneously.

General-purpose WMS solutions quickly reach their limits: serial numbers fragmented across multiple databases, time-consuming manual inventories, and a lack of granular management for high-security zones. Fox4Work^TM digitalizes everything: unit-level 2D/RFID scanning, a blockchain-ready digital vault, real-time KPIs, and boutique-to-workshop orchestration—ensuring a warehouse as precise as a COSC-certified caliber.

Your challenges

Key challenges in watchmaking logistics

Challenge #1

Traceability

The value of a watch relies on the authenticity of each component. Since 2021, several Swiss brands have anchored their serial numbers in the blockchain to guarantee origin. Without unit-level chaining of references, tracking down a disputed movement can take days and expose the brand to reputational risk.

Challenge #2

Traceability

Watch shipments are among the most targeted by cargo theft in Europe, with an average loss exceeding €100,000 per incident. Storage must therefore combine secured zones, real-time inventory and automated alerts to limit shrinkage.

Challenge #3

Variety & capsule launches

Between limited editions, anniversary series and one-off spare parts orders, the product portfolio reaches tens of thousands of low-volume SKUs. Without dynamic slotting or smart consolidation, picking costs soar and store launches are delayed.

Challenge #4

After-sales service

After-sales workshops must maintain parts manufactured 30 years ago: scarcity increases slow-moving stock and extends customer lead times. A WMS must locate the right escapement wheel in under a minute or trigger a micro-lot replenishment from the supplier.

Incomplete traceability, costly security, scattered picking and slow after-sales service: without a specialized WMS, these invisible factors erode margins and expose the brand to counterfeiting.

Our industry solution “Watchmaking”

Unit-level traceability, vault-grade security & control

Each 2D or RFID scan is timestamped, signed, and linked to the operator; over 50 KPIs (micro-part turnover, authenticated series rate, after-sales lead time) update every second and can be filtered by high-security zone or assembly line.

Rigorous traceability management

Fox4Work^TM WMS ensures accurate tracking of every component from receiving to assembly—critical in precision watchmaking. It records serial numbers, batches and quality data, providing full traceability for regulatory compliance. This strengthens customer trust and minimizes the risk of errors.

Storage and picking optimization

The WMS optimizes storage locations using intelligent algorithms, reducing search times and increasing efficiency. For picking, it utilizes methods such as 'goods-to-person,' bringing bins directly to operators, which boosts productivity. This optimization allows for the efficient management of small parts and high-value components.

Data and product security

Fox4Work™ WMS strengthens data security through strict access controls and regular audits. It provides full traceability of inventory movements, protecting high-value items. This approach meets the watchmaking industry’s stringent security requirements.

Integration and interoperability

Fox4Work^TM WMS integrates easily with other systems (ERP, production machines), enabling smooth data exchange. This interoperability improves end-to-end supply-chain visibility and streamlines workflows. The WMS’s flexibility allows it to adapt to each watchmaking company’s specific needs.

Fox4Work^TM elevates your logistics to the level of your standards: authentic, secure, fast and flawless—a true competitive advantage in a market where every second counts.

Our clients

Watchmaking sector

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Learn more

The 4 key challenges a WMS must address

Whether it is an e-commerce hub or an industrial platform, four challenges now dominate logistical performance: maintaining a reliable inventory to avoid stockouts and overstocking, accelerating order picking—which absorbs up to 70% of warehouse labor—smoothing out receiving and shipping to reduce truck dwell time (frequently exceeding two hours), and guaranteeing exhaustive traceability capable of reaching 99% accuracy through the barcode/RFID pairing.

A WMS like Fox4Work tackles these four areas head-on: real-time visibility for every SKU, dynamic slotting and batch picking to eliminate unnecessary travel, dock scheduling and directed put-away to relieve docks, and time-stamped audit logs with live KPIs to move from annual inventories to continuous control.

Discover how Fox4Work addresses each of these challenges—and why mastering them determines a warehouse’s profitability.

Fox4Work Expert Chat

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