(Sub-)Supplier Collaboration Navigator

Global supply chains are characterized by ongoing uncertainties – from geopolitical tensions and environmental disasters to regulatory requirements. These challenges often manifest themselves in the early stages of the supply chain, but usually remain unaddressed there.

This is where the “(Sub-)Supplier Collaboration Navigator” comes in, offering Swiss companies a strategic lever to achieve greater transparency, resilience, sustainability, or innovation in their multi-level supply networks through targeted collaboration with suppliers and upstream suppliers – depending on their objectives.

At the heart of the project is a paradigm shift: away from isolated individual measures toward a coordinated, data-based approach to partnership-based collaboration across different supply stages. The Navigator serves as a configurable tool for selecting, designing, and implementing suitable forms of collaboration – not only with direct suppliers, but also with upstream suppliers.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with corporate partners from Swiss industry. These partners have more than 20,000 active suppliers in Switzerland. The Navigator thus directly strengthens the competitiveness of the Swiss economic area – in particular that of SMEs in the supply chains of the implementation partners.

To ensure broad impact, the “(Sub-)Supplier Collaboration Navigator” is being implemented in two forms: as a web-based open-source platform for independent use by companies and as part of Excel add-in solutions from project partner Log-hub for linking to other supply chain analyses. Dissemination will take place via procure.ch, industry events, and university programs, thereby strengthening the multiplier effect.

These scalable, low-threshold approaches will make a concrete contribution to the resilience and sustainability of the Swiss economy – with long-term potential for international adaptation.