Strategic Analysis of a Courier Service for Swiss Libraries (BIBLOG)

The SLSP Courier circulates physical media between around 500 Swiss libraries. Digitalisation and declining transport volumes are creating new challenges for the system. This study examines the cost-efficiency, sustainability and acceptance of the current courier service and develops strategic options for its long-term future.

Key data

Description

Since 2020, Swiss Library Service Platform AG (SLSP) has operated the national discovery and service platform swisscovery together with around 500 partner libraries. The logistics of orders are handled by the SLSP Courier, complemented by local courier services operatedby individual libraries and the cooperative storage library in the canton of Lucerne.

With the ongoing digitalisation of scientific information, demand for physical media is expected to decline in the medium term. Under the existing network structure, this will reduce utilisation while increasing relative fixed costs. At the same time, expectations regarding service quality, delivery times and sustainability are evolving.

Against this background, the project analyses the existing courier and logistics system in terms of service structure, cost drivers, economic viability and sustainability, and develops robust options for its strategic further development. In four work packages, the project first records the current state and develops a quantitative impact model (WP1), designs and simulates alternative service models along the three strategic options of consolidation, reduction/discontinuation and further development (WP2), empirically assesses the acceptance and preferences of libraries through qualitative interviews and of end users through an online survey (WP3), and synthesises the results into validated, evidence-based recommendations (WP4).

Project goal

The project provides a sound basis for decisions on the strategic further development of the SLSP courier service. At its core is a final report comprising

a transparent baseline analysis of the entire courier and logistics system, including a quantitative impact model as a reference basis;
model-based simulations and comparative assessments of alternative scenarios along the three strategic options of consolidation, reduction/discontinuation and further development;
empirically grounded findings on expectations, preferences and acceptance among libraries and end users; and
validated strategic recommendations with phased implementation steps, investment requirements and risks, providing a basis for an economically viable, sustainable and broadly accepted design of the inter-library courier service.