Logistics Cost Transparency at Danone

Challenge

Danone's logistics operations spanned multiple 3PL providers (DB Schenker, GEFCO, Kuehne + Nagel, XPO Logistics, others) across European routes. Each provider had its own cost structure, invoice format, and reporting cadence. Logistics cost analysis required manual consolidation across providers — making it difficult to compare carriers, identify cost drivers, or negotiate from data.

Approach

We integrated Danone's ERP data with logistics provider datasets to build a unified logistics cost model. The platform consolidates inbound, storage, handling, picking, co-packing, and outbound costs across all 3PL providers into a single harmonized view.

Geographic analysis maps carrier performance across European drops, regions, and partner-level breakdowns. Custom KPIs track cost-per-ton by category, year-over-year trends, and provider benchmarks. The system enables Danone to slice costs across multiple dimensions and identify root causes of cost fluctuations.

Outcomes

• Unified cost view across multiple 3PL providers, harmonized into one reporting layer
• Geographic and partner-level cost analysis enabling provider benchmarking
• Year-over-year tracking of logistics expenses with breakdown by costing class
• Custom KPIs (cost-per-ton, average cost per category) for ongoing monitoring
• Foundation for data-driven 3PL contract negotiation

Technology