Swiss Post confirmed this week it had signed a contract with e-commerce giant Amazon, months after rumours first emerged. The contract simplifies the transfer of merchandise across the Swiss border and allows the American company to bill customers the exact customs clearance fees. 

The head of the Swiss Post distribution centre in Daillens, canton Vaud, told Swiss public radio, RTS, that the contract offered no preferential treatment to Amazon, with terms and conditions similar to those for other online businesses such as Germany’s Zalando. 

Jean-Gabriel Meylan added that the centre was testing its data transfer systems for quality assurance together with Amazon. He expected the contract with the world’s largest online retailer to be operational this spring.   

In 2017, Amazon posted sales figures of around CHF600 million ($630 million) in Switzerland. Estimates are that the contract with Swiss Post will allow the retailer to quadruple its profits within three years. 

The contract will also have an impact on Swiss Post, which handles an average of 550,000 packages daily and plans to open three more distribution centres at a total cost of CHF150 million.

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