Opening multiple retail stores across Europe is a complex undertaking. Tight timelines, diverse supplier networks, varying regulations and cross-border construction teams all add pressure to execution. Even minor inefficiencies in logistics or site coordination can quickly lead to unnecessary costs and project delays.
At Caliber.global, we help companies bring control and structure to this complexity. During a recent project involving the rollout of eight new retail stores across Europe, we worked with a global retail brand from the very beginning of the planning phase. The goal was clear: deliver all stores on time, in full, and at the lowest possible total cost. Early in the process, the client had gathered supplier and contractor quotes to scope the expected logistics and installation expenses. By evaluating these initial proposals together, we identified significant savings potential through consolidation and central planning.
This proactive strategy led to a 22% decrease in transportation expenses and a 21% decrease in installation expenses by the time the stores were launched.
These results were made possible by aligning all stakeholders in one supply chain collaboration platform, applying smarter planning, and executing with a unified delivery model. Here's how we did it, and how this model can benefit your next multi-site rollout.
The challenge: High costs from fragmented execution
At the start of the planning process, the client followed a common route: reaching out to individual suppliers and local contractors to build a rollout plan. Based on these quotes, the intended execution model relied on separate transport arrangements per supplier and local installation teams per store. On paper, this seemed logical and straightforward. In reality, it meant fragmentation.
The proposed transport plan showed low truck utilization, limited route optimization, and a high cost per delivery due to independently managed shipments. The installation proposals relied heavily on local vendors using different tools, workflows and pricing structures, with little room for efficiency gains across stores. It also introduced risk: varying quality levels, duplicated costs, and no opportunity to scale or apply learnings from one site to the next.
When we were asked to assess the project strategy before execution began, it became immediately clear that there were smarter, more integrated ways to deliver this rollout. By rethinking the structure and managing it centrally, we could reduce both transport and installation costs, while improving coordination and control.
The solution: Consolidation and coordination to drive results
From the start, we deployed our Supply Chain Collaboration Platform as the backbone of the project. This cloud-based environment connected all stakeholders in real time, offering full visibility into orders, timelines, delivery milestones and site readiness. By aligning all supply chain activities around one central source of truth, we enabled faster, clearer decision-making and reduced project risk.
However, the true gains came from two core decisions: centralizing transport logistics and standardizing the installation process.
Transport cost reduction through consolidation and smarter carrier management
Instead of allowing each supplier to arrange their own deliveries, we centralized all transport planning. With a complete overview of all shipments across all stores, we were able to identify where loads could be consolidated and how routes could be optimized. Deliveries from multiple suppliers were grouped into full truckloads and timed according to actual site readiness, not factory availability.
Additionally, we replaced the supplier-suggested carriers with vetted partners from our own logistics network. These providers offered not only more competitive rates, but also better service levels and greater flexibility to meet tight rollout schedules.
This integrated approach ensured that trucks were efficiently loaded, fewer trips were needed, and materials arrived at the right place and time. Compared to the transport quotes provided during the planning phase, this strategy delivered a 22% reduction in projected transport costs.
Installation cost savings through team consolidation
The second area of optimization focused on installation. The original plan called for different local contractors to handle each store, resulting in eight separate teams with varied pricing, equipment, and experience levels. This setup offered no continuity, no standardization, and no cumulative learning.
Instead, we proposed one mobile installation team to handle all stores in sequence. This team worked with consistent tools, followed a standardized process, and built expertise with each completed site. The benefits were immediate: lower mobilization costs, reduced installation time, and higher quality through repetition and refinement.
By removing vendor overlap and redundant equipment and ensuring a unified approach across all stores, we achieved a 21% reduction in projected installation costs, compared to the original quotes gathered during the project’s planning stage.
End-to-end visibility and real-time collaboration
Beyond direct cost savings, the client gained end-to-end control over the entire rollout. Our platform enabled all parties to monitor delivery status, flag issues, coordinate changes and document installation progress in real time. Rather than relying on spreadsheets and emails, the team worked from a single platform that connected suppliers, transport partners, project managers and on-site teams.
This level of visibility not only eliminated guesswork but also enabled faster responses to any deviation. Site readiness changes, weather disruptions or supplier delays could be absorbed into the schedule with minimal disruption. The rollout stayed on track because everyone was aligned, informed and accountable.
Predictability equals profitability
This project confirmed a principle we see across all large-scale construction and rollout programs: predictability protects your margins. When logistics are fragmented and execution is decentralized, waste and risk increase quietly but steadily. By contrast, a centralized model based on data, visibility and collaboration turns complexity into control.
In this eight-store European rollout, the client didn’t just open on time and on budget—they created a repeatable model for future projects, with a clear understanding of how early planning decisions impact downstream cost and performance.
Is this approach right for you?
If you are managing a multi-site retail expansion, coordinating restaurant openings across regions, or executing large-scale construction projects, this approach offers clear advantages. The model is especially effective for organizations dealing with multiple vendors, decentralized planning, tight timelines, or limited visibility over transport and installation or construction performance.
Whether you are opening five stores, rolling out a chain of restaurants, or delivering a complex construction project with multiple phases and stakeholders, this method of centralized coordination, early planning, and real-time visibility helps reduce risk, lower costs, and improve delivery consistency.
Because the approach is scalable and based on proven workflows, it delivers measurable results across sectors—from fast-paced retail environments to the more intensive logistics of construction projects.
Learn more in our free eBook
Want to see how this works in more detail? Download our free eBook:
"Unpredictability: The Biggest Margin Killer in Supply Chain"
This resource provides real-world examples, frameworks for planning and executing multi-site rollouts, and insights into how supply chain predictability leads to better margins and fewer surprises.
Let’s make your next rollout smoother, smarter and significantly more cost-effective.