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SOLVED Supply Chain Challenge? Supporting a Hotel Brand’s Global
Expansion and Complex Logistics Needs SEKO’s comprehensive approach transformed hotel brand citizenM’s supply chain, ensuring a future-proof logistics model that supports their global expansion while maintaining operational efficiency. THE PROBLEM As citizenM continued its rapid expansion challenge. citizenM needed a partner to streamline this.
• Hotel Launch Projects: citizenM needed a supplier to manage multiple hotel openings annually, including PO management, supply chain coordination, and kitting “Room in a Box” consignments to simplify new property setup. HOW WE SOLVED IT SEKO implemented a comprehensive 4PL solution—serving as a centralized control tower from its Windsor, UK office. This enabled seamless logistics management across North America and Europe, optimizing operations from procurement to final delivery. Key elements of SEKO’s solution include: • Centralized Supply Chain Control: SEKO’s Windsor-based team oversaw global supply chain activities, leveraging AI-powered demand planning to optimize inventory and shift from a manual push model to a predictive pull model. • Automated Inbound Freight Management: SEKO handled supplier coordination, PO management, customs clearance, and shipment consolidation— automating workflows from PO creation to advance shipment notices. • Strategic Warehousing: Facilities in Rotterdam and New Jersey were selected for their scalability and proximity to citizenM’s core markets. • Last Mile Deliveries: SEKO ensured hotel deliveries met SOPs using
across Europe, the United States, and Asia, the brand encountered logistics challenges that required a specialized solution. Their fully integrated approach to hotel development— spanning acquisition, investment, design, procurement, construction, and operations—meant they needed a logistics partner capable of scaling alongside them. KEY CHALLENGES • Global Supply Chain Complexity: citizenM needed a provider with international reach to manage inbound freight, customs compliance, warehousing, and delivery across continents. • Supplier Order Management: Efficient coordination of supplier orders was essential to ensure each hotel received Territories: citizenM required support managing freight from global suppliers into key markets—with customs clearance, storage, and onward distribution. the necessary items on time. • Inbound Freight Across • Integrated Digital Solutions: A key requirement was a web shop integrated with citizenM’s ERP system, enabling hotel teams to place stock orders with ease. • Logistics & On-Time Fulfillment: A reliable logistics network was vital to ensure timely deliveries to hard-to- reach hotels. • Pre-Financing & Invoicing Complexity: Managing costs and accurate invoicing across multiple properties was a
urban-optimized delivery plans, tail lifts, and white glove service for fragile items. • Integrated Digital Solutions: A custom website and Shopify Plus-powered webshop, integrated with citizenM’s ERP, allowed hotel teams to place and track orders easily. • Procurement Support: SEKO provided credit terms and processed payments for inventory purchases, streamlining invoicing and reducing administrative overhead. • Hotel Launch Kitting: For new openings, SEKO managed six-month logistics plans and provided “Room in a Box” kits to simplify room setup. citizenM now operates with a future- ready logistics model—scaling globally, reducing inventory costs, and improving delivery efficiency, all powered by SEKO’s agile and tech-driven approach.
To learn more: hello@sekologistics.com 630-919-4800 sekologistics.com
40 Inbound Logistics • July 2025
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