For a Swiss SME, international shipping is often the gateway to growth. New customers, new markets, new revenue streams. The flip side is that international logistics carries more complexity than domestic shipping: customs, transit time variations, documentation, and the need for a partner that handles the cross-border process end-to-end. This guide walks you through the main DHL Express services available to Swiss businesses and helps you choose the right one for your shipping profile.
Getting started with global shipping from Switzerland
Before you ship internationally, three things are worth clarifying: where your customers are, how time-sensitive your goods are, and how regularly you ship. From there, you can match your needs to the service options.
Choose your DHL import or export service
DHL Express offers a tiered set of services from premium time-definite delivery to economy options for non-urgent shipments. Each tier balances speed against cost, and each has its own coverage and transit-time profile.
DHL Express Worldwide
The flagship international service: door-to-door delivery to virtually every country, with a defined transit time and end-to-end tracking. The default choice when you ship to multiple destinations and want consistent service quality.
DHL Express time-definite services (9:00 / 12:00)
For shipments that need to arrive before a defined hour on the delivery day. Useful for B2B contexts where the receiver depends on the package for production, a meeting, or a deadline. Available to selected destinations.
DHL Economy Select
A cost-conscious option for less time-critical shipments. Standard transit times, lower price point. Useful when transit speed is not the top priority.
Prepare your international shipping documentation
Even the fastest service is only as fast as your paperwork. Two documents matter most:
Commercial Invoice
The commercial invoice is the basis of every customs declaration. Complete sender and receiver details, precise goods description, HS code, value in original currency, and the agreed Incoterm. Missing or imprecise data is the single most common reason for customs delays.
Waybill
The waybill is the contract for the shipment and the document that travels with it through the network. It captures origin, destination, service type, and tracking details. For DHL Express Business Account holders, the waybill is generated automatically from your shipping data.
The benefits of cross-border shipping with DHL Express
For Swiss SMEs, the practical benefits of a single international logistics partner are clear: one contract for all destinations, integrated customs clearance for non-EU origin shipments, a dedicated Account Manager for setup and escalations, and a global tracking infrastructure that keeps you and your customer informed. With Switzerland outside the EU customs union, the customs integration alone justifies a specialized partner: every shipment crossing the Swiss border is a customs act.
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