A logistics audit is only as good as the data it is given. Well prepared, the data allows a quantified diagnosis within a few days; poorly prepared, it costs weeks. Here is what to extract, in what form, and which indicators to track.
1. The data to extract
From your warehouse management system (WMS), your ERP or your spreadsheets, over 12 months if possible:
- Items: item code, description, dimensions and weight, storage unit, product family.
- Locations: address, type (pallet, shelving, floor), capacity, assigned item.
- Customer orders, line by line: date, customer, item, quantity, shipping date.
- Receipts: date, supplier, item, quantity, discrepancies found.
- Stock: monthly stock snapshots and stocktake results.
- Resources: headcount and hours worked by activity (receiving, picking, shipping), equipment.
- Incidents: picking errors, customer disputes, returns.
2. The right format
- Excel or CSV exports, one row per event, with column headers.
- Raw data, not summary tables: calculations work better from the detail.
- A warehouse layout plan, even scanned, showing zones and aisles.
- A note on any specific features: seasonality, priority customers, building constraints.
3. The indicators to track
There is no legal standard; these are the indicators commonly used in the profession:
- Service level: share of orders shipped within the promised lead time.
- Perfect order rate (on time and complete), to be defined precisely: measured at the customer's premises or at the warehouse.
- Picking error rate, detected internally or by the customer.
- Productivity in lines picked per hour per person, more comparable than orders per hour.
- Stock accuracy: stocktake discrepancies and shrinkage.
- Stock turnover and location occupancy rate.
- Cost per order or per line.
Always pair a speed indicator with a quality indicator: productivity that rises along with errors is not progress.
4. What the data often reveals
- fast-moving items stored far from the docks;
- saturated locations while others sit idle;
- predictable workload peaks that are not anticipated in staff schedules;
- errors concentrated on a few SKUs or a few time slots.
These are often the quickest wins: a re-slotting, an adjusted schedule, a targeted check.
Good to know: this guide is for information only, up to date as of 14 October 2026, and does not replace advice tailored to your situation. For a specific case, consult your chartered accountant (expert-comptable) or your lawyer.