Choosing a freight forwarder for Italy-Switzerland shipments is crucial because this corridor has unique customs specifics (Switzerland is not EU and calculates duties by weight, not value). Key criteria: 1) Physical presence at the border — a forwarder with in-house customs declarants at border crossings (Chiasso, Stabio, Ponte Tresa) ensures faster clearance and fewer errors; 2) AEO authorisation — Authorised Economic Operator status guarantees a very high 'green channel' rate (immediate clearance without inspection); 3) Coverage on both sides of the border — offices in both Italy and Switzerland eliminate coordination issues; 4) Industry expertise — food (HACCP), pharma (GDP), chemicals (ADR), fashion require specific competencies; 5) Integrated services — transport + customs + warehouse + distribution with a single point of contact; 6) Financial stability — check D&B credit rating; 7) Technology — client portal with real-time tracking and digital documentation. Franzosini meets all these criteria: present at all Ticino border crossings since 1929, certified AEO operator, offices in 5 countries, top D&B rating, over 100,000 annual shipments.