Driving cost efficiency and supply chain partnership with Nomad Goods

To support this scale and commercial cadence, Nomad partnered with Zencargo to enhance cost control, strengthen operational efficiency, and build a more strategic customs approach in a rapidly changing environment. Here’s how the partnership delivers impact.

Building a High-Performing Supply Chain

To support their fast product cycles, high-volume shipments, and commercial margins, Nomad needed a supply chain framework that could offer stronger cost efficiency, more predictable customs processes, and responsive day-to-day coordination. Supplier-managed trucking from mainland China to Hong Kong represented a significant transport cost, while shipments into Mexico often faced extended customs processing that added time and complexity. At the same time, rising U.S. tariffs increased the need for a more strategic customs approach, and Nomad’s rapidly moving commercial environment required a logistics partner able to provide clear communication and timely operational support across regions.

Enhancing Nomad’s Supply Chain for Scalable Growth

Zencargo partnered closely with Nomad to enhance key elements of their supply chain, based around a foundation of clear, real-time data, customs strategy and higher levels of service. 

1. Cost efficiency through coordinated transport

The first priority was tackling the high-cost intra-China trucking. By taking ownership of this movement, Zencargo created a more coordinated and predictable transport flow between Nomad’s suppliers to the Hong Kong consolidation warehouse.

This single move reduced transport costs by 2-3x, providing an immediate, measurable ROI.

2. Strategic customs & compliance

To support Nomad’s global footprint, Zencargo introduced a multi-layered customs strategy designed to improve cash flow, reduce duty exposure, and streamline cross-border operations.

• U.S. bonded warehousing: Zencargo established a U.S. Customs bonded warehouse for Nomad in Los Angeles to mitigate the impact of high tariffs, allowing Nomad to defer customs payments until goods are withdrawn for sale.
• U.S. customs brokerage: Zencargo transitioned Nomad’s U.S. customs brokerage to its tech-enabled partner, Importal. This gave the Nomad team full access to their ACE data (5 years of customs history) in a user-friendly dashboard, enabling real-time tariff analysis and compliance monitoring.
• Mexico customs solution: To solve the long delays, Zencargo shifted Nomad from parcel to freight shipping, using a dedicated local agent in Mexico to coordinate with customers’ brokers, reducing clearance times and costs.

3. A centralised, responsive partnership

Beyond cost and customs enhancements, Zencargo also became Nomad’s central operational partner.

The team now manages end-to-end supplier coordination, while all shipment data, documents, and communications live centrally within the Zencargo platform. This gives Nomad greater visibility and autonomy through reporting tools and platform analytics, supporting smoother planning and decision-making across their global supply chain.

Evolving the Partnership

Building on their existing success, Nomad and Zencargo are now working together to move further upstream in their operations, expanding beyond shipment execution into earlier stages of planning and coordination. The next phase will bring Nomad’s key suppliers onto the Zencargo platform—beginning with their Hong Kong hub—to capture data directly at source. This will provide earlier, more reliable insights and create true end-to-end visibility for the entire Nomad team.

‘If I had to describe Zencargo in three words, it would be reliable, customer-oriented, and flexible’ – Peter Kow,  Senior Supply Chain Operations Manager, Nomad Goods

Make your supply chain your competitive advantage

Find out how we can transform your supply chain

Speak with our experts about how our platform and services can improve visibility, enhance decision making and elevate supply chain performance.