Reducing inefficiency by tracking pallets

German researchers have developed software that can track and visualise the paths for load carriers such as pallets, crates, racks, containers or tanks. This provides the logistics sector with a way of improving efficiency and reducing downtime.

Developed in the Center for Applied Research on Supply Chain Services at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, the Logistikbude (German for “logistics convenience store”) software is a web-based offering that helps keep track of load carriers that might otherwise be ignored or left unattended.

The software generates labels for each load carrier and creates a digital file. Returnable load carriers are also equipped with barcodes or sensors. A smartphone app can then be used to record each load carrier with its label before being transported and when they arrive at their destination, with optional updates about their status along the journey possible as well. All this data is synchronised with a server, which can keep track of the locations and statuses of these load carriers as well as their quantities.

Users are then able to access the data and understand when they have been unloaded and are ready to be returned to their home or used for transporting other goods. Any load carriers that have been emptied but not returned will result in an email being sent to the user. Sensors can also be used to record exact location, temperature and humidity to give users more information about their pallets. This means that instead of carriers sitting around unused, they can quickly be reintegrated into the supply chain.

“Until now, many companies have often not even known where their own load carriers are at a given moment, for example. Now they can see where they are at any time and when they will get them back. It makes planning easier. The accelerated circulation ultimately ensures that fewer load carriers have to be purchased overall. This, in turn, contributes to increasing sustainability in the sector,” said Philipp Wrycza, co-founder and CEO of the Fraunhofer spin-off Logistikbude.

“We are pleased not only because Logistikbude has been created at our institute, but also because it represents a valuable tool for making even better use of efficiency potential in the field of transport and logistics,” said Prof. Michael ten Hompel, institute director of Fraunhofer IML.

“With this, Fraunhofer researchers are once again demonstrating their ability to develop practical and helpful solutions for industry.”