Due to missing or incorrect information, 30 percent of all deliveries worldwide do not reach their destination on time. Telekom, Fraunhofer IML and EPAL are presenting a new generation of standardized pallets at the German Logistics Congress. These intelligently networked pallets are designed to enable more targeted transportation of goods by water, rail and road. Using a built-in low-cost tracker, the position can be determined and the movement, shock effects and temperature profile can be retrieved. The partners have 500 of the smart load carriers in practical use.

High potential for digitalization

"Smart pallets mark the beginning of a new era for EPAL. The potential for innovation through the new availability of data is crucial for us. This enables us to offer our customers reliable added value and create a sustainable business model for us," says Ingo Mönke, Chairman of the Board of GPAL, the German National Committee of the European Pallet Association. EPAL was one of the first customers to install the low-cost tracker. In Europe alone, the association has more than 500 million pallets in circulation, which is why the solution has enormous digitization potential.

The trackers are robust and can be installed in practically any load carrier. "The low-cost tracker makes load carriers intelligent and raises the data gold of logistics. This will be the decisive competitive advantage in logistics. A global standard with secure certification and authentication, for example by SIM card, is just as essential for scaling in the billions as guaranteed, stable networks, competitive prices and flat rates in the long term," explained Prof. Michael ten Hompel, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer IML. The networking of devices is expected to increase significantly. According to expert estimates, well over one billion devices per year will become part of the IoT over the next few years.

Interested parties can find out more about the project at the German Logistics Congress in Berlin. From October 17 to 19, the partners will be demonstrating the intelligent pallets live for the first time in the Bellevue room at stand B/05.