Changes in load carrier management: new pooling challenges and digital solutions

They rarely take centre stage – and yet hardly any goods delivery can take place without them: Euro pallets, meat crates and hygiene pallets form the backbone of many supply chains. What at first glance looks like a simple exchange of goods is, in practice, a complex interplay of availability, booking, return and quality assurance. The Nagel-Group moves millions of load carriers every year and, through efficient processes, digital solutions and Europe-wide expertise, ensures that these cycles run reliably. This article highlights the challenges involved and how modern solutions are driving the further development of load carrier management.

Around 190 staff members in the load-carrying equipment departments at the Group’s sites across Europe keep these processes running day in, day out. They record movements of load-carrying equipment, supply customers with empty units, validate accounts and continuously monitor stock levels. In doing so, they make a vital contribution to ensuring that the flow of goods is not only planned but can also be reliably executed.

The Nagel-Group’s service does not end with the delivery of the goods. The supply chain is only fully closed once the load carriers have been returned to circulation. If the recipient is unable to carry out a direct one-to-one exchange, the Nagel-Group also organises the subsequent collection. On request, the Nagel Group provides its customers with high-quality pallets in quality classes A and B, as well as cleaned plastic load carriers, as a value-added service.

At the same time, the operating environment is changing noticeably. The significantly increasing use of pooling service providers in the central warehouses of the food retail sector is placing new demands on load-bearing equipment management, particularly in the area of Euro pallets. If cycles are interrupted, turnaround times are extended; in addition, increased return and service costs arise, which are increasingly reflected in process costs. Furthermore, procurement costs – particularly for A and B grades – have risen significantly, whilst availability remains low. The Nagel-Group is therefore continuously analysing this development, providing transparency regarding the resulting additional costs and developing solutions to balance security of supply with cost-effectiveness for its customers.

Digitalisation is a key driver. To counter rising process costs and make operations more efficient, the Nagel-Group is consistently driving forward digital load carrier management. Since August 2025, all sites have been using software from Loopario, formerly Logistikbude. Since then, account validation has been carried out via a web-based interface, facilitating collaboration with the Nagel-Group’s partners. The next enhancement, ‘account matching’, is already on the horizon: in future, account reconciliation between business partners is set to be largely automated – and thus become significantly faster and more efficient.

The principle behind it is simple: if two business partners use Loopario, each party continues to maintain its own account with the relevant transactions. Account matching automatically reconciles these transactions in the background. If the defined criteria match, the process is completed without any manual intervention. Staff only need to intervene where discrepancies actually arise. As things stand, the roll-out of account matching is planned to be completed by the end of 2026. If Loopario is not in use with a business partner, account reconciliation will take place as usual via the web link.

This makes it clear that modern load carrier management is far more than just the administration of pallets, crates and accounts. It is a key component of stable supply chains – and, at the same time, an area in which changing market conditions, rising process costs and digital solutions are becoming increasingly intertwined. With Europe-wide expertise, transparent processes and consistent digitalisation, the Nagel-Group is laying the foundations for managing load carrier cycles reliably, cost-effectively and in partnership with its customers, now and in the future.

We would be happy to support you with additional services relating to load carrier management – from recording and cleaning through to refurbishment and procurement. Please get in touch so that we can work together to develop a solution that meets your requirements.