Automation has finally hit the pallet industry. From robotic palletizers to IoT-enabled tracking chips, the humble pallet is becoming a high-tech asset.
Warehouses now use automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that stack, move, and load pallets without human input. Combined with barcode and RFID tracking, companies can locate any pallet within seconds — a huge leap from manual systems that often lose track of shipments.
The biggest payoff comes in data. Smart pallets report temperature, impact, and location in real time. This means fewer lost loads, fewer claims, and more efficient supply chains.
In the next five years, experts predict that AI-powered inventory systems will communicate directly with pallets — automatically ordering replacements or repairs before a failure occurs. The pallet industry is entering its digital era, where data drives logistics decisions.