Greater Demands and Full Traceability

As highlighted in a recent report by Aral magazine, the express pallet sector is undergoing a transformation driven by the demands of an increasingly dynamic and demanding market. “Technological innovation, sustainability, traceability, and the need for faster delivery times are redefining logistics operations in this sector,” the report states. This environment is shaping the future of pallet transport and of Palibex, which has long been working to guarantee full shipment traceability and optimize the supply chain.

Currently, most of the goods moved by Palibex are destined for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market. For this reason, General Manager María Luisa Romero explains that the network enforces “strict control over coordination processes and a high level of performance and monitoring for its franchisees.”

Traceability, she adds, is ensured through technology that logs every status update, vehicle, warehouse, and handling point. This information is automatically generated in real time at each stage, allowing customers to know not only when a delivery is made, but also what routes it took and which vehicles carried it.

To achieve this level of transparency, Palibex relies on a modern technological platform and the commitment of all the companies in its network to add value to the delivery process.

This commitment is especially critical during peak periods. “What defines us most as a network is our ability to maintain or even improve service quality when demand peaks,” says Romero. “Every year, we need to scale our operations to match expected surges. Demand in the food sector fluctuates from season to season and even within the same week, but our capacity is not as elastic and needs to be properly scaled.”

Palibex has therefore built a network model that allows goods from the same origin or destined for the same location to be routed through different coordination centers while still meeting delivery dates and time slots.

Food logistics is increasingly demanding — with time restrictions, environmental and tech requirements, and a wide range of SKUs — yet the resources available to meet these demands are often limited. Palibex believes the key lies in collaboration across the supply chain. “It’s not about passing inefficiencies along the chain, but about meeting delivery expectations together.”

There is still room for improvement in the relationship between carriers and large distribution centers. Operators like Palibex, who visit logistics platforms daily, call for “faster deliveries, closer communication, better information management, and process standardization.”