Smart Pallets : IoT-Enabled Logistics & Traceability | IBM
In today’s environment, logistics performance can no longer be separated from strong environmental commitments. Smart pallets are emerging as a strategic lever to reconcile operational efficiency with measurable sustainability goals.
Equipped with IoT sensors and real-time connectivity, they enhance end-to-end traceability while reducing the carbon footprint of the supply chain.
Discover how IBM and Ineo Sense deployed an innovative solution to make logistics more sustainable, transparent, and efficient.
Smart Green Pallets : building a more responsible and connected Supply Chain
As traceability requirements, operational performance standards, and CO₂ reduction targets continue to increase, major retailers must rethink their logistics tools.
Committed to responsible logistics, Auchan Retail partnered with IBM and its technology partner to deploy Smart Green Pallets — connected intelligent pallets integrating advanced IoT sensors.
The objective: combine operational efficiency, full supply chain visibility, and environmental responsibility within a single solution.
Context : combining logistics performance with carbon impact reduction
In large-scale retail operations, pallet management represents a major operational and environmental challenge:
- Losses and damage during transit
- Limited visibility across logistics flows
- Inefficient asset utilization
- Significant carbon footprint linked to transportation
Auchan sought to strengthen product traceability while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of its operations.
The answer could not be purely software-based. It required hardware innovation — transforming the pallet itself into an intelligent, data-driven asset.
The solution : IBM Smart Green Pallets
The deployed smart pallets are far more than simple transport supports. They integrate advanced IoT technologies enabling continuous monitoring across the supply chain.
A lighter, recyclable pallet design
- One-third lighter than traditional pallets
- Made from recyclable materials
- Significant reduction in transport-related CO₂ emissions
By reducing weight, the solution optimizes logistics costs while supporting a low-carbon strategy.
A connected and instrumented pallet
Each pallet integrates embedded sensors that enable:
- Real-time geolocation tracking
- Temperature monitoring
- Shock detection
Data is transmitted and analyzed to ensure complete traceability throughout the logistics chain.
The connected pallet becomes a strategic data collection point, transforming physical infrastructure into actionable intelligence.
Enhanced end-to-end traceability
With integrated IoT sensors, Smart Green Pallets provide:
- Increased visibility over goods in transit
- Reduced product loss
- Improved inventory management
- Early detection of logistics incidents
Traceability no longer depends on isolated scan events but on continuous supervision.
This shift turns pallet management into a true intelligent traceability system.
Results : operational performance and measurable environmental impact
The deployment of smart pallets delivered tangible benefits:
- Improved visibility across logistics flows
- Reduced losses and operational waste
- Optimized logistics costs
- Significant CO₂ emission reduction
- Enhanced product quality during transit
By combining IoT technology with data analytics, Auchan strengthened both its operational performance and its environmental commitments.
From logistics support to intelligent asset
Traditionally, a pallet is a passive support structure.
With integrated sensors and IoT connectivity, it becomes:
- A fully traceable asset
- A strategic data carrier
- A supply chain optimization lever
- A measurable environmental performance tool
This evolution aligns perfectly with sustainable supply chain strategies and the broader digital transformation of large retail organizations.
A scalable solution for multiple logistics environments
Smart pallets can be deployed across various sectors, including:
- Retail and large-scale distribution
- Food and beverage industries
- Pharmaceutical logistics
- International supply chains
Wherever traceability, loss reduction, and carbon optimization are strategic priorities, connected pallets offer measurable value.
And if you’d like to see the solution in action, watch the video presentation here:
https://app.playplay.com/app/share/ibm-consulting/050bcecd-7629-45e4-bba6-89de460ea6d6
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