Warehouse Management System
What does a warehouse management system cost?
Guide and overview of warehouse management system costs
Warehouse Management Systems and Load Carrier Management: Efficient and sustainable Logistics
Sustainable load carrier management through integration in the Warehouse Management System (WMS): Reduce costs and avoid shrinkage.
Andreas Trautmann
Apr 4, 2025
Introduction: The Role of Load Carrier Management in Warehousing
The importance of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) for the efficient control of warehouse processes is undisputed. An often underestimated but essential component of these processes is load carrier management. Without a structured system for managing load carriers, significant inefficiencies can arise, leading to both economic and environmental disadvantages.
The Central Role of Load Carrier Management in (Intra-)Logistics
Load carriers are indispensable tools in logistics that facilitate the transport, storage, and handling of goods. Common types of load carriers include:
- Euro pallets, which are standardized load carriers used across nearly all industries
- Mesh boxes, particularly suitable for bulky or small-sized goods
- Containers, used for specialized applications in the food or pharmaceutical logistics sector
- Racks, widely employed in the automotive and heavy industries
- Small load carriers, standardized by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) for transport and storage boxes.
Tip:
Pallets, Handling Units & more… Terms & explanations on logistics, supply chain management, and e-commerce can be found in the Bitergo Glossary.
These load carriers are used in various warehouse areas:
- Incoming goods: Here, delivered goods are received on load carriers, inspected, and booked into the warehouse.
- Storage: Load carriers enable organized storage, whether in shelving systems or on floor space.
- Order picking: Ordered goods are often consolidated on load carriers and prepared for shipment.
- Outgoing goods: The goods are loaded and transported throughout the supply chain.
Benefits of Digital Load Carrier Management
However, managing these load carriers presents significant challenges: loss, damage, and inefficient circulation times are common problems that lead to high costs and unnecessary resource waste. Without a digital system, load carriers cannot be managed efficiently.
WMS Self-Test: Are You and Your Warehouse Ready for the Future?
Answer 5 short questions and find out how well your load carrier management is set up! Count your total score and receive an individual assessment with recommendations for action at the end.
Question 1: How do you currently track your load carriers (pallets, containers, mesh boxes)?
- Manually with paper or Excel spreadsheets
- Partially digital with barcode or RFID tracking
-
Fully integrated into a WMS with real-time tracking and automation
Evaluation:
- Optimization potential (High administrative effort, error-prone):
1 point - On the right track (First steps in digitization, but not yet optimal):
2 points - Efficient (Full transparency, fewer errors, better circulation):
3 points
Question 2: How often are load carriers missing or untraceable?
- Regularly, we often have to purchase new load carriers
- Rarely, but sometimes there are uncertainties or bottlenecks
-
Hardly ever, we always know where our load carriers are
Evaluation:
- High loss (Increased costs, inefficient processes):
1 point - Partially optimized (Better control needed):
2 points - Optimal (Minimal loss, efficient circulation control):
3 points
Question 3: How long does it take for empty load carriers to re-enter circulation?
- Several days or weeks - we have no precise overview
- Usually within a few days, but without real-time data
-
We track this precisely and actively optimize circulation times
Evaluation:
- Slow and inefficient (Wasted storage space, increased costs):
1 point - Good approach, but room for improvement (More efficient return processes possible):
2 points - Optimal speed (Maximum utilization of load carriers):
3 points
Question 4: How many employees are involved in the booking and reconciliation of exchange accounts (e.g. for Euro pallets, pallet cages or other load carriers)?
- More than 5 employees
- Between 3 and 5 employees
-
1 to 3 employees
Evaluation (reference value for a warehouse of approx. 5,000-20,000m²):
- This is definitely too much (working time commitment and costs):
1 point - Good midfield (but probably still too much manpower):
2 points - Good (and probably still optimizable):
3 points
Question 5: How well is your load carrier management integrated into your warehouse management system?
- Not at all - we manage load carriers separately
- Partially - data is not fully integrated
-
Completely - load carriers are linked in the WMS and with real-time data
Evaluation:
- Inefficient (high administrative effort, little transparency):
1 point - Good approach (integrated solution could bring even more):
2 points - Perfect (complete overview, automated workflows):
3 points
💡Your result: How efficient is your load carrier management? Evaluation and recommendation for action
5 Points
Urgent need for action! Let us advise you on how you can digitize your load carrier management!
6-10 Points
On the right track. By integrating load carrier management and WMS, great savings potential can still be tapped!
11-15 Points
Your warehouse is already very efficient - now optimize it further!
👉 Get in touch and optimize your logistics processes today!
What functions does load carrier management software offer?
Load carrier management software includes numerous functions and benefits, including:
- Recording of incoming and outgoing goods for containers and other loading equipment
- Pallet account management for tracking stocks
- Reporting and analysis functions for a transparent and optimized overview
- Photo capture for documenting damage
- Time and cost savings through efficient processes
- Error minimization by eliminating paper-based processes
Reliable and efficient load carrier management also plays a decisive role in the sustainability of the supply chain.
Would you like to find out how you can make your load carrier management more efficient? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation!
Integration of Load Carrier Management in Warehouse Management Systems
A warehouse management system can significantly improve load carrier management. The digital management of load carriers ensures better transparency and optimizes logistics processes. WMS offers the following functions, among others:
- Automatic stock monitoring: Companies receive a clear overview of the current stock of load carriers, can prevent bottlenecks and recognize requirements at an early stage.
- AI-supported cycle time analysis: Companies can use AI-supported forecasts to understand how long load carriers spend in certain processes. This enables targeted optimization and early maintenance planning.
- Automated workflows and notification systems: A WMS can trigger alerts if load carriers remain unused for too long or require maintenance.
Integrating load carrier management into a WMS therefore means more control, fewer losses and better planning.
Efficient and sustainable load carrier management
Optimizing load carrier management not only brings cost benefits, but also contributes to sustainability. Some of the most important strategies are:
- Real-time transparency: The intelligent linking of data makes it possible to see at any time where and how many load carriers are located and what condition they are in. This allows circulation speeds to be increased, stocks to be optimized and shrinkage to be reduced.
- Process automation: Use the newly gained transparency to automate manual activities. The system automatically notifies you of any deviations and coordinates with your partners via a web link. Including orders and releases.
- Optimization of circulation speed: Efficient use means that load carriers are returned to the cycle more quickly. This avoids bottlenecks and reduces unnecessary new production.
- Sustainability aspects: Material consumption can be reduced through the use of reusable load carriers and improved management. In addition, paper-based processes can be replaced by digital solutions, which reduces the CO2 footprint.
Logistikbude offers a cloud-based software solution that simplifies and optimizes the management of returnable assets. Digital technologies enable companies to improve the sustainability and efficiency of their load carrier management.
Practical example: Cooperation between Bitergo GmbH and Logistikbude
One example of the successful integration of efficient load carrier management into a WMS is the cooperation between Bitergo GmbH and Logistikbude from Dortmund. The aim of this partnership is to utilize synergies between the existing software solutions and enable customers to seamlessly integrate their processes.
Thanks to the seamless integration of the logistics platform into the Bitergo WMS - Warehouse Star, load carrier management can be digitized immediately.
Customers benefit from:
- Management of all load carriers in one solution instead of jumping between different systems
- Automation of manual processes, e.g. booking or reconciliation
- Reduced costs through data-driven decisions: Less shrinkage, more efficient turnaround times and lower administrative costs.
Interested in seamless WMS integration with load carrier management? Talk to our experts and find out how Bitergo and Logistikbude can improve your processes.
The partnership shows how modern logistics software can master the challenges of load carrier management.
Let's optimize your logistics processes together!
Arrange a free demo of our software solution today.