Pallet pooling, a good idea for your e-commerce business

In 2018 e-commerce reached new heights in Belgium and the Netherlands. Belgians spent a total of 10.67 billion euros online, which is half a billion more than in 2017. The numbers in the Netherlands are even more jaw-dropping. Online spending in the Netherlands amounted to 23.7 billion euros, or 10 percent more than in the previous year. In Belgium, the product category 'toys' (+38%) showed the strongest growth, while in the Netherlands, this honour falls to the 'Food/Near Food' category (+24%).

No surviving without an efficient supply chain
E-commerce is growing, but it is a bumpy ride. Many e-tailers and suppliers get overwhelmed by the complicated logistics process that goes with it. Consumers are ordering more and more frequently, in smaller quantities, across the globe. Moreover, they expect their purchases to be delivered the day after, or even on the day itself. Getting your e-commerce business organized – in an international context in which a large number of rules apply – requires creativity and hard work. In addition, the margins in e-commerce are small. In order to survive, every step in the supply chain must be as efficient as possible.

Pooling for easy shipping and receiving
This is why a lot of e-commerce platforms, suppliers and parcel couriers are relying more often on pallet pooling for their pallet management. By switching to pallet pooling you no longer receive and ship products on white exchange pallets and/or disposable pallets, but on durable, high-quality wooden pooling pallets. Some of the biggest players and brands have been using CHEP's share & reuse system for years.

Pallet exchange is history
The advantage? You no longer have to buy, store or exchange pallets yourself. Thanks to the extensive,  international network of more than 315,000 delivery points, 240 CHEP service centres in Europe alone, the pallets can be left behind at their destination. Through an online tool, you can simply indicate where the pallets are going, so that CHEP picks them up after use and takes them to the nearest CHEP service centre for inspection and possible repair. From there, they can be re-delivered to local producers.

Cost-efficient, simple and sustainable
With pooling, no more return transport is needed, you save costs and reduce the number of truck kilometres and CO2 emissions. And because you don’t have to exchange the pallets anymore, you will lose no more time in discussions about supposedly lost pallets, pallet quality, outstanding balances and complex administration.

For a standardized pallet management and smooth automation
Thanks to the strict quality control in the service centres, the quality of pooling pallets remains high and the risk of product damage and product returns is reduced. Since the dimensions of the pallets are consistent, they’re extremely suitable for an automated warehouses and processes.