Implementation completed in six months: Nagel-Group digitizes pallet management at all 130 locations

Versmold/Dortmund, 26 August 2025. On August 1, 2025, the Nagel-Group reached another milestone in its digitalization strategy: the complete conversion of loading equipment management at all 130 locations to the software solution of the start-up Logistikbude. After a successful test phase at four pilot locations in June and July 2025, the synchronous, nationwide introduction took place in all remaining branches in Europe, including intensive training and support for key users.

As early as the beginning of 2025, the Nagel-Group announced a large-scale digitization initiative with the aim of digitally managing reusable management ("loading aids") throughout the company via the SaaS solution of the logistics booth. The start-up offers a solution for the digitally networked and automated management of all loading aids, from Euro pallets to plastic pallets to Euroboxes, in real time, thus leveraging considerable optimization potential in terms of processes, costs and sustainability.

The Nagel-Group moves around 25 million Euro pallets, 35 million Euroboxes and 3 million H1 plastic pallets per year and, like most logistics service providers, faces the great challenge of keeping track of current stocks and the whereabouts of exchanged load carriers. Traditionally, administration is carried out with the help of analogue receipt slips, which are filled out when the goods are picked up by the freight forwarder. In addition, the manual processes make it difficult to trace the crates and pallets: For a company, a loss of the receipt slip is equivalent to the shrinkage of the load carrier. With the digital solution, this process is now much more transparent, faster and more secure. For the newly designed load carrier management, the logistics booth uses existing data. Important information on the whereabouts of the load carriers can be obtained from numerous existing pre-systems.

"The close and cooperative partnership with Logistikbude has contributed significantly to the fact that we were able to implement the implementation almost smoothly. Together, we have succeeded in successfully digitizing a complex process within six months," says Björn Hobusch, Head of Operational Excellence & CSM & LEM at the Nagel-Group.

For the successful go-live, the key users of the locations were intensively trained. In addition to training sessions and workshops, there were weekly meetings on current topics and key innovations. The software will also be further developed after the go-live. New features and process optimizations are being introduced gradually. Practical experience and feedback from users are directly incorporated. In this way, the system remains closely aligned with actual needs. In the next step, the software solution will be expanded to include a function that automatically evaluates and books various pallet labels based on artificial intelligence. "We always take into account the practical experience and feedback of the users in order to align our system with actual needs," says Philipp Hüning, co-founder and CEO of Logistikbude.

For the Nagel-Group and its customers, digital load carrier management has numerous advantages. Thanks to the real-time recording and management with the help of the software, each load carrier is digitally visible at all times. This means that even exchange partners who have not implemented the software can view all the data on the crates and pallets via a web link. If several parties use the solution to its full extent, load carrier management runs almost automatically. Complete documentation increases security in the supply chain. This also has a positive financial effect: fewer shortages lead to a lower repurchase rate and thus to lower capital commitment.

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Logistics centre of the Nagel-Group in Bochum: Employees of the Logistikbude and the Nagel-Group in conversation during operations. (Photo: Logistikbude)

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Jens Kleiner - COO of the Nagel-Group during the briefing in the warehouse (Photo: Logistikbude)

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Digital loading aid management in use: The logistics booth's software solution enables a transparent and automated overview of all loading aids in real time. (Photo: Logistikbude)

About the Nagel-Group:

The Nagel-Group is one of the leading food logistics companies in Europe. With a turnover of 2.3 billion euros and around 11,000 employees at more than 130 locations, the family-owned company connects producers and retailers along the entire food supply chain. The Nagel-Group moves over 105,000 shipments from dry to frozen food every day and ensures the highest quality and efficiency with tailor-made transport and contract logistics solutions. Since 2022, the subsidiary B+S Logistik und Dienstleistungen has been part of the Nagel-Group. The focus of B+S Logistik is on contract logistics and e-commerce fulfillment. As a specialist in temperature-controlled food logistics, the Nagel-Group stands for reliability, innovative strength and sustainable action. With initiatives for decarbonization, investments in digital processes and the corporate venture LEAFR, the group of companies is actively shaping the future of food logistics.

About the Logistikbude:

Logistikbude, a logistics startup from the heart of the Ruhr region, was spun off from Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund in 2021 and automates the management of reusable assets such as pallets, containers and racks. With its user-friendly software-as-a-service solution, the company offers real-time transparency about inventories, requirements and turnaround times. This fully automates manual processes such as booking transactions and coordinating with exchange partners. Shippers, logistics service providers and retailers benefit from accelerated throughput times of their assets as well as greatly reduced shrinkage and repurchase rates.

Contact for editors:

Marie Hinzmann

Press officer

Nagel-Group Logistics SE

Friedrich-Menzefricke-Str. 6

33775 Versmold

Phone: +49 (0) 5423 / 960 546

Marie.Hinzmann@nagel-group.com

www.nagel-group.com

Tim Henrichs

Sputnik GmbH

Press and Public Relations

Hafenweg 9

48155 Münster

Phone: +49 (0) 2 51 / 62 55 61-247

henrichs@sputnik-agentur.de

www.sputnik-agentur.de

Dr. Philipp Hüning

Co-Founder & CEO

Logistikbude GmbH

Emil-Figge-Str. 80

44227 Dortmund

Phone: +49 (0) 2 31 / 29 29 47 99

presse@logistikbude.com

www.logistikbude.com