A Technology-first Market Leader
Palletforce is the UK’s market leader in express palletised freight distribution, trusted by thousands of businesses for more than 20 years and operating from a flagship SuperHub in Burton upon Trent. The network coordinates shipments from more than 120 depots nationwide, supported by live tracking technology designed to give customers visibility of consignments in transit.
Palletforce’s mission is simple in principle and demanding in practice: ensure every pallet moves seamlessly and efficiently from point A to point B, at speed, and at scale. Their technology posture has been central to achieving that, with investment in live tracking and hub operations forming a key part of how the brand is perceived in the market.
But leadership at Palletforce also recognises a modern logistics truth. Maintaining market leadership is not about standing still. Customer expectations evolve, and even highly advanced networks often have pockets of manual work that quietly constrain productivity and scalability.
That tension set the stage for the next chapter: improving what happens behind the scenes so that the customer experience remains consistently fast, transparent, and reliable as volume continues to grow.
“Technology has always been at the core of what we do at Palletforce. Our SuperHub and live tracking system set the standard for express freight distribution, and now, with Clarus WMS, we’ll push even further ahead. We’re excited about the efficiencies this will bring, not just for us but for our customers as well.”
– Kate Lovatt, IT Director
In Hero’s Journey terms, Palletforce is the hero at a new threshold. The external service proposition is strong, but internal processes still include manual effort that is no longer aligned with the pace of growth the organisation is aiming for.
Overcoming WMS Challenges Holding The Business Back
Manual processes in a modern network
When Palletforce approached Clarus WMS, the objective was not to rebuild what already worked. Their SuperHub and tracking capability were already leading the industry. The challenge was that several important back-office and operational tasks were still being managed manually, including invoicing and aspects of customer data handling.
Manual invoicing in particular is a classic hidden constraint. It consumes time, introduces avoidable error risk, and creates admin drag that becomes increasingly expensive as throughput rises. In an express freight environment, where speed and accuracy underpin customer trust, manual work in critical processes becomes a bottleneck.
Palletforce’s leadership wanted automation that would allow the business to scale faster and smoother without compromising service quality. They also wanted to extend the self-service, transparency, and control customers already value from live tracking into a broader operational experience.
Visibility as a performance tool
Palletforce already provides customers with strong in-transit visibility. But internal operational visibility is equally important when seeking to improve decision-making and performance management. A WMS can provide deeper insight into workflows, exceptions, and throughput signals, which helps leadership make faster, data-led decisions.
The challenge, then, was twofold: reduce admin friction created by manual processes, and strengthen operational visibility in a way that supports both internal teams and customer expectations.
Guiding Palletforce Toward Warehouse Automation
Why Clarus WMS
Palletforce evaluated other solutions in the market, but selected Clarus WMS based on two core qualities emphasised in the source material: innovation and flexibility. That matters in a network operation where workflows can be unique and where the technology stack must remain adaptable as service models evolve.
“We’ve always been pioneers in new technology, and when we looked at other solutions on the market, none of them matched Clarus WMS in terms of innovation and flexibility. This partnership is going to unlock new possibilities for us and our customers.”
– Kate Lovatt, IT Director
This quote is the turning point in the story. Palletforce is not looking for a system that simply digitises what they already do. They are looking for a platform that enables new capability and future operational possibilities. Clarus enters the story as the guide, helping the hero convert ambition into operational reality through automation and configurable workflows.
Implementing The Solution: Planning To Execution
A collaboration-led rollout
The implementation is described as underway, with Clarus and Palletforce working closely to ensure the rollout runs smoothly. At this stage, the emphasis is on delivering targeted wins quickly, particularly in areas where manual work is consuming time and limiting scalability.
The priorities outlined are clear: automate invoicing, increase self-service capability, and improve real-time operational visibility so both teams and customers have stronger control and transparency.
Automated invoicing as a first win
Automated invoicing is described as one of the biggest early wins, reducing administrative time and improving accuracy. This is a practical result because it targets a high-volume, high-frequency process where small inefficiencies multiply quickly.
By removing manual steps, invoicing becomes more consistent, faster to execute, and less vulnerable to human error. It also frees teams to focus on higher-value activities that improve service and performance.
Real-time visibility and customer control
A key implementation goal is enhanced visibility, giving customers greater control over deliveries through improved tracking and live updates. This builds directly on Palletforce’s reputation for technology-led customer experience and extends it into a broader set of operational touchpoints.
Flexible workflows built for scale
The partnership also focuses on flexible workflows tailored to Palletforce’s unique operation. In a SuperHub model coordinating a national depot network, flexibility is essential because process variation is normal. The system must support consistent execution without forcing the business into rigid workflows that do not fit.
Results Achieved: WMS Success In Action
What is confirmed now
From the provided material, the confirmed early results are described in qualitative terms, with automated invoicing highlighted explicitly as an early win, improving accuracy and reducing admin time. Real-time visibility and enhanced customer control are described as “soon” outcomes, indicating that they are in progress rather than fully realised.
Momentum toward a smarter freight experience
The partnership positions Palletforce to lead further innovation across its network. By addressing manual bottlenecks and strengthening visibility, Palletforce is building an operational model designed to support continued growth while maintaining the service quality customers associate with the brand.
Client Reflections And Lessons Learned
Automation protects service at scale
Palletforce’s story is a useful reminder that even market-leading logistics networks can carry manual processes that quietly constrain growth. Automating high-frequency tasks like invoicing protects service quality because it reduces delays, improves consistency, and creates headroom in teams that would otherwise be absorbed by admin.
Flexibility is a strategic requirement
In express freight distribution, operational workflows are rarely one-size-fits-all. Palletforce’s emphasis on innovation and flexibility suggests a preference for systems that can adapt, rather than systems that force the business to adapt to them. That mindset helps avoid the “rigid system” trap that often slows improvement after implementation.
Visibility strengthens customer trust
Palletforce already sets a strong standard for live tracking. Extending that transparency and control further, through WMS-enabled visibility, supports customer confidence and can increase customer loyalty as service expectations rise across the industry.
Your Path To WMS Success
Palletforce’s partnership with Clarus WMS shows how market leaders stay ahead: by identifying manual bottlenecks, automating them, and strengthening operational visibility so teams and customers can operate with greater control and confidence. Automated invoicing is already highlighted as a major early win, with enhanced customer control and real-time visibility positioned as the next step in the rollout.
If your logistics operation is scaling fast but still relying on manual admin for critical processes, the lesson is direct. Automation and real-time visibility protect service quality while giving your teams the headroom to improve performance and keep customers informed.
Discover how Clarus WMS can help your network reduce manual workload, automate high-impact processes, and deliver the transparency customers expect from modern logistics leaders.