# Rotion > Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent. Track crates, pallets, kegs and IBCs across partners, recover losses and report reuse for PPWR. Rotion gives every crate, pallet, keg, IBC and roll cage a digital identity, records who holds it at every handover, and recovers what goes missing. Autopilot, the AI agent on top of every scan, flags anomalies, proposes the next action with its reasoning and acts once a person approves. The same record produces deposit settlements and reuse reporting for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40). Made by Causa Sui BV in Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium. Field results: 28% fewer assets lost, 9% smaller fleet needed, 575,310 assets tracked. Pricing is published: Starter from €150 a month, Launch €499 a month (€399 billed annually), Scale €999 a month (€799 billed annually), Custom on request. The full English text of these pages is at https://www.rotion.eu/llms-full.txt. Languages: English (https://www.rotion.eu), Nederlands (https://www.rotion.eu/nl), Français (https://www.rotion.eu/fr), Svenska (https://www.rotion.eu/sv), Dansk (https://www.rotion.eu/da), Türkçe (https://www.rotion.eu/tr), Čeština (https://www.rotion.eu/cs), Български (https://www.rotion.eu/bg). The full English text of every page listed in https://www.rotion.eu/llms.txt, one section per page. ## Reusable Packaging Management Platform | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform Reusable packaging management platform ### One record per asset, shared by every partner. Rotion records who holds each crate, pallet, keg and IBC at every handover. Autopilot works on that record all day: it notices what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. Q · A #### What is a reusable packaging management platform? A reusable packaging management platform keeps one record per returnable asset and updates it at every handover between partners. Rotion adds an AI agent, Autopilot, on top of that record. The same data runs custody, partner balances, deposits, PPWR reuse reporting and the connections to your ERP, WMS and TMS. - Asset-level identity on the codes already on your fleet - Partners join with a phone and a link - Autopilot proposes, you approve Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 01Modules #### Six modules, one record. Every module reads from and writes to the same record per asset. Nothing is copied between systems, so nothing has to be reconciled. - M.01 Autopilot Reads every scan, flags what is going wrong and proposes the fix. /platform/autopilot - M.02 Partner portal Each partner sees what it holds and confirms handovers. /platform/partner-portal - M.03 Deposits and settlements Charges and credits deposits from the scans that move custody. /platform/deposits - M.04 Reuse reporting Counts cycles and reuse rates per asset type, customer and period. /platform/reuse-reporting - M.05 Digital packaging passport Keeps identity, cycles and condition per asset, from the first scan. /platform/digital-packaging-passport - M.06 Integrations Syncs orders, partners and scans with ERP, WMS and TMS. /platform/integrations Stacking crate · 600 x 400 x 320 mm Asset record GRAI 8712345.00417.3 Stacking crate · cycle 17├── holder: Polder Fresh DC ├── since: 4 d · dwell ok ├── deposit: € 4.50 open └── autopilot: no flags 1 record · 6 modules Fig. 1 · One record, six modules Modules read and write the same record 02Platform #### Everything the loop needs. Fleet visibility, partner balances, the agent and reporting share one data model, so nothing needs reconciling. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Fleet overview Partner balances Autopilot Reuse reporting Autopilot Sample data 03One crate #### One crate, one history. Follow one stacking crate through a week. Each scan lands on the same record, and each module picks up what it needs. GRAI 8712345.00417.3 · stacking crate Sample data Mon 06:40 ##### Polder Fresh DC Dispatch scan, 48 crates on one SSCC. Deposits Statement lineCharged Noordhof Carriers 48 × € 4.50 Deposit € 216.00 +2 h 35 min Mon 09:15 ##### Noordhof Carriers Delivery confirmed at Store 2214. Partner portal HandoverConfirmed From Noordhof Carriers To Store 2214 Confirmed on phone · 48 crates +4 d 8 h 47 min Fri 18:02 ##### Store 2214 4 days at the store, return not booked. Autopilot Autopilot flag Holds 48 crates · 4 d Proposes Pickup on Saturday Confidence 91% Approve Not now +13 h 28 min Sat 07:30 ##### Noordhof Carriers Pickup scan, 46 of 48 crates. Deposits Store 2214 balance2 open Picked up 46 / 48 Still open 2 × € 4.50 +6 h 40 min Sat 14:10 ##### Wash center B Washed and inspected, cycle 18. Reuse reporting · Passport Stacking crateCounted Cycle 18 Condition ok Next back to Polder Fresh DC 04Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Polder Fresh DC returned 26% fewer crates than it received over the last three weeks. Why Issues to Polder Fresh DC stayed flat while returns dropped from week 38. Its stores on the Kempen route hold 340 crates past their usual 9 days. Proposes Send Polder Fresh DC a balance statement and add a pickup to Friday’s Kempen route. Approve Edit confidence 92% Assets back in rotation this month 1,280 Sample data #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What does Rotion do that our ERP does not? Your ERP counts packaging as stock per partner. Rotion keeps a record per asset with its holder, location, cycles and condition, shared with every partner in the loop. It runs alongside your ERP and connects to it, see integrations. Q.02 Which assets can Rotion manage? Crates, trays, totes, pallets, pallet boxes, IBCs, kegs, roll cages and reusable cups or takeaway containers. Each asset type carries its own dimensions, deposit and lifecycle rules, and one account can run several types and loops at once. Q.03 Do we need new labels or hardware? No. Rotion reads the QR codes, barcodes, RFID tags and GS1 GRAI identifiers already on your fleet and turns each one into a digital packaging passport. Labels are printed only for assets that carry none. Q.04 What does Autopilot add? Autopilot is the AI agent on top of every scan. It notices anomalies such as assets overdue at a partner, proposes the next action with its reasoning and a confidence score, and acts once you approve. See how Autopilot works. Q.05 How long does it take to go live and what does it cost? Most teams go live in weeks, starting with one flow and adding partners one at a time. Rotion Starter begins at 150 euros a month with 14 days free, and larger fleets are priced by asset volume. See pricing. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 17 Sept 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Operations 1 Sept 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 05 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop on one record. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## AI Agent for Reusable Packaging Operations | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/autopilot AI agent for reusable packaging ### It notices first, and tells you why. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop. It flags what is going wrong, proposes the next action with its reasoning and confidence, and acts once you approve. Every decision is logged and can be undone. Q · A #### What is an AI agent for reusable packaging? An AI agent for reusable packaging works on the scan record of your fleet and acts on it. Rotion Autopilot notices anomalies such as assets overdue at a partner, explains why it flagged them, proposes the next action with a confidence score, and carries it out once someone with the right role approves. Routine work like reminders can run on its own. - Proposes with reasoning and confidence - Acts on approval, every action can be undone - Decision log and audit log per action 01Platform #### What Autopilot watches. Autopilot reads the same record as the rest of the platform, so its proposals use the scans, balances and routes your team already trusts. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Anomaly detection Return chasing Fleet balance Decision log Autopilot Sample data 02Patterns #### Six patterns it catches early. Autopilot checks every scan against your return dates, each partner’s history and your thresholds. These are the patterns it flags most, with a sample of what it shows. W.01 ##### Overdue at a partner. Assets past their return date at a carrier, store or customer, with the reminders already sent. 37 roll cages · 14 d past due W.02 ##### Returns falling behind. A partner that sends back fewer assets than it receives, week after week, before the gap turns into a write-off. Customer 14 · −31% over 4 weeks W.03 ##### Stock piling up. A site holding far more assets than its usual level while other sites run short. Retailer 3 DC · +1,140 vs 90 d avg W.04 ##### Scans that do not add up. Duplicate scans, missing returns and counts that differ from the delivery note. POD-55102 · scanned twice in 40 s W.05 ##### Damage and breakage. Damage seen on inbound photos and partners whose breakage rate climbs above normal. Filler 07 · 3.1% vs 0.8% usual W.06 ##### Deposits and balances. Assets held long enough to charge a deposit, and balances that both sides read differently. 12 boxes · 45 d · € 1,020 03How it works #### Notice, propose, act. Autopilot runs the same four steps on every scan. People stay in charge of every step that costs money or touches a partner. - 01 ##### Notice Autopilot compares each scan with the asset’s history, the partner’s usual behavior and the route. - 02 ##### Explain It shows the evidence behind the flag: the scans, the trend and the partners involved. - 03 ##### Propose It suggests one concrete action, with a confidence score you can weigh. - 04 ##### Act and log Once approved, it books the pickup and sends the reminder. The step lands in the decision log. 04Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. sample data · loops Sample data. Partner names are fictional. 05Control #### You set the rules. It does the rest. Each rule has a threshold you choose and one of three modes. Start on Suggest, then move routine work to Auto as the team comes to trust the calls. - M.01 Suggest Shows the proposal. Nothing happens until someone acts on it. - M.02 Ask first Prepares the action and waits for one click to approve. - M.03 Auto Runs the action and logs it, with undo. Rule Threshold Mode Send return reminders in the partner’s language overdue > 3 days Merge duplicate scans same asset < 60 s Plan pickups on an existing route overdue > 10 days Take damaged assets out of rotation photo confidence > 70% Charge deposits held > 45 days Write off lost assets no scan > 90 days Sample data · A common setup lets messages run on their own and keeps anything involving money for a person. 06Decision log #### Every decision leaves a trail. Each entry shows what Autopilot saw, what it did or proposes, and how sure it is. Calls waiting for you sit on top. Routine work can be undone, and every entry stays in the record. Decision log Every action with its reason, confidence and source Sample data - 07:58 Proposed pickup for 37 roll cages at Carrier North 14 days past return date, no reply to two reminders. Confidence 94% Waiting for you Review - 07:31 Sent reminder to Carrier North Second reminder, Dutch template. Matched to order SO-88417. Confidence 98% Auto-executed↺ Undo - 03:47 Flagged IBC-000214 as damaged Dent on the cage frame in the inbound photo at Filler Antwerp. Confidence 72% Waiting for you Review - 01:05 Merged duplicate scan POD-55102 Same crate scanned twice at DC Zellik within 40 seconds. Confidence 99% Auto-executed↺ Undo - 23:40 Closed balance with Carrier West Undone at 07:02. A counter-count is still open on 6 pallets. Confidence 81% Undone Showing 5 of 17 since 22:00 07A morning #### A morning with Autopilot. Autopilot works through the night on the scans that come in. When the team starts, the routine work is done and the rest is waiting with its reasons. - 01 ##### Overnight run Autopilot checks the day’s scans against your thresholds and handles what your rules put on Auto. - 02 ##### Morning briefing One screen with what was handled, what was recovered and the few calls that need a person. - 03 ##### Ask why Ask a follow-up in plain language. Autopilot answers from the custody record and shows its sources. - 04 ##### Approve and follow up Approve the pickup in one click. Autopilot adds the stop, tells the partner and watches for the return scan. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Where Autopilot works. Crates and trays Overdue crates at stores and growers Partner portal Reminders partners can answer Deposits and settlements Corrections proposed with evidence Packaging operators Leakage across customers and regions #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Does Autopilot act without approval? Only where you allow it. Each rule has a threshold you set and runs in Suggest, Ask first or Auto mode. Teams usually put return reminders and duplicate scans on Auto and keep pickups, balance statements and deposit corrections on Ask first. Calls with low confidence wait for a person whatever the mode, and you can change any rule at any time. Q.02 Can Autopilot’s actions be undone? Yes. Every action Autopilot takes, approved or routine, can be undone from the decision log. The log keeps the reasoning, the confidence score, who approved it and what changed. Q.03 What data does Autopilot use? Autopilot uses the scan and custody record in Rotion: handovers, dwell times, partner balances, cycles and asset condition. Where you connect your ERP, WMS or TMS, it also uses orders and routes to time pickups. Q.04 Is our data used to train AI models? Your fleet and partner data stay in your Rotion account and are processed under our privacy policy. The team walks through model use and data handling in detail during the demo, so your IT and legal teams get the answer in writing. Q.05 How is this different from alerts in a tracking tool? An alert tells you a threshold was crossed. Autopilot tells you which partner and handover are behind it, shows the evidence, proposes one action and carries it out on approval. Operators running Rotion report 28% fewer assets lost. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 27 Aug 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear Comparisons 24 Jan 2026 ##### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Watch Autopilot on your loop. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Digital Packaging Passport for Reusable Assets | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/digital-packaging-passport Digital packaging passport ### Every asset carries its own history. Rotion gives each crate, pallet, keg or IBC a serial-level identity that stays with it for life. Every handover, wash, repair and inspection is added to its passport, whoever holds it. Q · A #### What is a digital packaging passport? A digital packaging passport is the digital record of one reusable packaging asset over its whole life. In Rotion it is tied to a GS1 identifier on a QR code, barcode or RFID tag, and holds the asset’s type, material, cycles, washes, repairs, inspections, current holder and end-of-life data. It is updated by the scans of everyone who handles the asset. - GS1 GRAI identity on QR, barcode or RFID - Lifecycle events logged at every scan - Material and end-of-life data per asset 01Record #### One record per asset, for life. The passport opens at the first scan. Every partner who handles the box adds a dated entry, from the app, the portal or a connected system, until the box is retired. Assets / Reusable box 600 x 400 /Serial 412 Sample data Reusable box 600 x 400, serial 412 (8003) 08712345000424412 In use Cycle 17 Holder: Store 2214 Inspection due Oct 20, 2026 Lifecycle Oldest first - C2 Made, batch 2024-11, PP injection moulded Customer 22 portal Jul 13, 2025 - C2 GRAI label printed, under the owner’s company prefix Customer 22 portal Jul 13, 2025 - C2 Registered at the first scan, passport opened Customer 22 app Jul 13, 2025 - C2 Identifier linked, the existing barcode stays readable Customer 22 connected system Jul 13, 2025 - 1 Cycle 1 - C2 Dispatched, to Store 2214 wash 1 Customer 22 app Jul 15Delivered by Carrier Nordlane Jul 28Returned by Store 2214 Jul 30Washed at Wash center B Jul 14, 2025 Cycles 2 to 8 7 cycles, 28 handovers, 7 washes Aug 2025 to Jan 2026 Show entries - 9 Cycle 9 - ST Returned, hinge cracked, flagged at the return scan Store 2214 app photo attached Feb 27, 2026 - RB Repaired, hinge replaced, sent here instead of the wash Repair bay 3 app repair note added Mar 2, 2026 Cycles 10 to 15 6 cycles, 24 handovers, 6 washes Mar 2026 to Aug 2026 Show entries - 16 Cycle 16 - CN Delivered, to Store 2214 Carrier Nordlane connected system Sep 12Dispatched by Customer 22 Sep 25Returned by Store 2214 Sep 13, 2026 - WB Washed wash 15 Wash center B app Sep 27, 2026 - WB Inspection passed, walls, base, hinges, label Wash center B app Sep 28, 2026 - 17 Cycle 17, current - C2 Dispatched, to Store 2214 Customer 22 app Oct 10, 2026 - ST Received, delivered by Carrier Nordlane Store 2214 app Now Oct 11, 2026 - AP Inspection scheduled, at the next wash Autopilot asset type rule Oct 20, 2026 - R Retired, not yet Status retired Reason worn or below spec at inspection Route PP regrind, back to material not yet C2 Customer 22, owner WB Wash center B ST Store 2214 CN Carrier Nordlane RB Repair bay 3 AP Autopilot Identity GRAI 08712345000424412 Digital Link id.loop.example/8003/08712345000424412 RFID EPC urn:epc:id:grai:8712345.00042.412 Linked CRT-600400-0412 existing code Attributes asset type 00042 Type Reusable box 600 x 400 Material PP Weight 2.1 kg Design minimum, rotations 100 Deposit value €4.50 Lid colour Grey custom field Owner Customer 22 loop Holder and condition ST Store 2214 since Oct 11, 2026, cycle 17 Passedlast inspection Sep 28, 2026 Oct 20, 2026next inspection Counts 16 Cycles 15 Washes 1 Repairs 16 of 100 design rotations Documents 3 attached - PDF Material declaration Customer 22, Jul 13, 2025 - PDF Batch 2024-11 test report Customer 22, Jul 13, 2025 - JPG Repair note Repair bay 3, Mar 2, 2026 02How it works #### A passport filled by every scan. The passport is created once and grows with every handling step. Nobody types it in. - 01 ##### Register Existing codes map in as identifiers. Assets without a code get a GS1 label with a Digital Link. - 02 ##### Circulate Each handover adds the holder, the place and the time to the passport. - 03 ##### Wash and repair Wash cycles, inspections and repairs are logged per asset, with the station that did them. - 04 ##### Retire When an asset leaves the loop, the passport records why and where its material goes. 03Identifiers #### A GS1 key any system can read. Each asset carries a GRAI, the GS1 key for returnable assets. Rotion prints the label under your own company prefix and puts the same key on every carrier the label holds. The label, on the crate 1 QR 3 RFID Fig. 1, the GRAI pulled apart (8003) 08712345000424412 Sample data (8003) 01 Application identifierTells any GS1 reader that a GRAI follows. 0 02 FillerA fixed zero that pads the key to 14 digits. 8712345 03 Company prefixThe owner’s own GS1 prefix. Labels print under it. 00042 04 Asset typeReusable box 600 x 400. One code per asset type. 4 05 Check digitComputed from the 13 digits before it, see below. 412 06 SerialThis one box. The passport hangs on this number. Check digit, worked Weights 3 and 1 alternate over the 13 digits before it. A misread digit fails the check. 0x30 8x18 7x321 1x11 2x36 3x13 4x312 5x15 0x30 0x10 0x30 4x14 2x36 Sum 66 Round up to 70 70 - 66 = 44 - 1 QR with GS1 Digital Linkhttps://id.loop.example/8003/08712345000424412 Any phone camera opens the public view, without an app. - 2 GS1-128 barcode(8003) 08712345000424412 Read by the handheld and dock scanners partners already use. - 3 RFID, EPC GRAI-96urn:epc:id:grai:8712345.00042.412 Gates and readers count a full stack without line of sight. Existing codes map in. An old customer barcode becomes a second identifier on the same passport, so nothing needs relabeling. CRT-600400-0412 GRAI …412 One scan for a pallet. An SSCC on the pallet links the boxes on it, so a full pallet is handled in one scan. Your prefix, your keys. Labels print under the owner’s own GS1 company prefix. The keys stay yours if you change systems. 04Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works 96 crates in the Customer 22 loop logged a third hinge repair in 10 cycles. Why All 96 come from production batch 2024-11 and failed at the same wash station. Crates from other batches on the same route show one repair in 40 cycles. Proposes Pull batch 2024-11 from circulation at the next wash and open a claim with the supplier. Approve Edit confidence 92% Repairs avoided this quarter 310 Sample data 05Access #### Each reader sees their part. One passport, three readers. The owner decides what each partner sees and what the public sees after scanning the label with a phone camera. Owner, Customer 22 Everything. Every field and every entry. Inside the owner’s team, access is set per role. Partner, Wash center B Its own part. Washes, inspections, condition and its own handovers, without the deposit value or other partners. Its users get the same access. Public, anyone scanning the QR What the owner publishes. For example type, material, reusable, how to return it and the cycle count. One passport, one GRAI Reusable box 600 x 400 Owner view Partner view Public view Sample data - GRAI (8003) 08712345000424412 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Type Reusable box 600 x 400, type code 00042 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Material PP Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Reusable Yes, design minimum 100 rotations Not shared with Wash center B Not published - How to return it Hand it in at any Customer 22 store Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Cycle count 16 completed, now in cycle 17 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Weight 2.1 kg Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Condition Good. Inspection passed Sep 28, 2026, next due Oct 20, 2026 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Washes 15, the last on Sep 27, 2026 at Wash center B Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Own handovers Received Sep 25, 2026, released Sep 30, 2026 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Current holder Store 2214 since Oct 11, 2026 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Repairs 1, hinge replaced on Mar 2, 2026 at Repair bay 3 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Deposit value €4.50 Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Documents Material declaration, batch test report, repair note Not shared with Wash center B Not published - Full route Customer 22, Carrier Nordlane, Store 2214, Wash center B Not shared with Wash center B Not published Owner, partner, public shown hidden PPWR, EU Regulation 2025/40 Where the passport meets the rules. The dates below come from the regulation. The passport holds the reuse data you will report on. - Aug 12, 2026 PPWR applies. - Jun 30, 2027 Calculation rules due. How reuse is counted gets fixed. - Jan 1, 2030 Reuse targets start. At least 40% of transport packaging used between companies must be reusable, counted across pallets, crates, boxes, trays and IBCs together. 100% between your own sites or within one member state. Data carrier on the pack.Reusable packaging will have to carry a QR code or other digital data carrier with reuse information. No date is set yet. Passport, a separate instrument.The digital product passport comes from ESPR, the ecodesign regulation, not from PPWR. Your data, portable.Passport data exports in full and is available through the API. PPWR NavigatorReuse reporting Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Where passports are used. Reuse reporting Cycles and reuse rates for PPWR Integrations QR, RFID, BLE and your ERP IBCs Inspection and cleaning history Kegs Fills and returns per keg #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What is the difference between a digital packaging passport and a digital product passport? A digital product passport describes a product type and its materials for consumers and regulators. A digital packaging passport in Rotion follows one physical reusable asset through its life and is updated at every handover. Read how Rotion differs from DPP platforms. Q.02 Does PPWR require a digital packaging passport? PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, sets reuse targets and labelling rules for packaging, and further details follow in implementing acts. Rotion keeps the per-asset data those rules build on, so the evidence already exists when they apply. See how PPWR is changing the packaging industry. Q.03 Which identifiers does the passport use? Rotion uses GS1 identifiers such as the GRAI for returnable assets, carried on a QR code, barcode or RFID tag. QR codes follow GS1 Digital Link, so anyone can scan them with a phone camera. Codes already on your fleet map in, so relabeling is rarely needed. Q.04 Who can see an asset’s passport? You decide. Access is set per partner and per role, so a carrier sees custody events while your wash center sees cleaning and inspection data. Public scans of a Digital Link code show only what you choose to publish. Q.05 Can we add our own fields to the passport? Yes. Each asset type carries its own attributes, such as material, weight, dimensions, deposit value, contents and inspection intervals, and each passport can hold documents such as declarations, test reports and photos. Lifecycle events fill in automatically from scans and from the systems you connect. Q.06 Can passport data leave Rotion? Yes. Passport data exports as a file and is available through the API, so your ERP, a reporting tool or an auditor can read it. The GS1 identifiers stay readable by any GS1 system, with or without Rotion. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? PPWR 25 Aug 2026 ##### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) PPWR 26 Jan 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 06 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Give every asset a passport. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Partner Portal for Reusable Packaging Loops | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/partner-portal Partner portal for reusable packaging ### Every partner sees what they hold. Growers, carriers, stores and fillers join your loop with a phone and a link. They confirm handovers, check their own balance and answer return requests, on the same record you use. Q · A #### What is a partner portal for reusable packaging? A partner portal gives every company that handles your reusable assets its own view of them. In Rotion, growers, carriers, stores and fillers see the assets they hold, confirm handovers and check their balance against the same scan evidence you see. They join by phone and link, without installing software or starting an IT project. - Onboarding by phone and link - Handovers confirmed on both sides - Each partner sees only its own data 01Onboarding #### From invite to first handover, the same morning. A new store gets a text, opens the link in its browser and confirms its first delivery, without installing anything or involving IT. Sample data. Store 2214, Ghent. Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - 08:02 08:02 5G R Rotion Today 08:02 DC Zellik invited Store 2214 to confirm crate handovers. Open link Also by email. Invite 08:02 The invite arrives by text. - 08:40 08:40 5G Partnerportaal NL Welkom, Store 2214. Jouw locatie Store 2214, Gent In bezit 0 kratten Aanmelden Aanmelden met link Wachtwoord SSO 08:40 One site, in the partner’s language. - 09:15 09:15 5G Delivery HO-26-10-4471 From Noordhof Carriers 48 crates Scans 48 Confirm 48 of 48 Confirmed 09:15. Custody moved to Store 2214. 09:15 The first delivery is confirmed. Invite to first confirmed handover 1 h 13 min Partners never add to your bill. Rotion is priced per platform, not per user. The scan app is optional, for high volumes and offline work. 02How it works #### From invite to confirmed handover. Partners need a phone and a link. Your team and regular partners can use the scan app for batch scans and offline work. - 01 ##### Invite Send a link by text or email. The partner opens it on a phone and sees its locations and assets. - 02 ##### Confirm handover At pickup or delivery, both sides confirm the count. Custody moves on the spot. - 03 ##### Check balance Each partner sees what it holds per asset type and site, and since when. - 04 ##### Resolve A difference opens with the scans attached. Most close with a lookup instead of a call. 03Handovers #### Both sides see the same count. The carrier’s delivery scan and the store’s confirmation land on one record. When counts differ, the difference opens with both sets of scans. Counts matchCounts differ DC Zellik to Store 2214, Tue, Oct 13, 2026, 09:15 Sample data NCNoordhof Carriers Carrier portal Handovers / HO-26-10-4471 Delivery to Store 2214 From DC Zellik, 09:15 Delivered 48 Your scans 48 Store count 48 Store count 46 Confirmed on both sides Difference open: 2 STStore 2214, Ghent Store portal Handovers / HO-26-10-4471 Delivery from Noordhof Carriers From DC Zellik, 09:15 Received 48 Received 46 Carrier 48 Confirmed 09:15 Confirmed on both sides Difference open: 2 Same reference, same numbers, confirmed on both sides. Both balances update from this record. Carrier scans 48 Store scans 46 Missing from the store’s scans CRT-600400-0417 CRT-600400-0431 Outcome The missing crates stay on Noordhof Carriers’ balance until they are found. Both balances update from the same evidence. 04Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Customer 22 has 3 unconfirmed handovers from Noordhof Carriers, totalling 144 crates. Why The carrier scanned the deliveries on 9, 10 and 11 October. Customer 22 usually confirms within a day, and its balance is now 144 crates above what it has acknowledged. Proposes Send Customer 22 a confirmation request with the three delivery scans attached. Approve Edit confidence 92% Handovers confirmed this week 1,962 Sample data 05Access #### You decide what each partner can do. Set the actions per partner. A partner adds its own users, signs in the way its IT prefers and sees the portal in its own language, under your brand if you run a pool. Partner access Crate loop, DC Zellik Partners in this loop PF Polder Fresh Grower NC Noordhof Carriers Carrier ST Store 2214 Store, Ghent F7 Filler 07 Filler Polder Fresh Grower See balance Confirm handovers Report a count Accept or dispute statements Accept Dispute Download statements and history CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Plain-language questions about its own assets Add own users Read-only Only see the balance and download Actions are off for this partner. Portal preview, Polder Fresh Your brand Polder Fresh Grower Balance Handovers Report a count Statements AcceptDispute Downloads CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Users Read-only access Signs in by: link Noordhof Carriers Carrier See balance Confirm handovers Report a count Accept or dispute statements Accept Dispute Download statements and history CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Plain-language questions about its own assets Add own users Read-only Only see the balance and download Actions are off for this partner. Portal preview, Noordhof Carriers Your brand Noordhof Carriers Carrier Balance Handovers Report a count Statements AcceptDispute Downloads CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Users Read-only access Signs in by: SSO Store 2214 Store, Ghent See balance Confirm handovers Report a count Accept or dispute statements Accept Dispute Download statements and history CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Plain-language questions about its own assets Add own users Read-only Only see the balance and download Actions are off for this partner. Portal preview, Store 2214 Your brand Store 2214 Store, Ghent Balance Handovers Report a count Statements AcceptDispute Downloads CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Users Read-only access Signs in by: link Filler 07 Filler See balance Confirm handovers Report a count Accept or dispute statements Accept Dispute Download statements and history CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Plain-language questions about its own assets Add own users Read-only Only see the balance and download Actions are off for this partner. Portal preview, Filler 07 Your brand Filler 07 Filler Balance Handovers Report a count Statements AcceptDispute Downloads CSV, PDF Ask Rotion Users Read-only access Signs in by: password Sign-in By link, password or SSO. Link Password SSO Language The portal in the partner’s language. Set per partner Branding Your brand on the portal, if you run a pool. Your logo Your name Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Loops with many partners. Crates and trays Growers, DCs and stores Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores Deposits and settlements Statements partners can check Autopilot Reminders that partners answer #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do our partners need to install an app? No. Partners open the portal from a link on any phone or computer and confirm handovers in the browser. Teams that scan large volumes or work offline can use the Rotion scan app. Q.02 How do we onboard a new partner? You add the partner and its locations, then send an invite by text or email. The partner opens the link, and its first handover can be confirmed the same day. No integration or IT project is needed. Q.03 Can partners see each other’s data? No. Each partner sees only the assets it holds, its own handovers and its own balance. Access is set per partner and per role, and you decide which actions each one can take. Q.04 What if a partner refuses to scan? Your drivers can scan on the partner’s behalf at pickup and delivery, and SSCC batching keeps it to one scan per load. The balance stays accurate even when a partner never opens the portal. Q.05 Can large partners connect their own systems instead? Yes. Partners with their own WMS or ERP can send handovers through the REST API, webhooks, EDI or CSV import. See integrations. Q.06 Do partners add to our bill? No. Rotion is priced per platform, not per user, so partners and their users never add to your bill. See pricing. Q.07 How do partners sign in? By a link sent to their phone or email, by password, or through SSO for large partners. The portal shows in the partner’s language, and a partner can add its own users. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 28 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Operations 21 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks Operations 7 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 06 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Bring your partners onto one record. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/deposits Deposit management software ### Deposits that add up. Rotion charges and credits deposits from the same scans that move custody. Every partner gets a statement it can check line by line, and settlements close on evidence instead of negotiation. Q · A #### What is deposit management software for reusable packaging? Deposit management software tracks the deposit value of returnable assets as they move between partners and settles it. Rotion sets a deposit per asset type, charges it when assets are issued and credits it on return, all from scans. Each partner receives a statement backed by the scan history, and pooling settlements use the same data. - Deposit per asset type and per partner agreement - Statements backed by scan evidence - Disputes resolved with a lookup 01Ledger #### From scan to ledger, untouched. A driver scans an empty keg at the venue. That one scan credits the deposit on the venue’s statement and posts the journal entry in your ERP, with the same reference carried through. Nobody keys a number twice. 01 Return scan, Rotion app Return scan Sample data KEG 0x2B90 Recorded Asset 30 L keg State Returned empty From Venue 31 Scanned by Driver, route 4 Time Sep 25, 2026, 07:40 Asset Venue 31 → Brouwerij Noord Deposit Brouwerij Noord → Venue 31, €30.00 02 Statement line, partner portal Venue 31 Deposit statement, Q3 2026 Sample data Date Line Amount Balance Jul 01 Opening balance 1,290.00 Aug 14 Delivered full, 6 kegs 6 scans +180.00 1,470.00 Sep 11 Returned empty, 3 kegs 3 scans -90.00 1,380.00 Sep 25 Returned empty, KEG 0x2B90 RTN-0x2B90 -30.00 1,350.00 Open balance €1,350.00 Dispute Accept 03 Journal entry, ERP Journal entry 4100 2316 Brouwerij Noord, EUR Sample data Posting date 09/25/2026 Reference RTN-0x2B90 Document type Deposit settlement Source Rotion, 1 scan Account Text Debit Credit 2410 Deposit liability 30.00 1400 Receivable Venue 31 30.00 Balanced 30.00 30.00 VAT code: no VAT on deposit Posted Deposit values are set per asset type, with exceptions per partner agreement, currency and contract date. - Statement Every line opens its scans - Portal Partners accept or dispute - ERP SAP and Microsoft Dynamics 02Platform #### Built for finance and operations. Operations sees the assets, finance sees the money, and both look at the same scans. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Deposit ledger Balance per partner Evidence per line Settlement reports Autopilot Sample data 03How it works #### Deposits follow the scans. The scan that moves custody also moves the deposit, so there is no separate deposit administration. - 01 ##### Set the deposit Each asset type carries a deposit value, with exceptions per partner agreement where you need them. - 02 ##### Charge on issue When assets leave to a partner, their deposit is added to that partner’s balance. - 03 ##### Credit on return The return scan credits the deposit. Inspection results stay on the asset, visible to both sides. - 04 ##### Settle Statements per partner and period, with the scans behind every line, ready for your ERP. 04Clearing #### Six retailers, one clearing run. When a consumer can return a package at any store, every store refunds deposits on packages another store sold. Rotion nets the balances at month end and hands finance a short list of transfers instead of thirty. ##### Gross refunds, September 2026 Each square is what one store refunded on another store’s packages. Sample data Refunded at Package sold by A B C D E F Refunded A 4,375.20 B 2,446.50 C 3,291.60 D 2,972.40 E 3,433.80 F 1,720.50 30 gross flows €18,240.00 Packages refunded 60,800 - Square area is the amount, shown at €250, €1,000, €2,000 - Own packages, nothing to clear - Pair settled by a transfer - Cancelled out in netting ##### After netting 5 transfers settle all the flows. Sample data - B pays → A €1,023.60 - C pays → A €640.50 - D pays → E €412.80 - F pays → E €288.30 - F pays → A €96.60 Total moved €2,461.80 A +1,761 B -1,024 C -641 D -413 E +701 F -385 Net position per retailer: up receives, down pays. Net transfer instructions for finance. Rotion does not move money. Customer case Repasys runs this loop: €0.30 deposit, 6 retailers, 106,312 packages, return at any store. 05Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Venue 18 disputes 38 kegs on its Q3 deposit statement. Why The scan history shows 30 of the 38 kegs delivered and confirmed by Venue 18 staff. The other 8 were scanned at return by your driver but never booked as received. Proposes Credit 8 kegs and send the partner the 30 confirmed delivery scans. Approve Edit confidence 92% Disputes closed this quarter 41 Sample data 06Exposure #### What a deposit covers, and what it does not. A deposit pays you back for a lost asset only up to the deposit value. Set your own numbers and see how much of the replacement cost stays uncovered each year. ##### One year of losses, drawn to scale The large square is the replacement value lost. The dark square inside is the deposit you keep on those assets. Sample data Replacement value lost €32,000 Deposit kept on those €6,000 Gap the deposit does not cover €26,000 The deposit covers 18.8% of what you lose. Sample figures. Arithmetic on your inputs, not a forecast. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Loops that run on deposits. Pallets Exchange balances and pooling Kegs Deposits across distributors and venues Partner portal Statements partners can open Reuse reporting Return rates from the same scans #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 How does Rotion calculate deposits? Each asset type has a deposit value, with exceptions per partner agreement where needed. The deposit is charged when an asset is issued to a partner and credited when it is scanned back, so the balance follows custody automatically. Q.02 How do we resolve a deposit dispute with a partner? Open the statement line. It shows the handovers behind it, with time, place, count and who confirmed each one. Most disputes close with that lookup, and corrections are logged with a reason. Q.03 Can Rotion handle pooling and exchange settlements? Yes. Rotion calculates balances between pool members per asset type and period from the scan record, and produces settlement statements for each member. The same data serves pallet exchange and shared crate pools. Q.04 Does it work with our accounting or ERP system? Yes. Statements and settlements export to SAP and Odoo through connectors, or through the REST API, EDI or CSV for other systems. Deposit values can also come from your ERP. See integrations. Q.05 Can Rotion run consumer deposits for reusable cups and takeaway packaging? Yes. Rotion runs deposit systems for reusable cups and takeaway containers, with the deposit following each item to its return point. Reuse startups usually start on Rotion Starter, see pricing. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 28 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Operations 21 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks Operations 28 Aug 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Settle on evidence. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Reuse Reporting Software | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/reuse-reporting PPWR reuse reporting ### Reuse figures you can prove. Rotion turns every scan into reuse rates, cycle counts and rotations per asset type, customer and period. Your PPWR evidence comes from the scans in your own operation. Q · A #### What is PPWR reuse reporting? PPWR reuse reporting is the evidence that reusable packaging is actually reused, as required by the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40. Calculation rules apply from 30 June 2027 and reuse targets from 2030. Rotion calculates reuse rates, cycles per asset and rotations from asset-level scans, per customer and period, and exports them. - Reuse rate and cycles from scans - Per asset type, customer and period - Exports for PPWR and sustainability reports 01Report #### A report where every number has its scans. Each rate is counted per asset, from the scans at every handover. Split it by packaging category, loop or customer and period. Open any figure to see the returns, pending items and losses behind it. Return scan, wash line W2 +1 to the numerator How a reuse rate is made 97.1% Cycles completed, each closed by a return scan Cycles started in the period, by asset ID - Issue A crate leaves your site with its ID scanned. - Return The return scan closes one cycle for that crate. - Count Rotations add up per item against its design minimum. Reports / PPWR / Reuse report, Q3 2026 Sample data ##### Reuse report, Q3 2026 Pool operator North, sample data. 1 Jul to 30 Sep 2026. CSV PDF XLSX Schedule Category Loop Customer Period: Q3 2026 All sites Packaging category In circulation Cycles completed Reuse rate Rotations per item Days per rotation Lost Crates 48,200 41,350 97.1% 6.4 13.8 412 Pallets 12,600 9,880 95.4% 4.1 21.0 188 IBCs 2,140 1,310 98.2% 3.2 26.5 12 Crates, rotations vs design minimum: 6.4 of 50 PPWR 2030 Transport packaging between companies: 40% reusable from 2030. PPWR 2030 Between your own sites or within one member state: 100% reusable from 2030. Evidence, Crates, Q3 2026 97.1% Reuse rate. Made of the scans below. Returns, scanned 41,350 Pending, out with customers 820 Lost, written off 412 Example scans - RTN-26Q3-048211 Sep 28, 06:42 DC Ghent, dock 3 · J. Peeters - RTN-26Q3-048212 Sep 28, 06:43 DC Ghent, dock 3 · J. Peeters - RTN-26Q3-047906 Sep 27, 14:18 Wash line W2, Fresh Coop · scanner W2-A Open all return scans (41,350) - Export CSV, PDF or XLSX, on a schedule by email, or through the API. - Audit A read-only login for your auditor, with the scans behind each figure. - CSRD The same figures give your CSRD team the numbers behind its circular economy disclosures. 02Platform #### Built for compliance and customers. One set of figures serves the regulator, your customers and your own planning. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Reuse reports Rotation per loop Fleet status Cycle history Autopilot Sample data 03How it works #### From scan to report. Reuse figures come from the same record that runs the loop. Nothing is collected separately for reporting. - 01 ##### Scan Every issue, return and wash is recorded per asset, by your team and your partners. - 02 ##### Count cycles A completed loop adds a cycle to the asset’s passport. Losses and retirements are recorded too. - 03 ##### Calculate Reuse rate, cycles per asset and rotation time are calculated per asset type, customer and period. - 04 ##### Export Reports export as CSV or PDF, or flow to your ERP and sustainability tools through the API. 04Baseline #### Start now, and 2030 has history. The dates in the regulation are fixed. Your scan history starts on the day you start tracking. Every quarter you count now is a quarter of baseline when the calculation rules and targets apply. Start tracking in Q4 2026Q1 2027Q2 2027Q3 2027Q4 2027Q1 2028 History on 30 June 2027 3 2 1 0 0 0 quarters of scans History on 1 January 2030 13 12 11 10 9 8 quarters of scans Quarters counted from the start of tracking. Check your own deadlines in the PPWR Navigator. ##### Baseline, Q3 2026 to Q1 2030 Sample data Aug 12, 2026 Jun 30, 2027 Jan 1, 2030 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Regulation (EU) 2025/40 Your scan history From Q4 2026, 13 quarters of scans Q1 2027, 12 quarters of scans Q2 2027, 11 quarters of scans Q3 2027, 10 quarters of scans Q4 2027, 9 quarters of scans Q1 2028, 8 quarters of scans - Aug 12, 2026 The regulation applies. - Jun 30, 2027 Rules for calculating reuse rates apply. - Jan 1, 2030 40% between companies, 100% between own sites or within one member state. Fixed dates Scan history Targets in force 05Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works The reuse rate in the Retail North loop fell from 97.4% to 93.8% in September. Why Most of the drop comes from Store 4410, where 260 crates have not been scanned back for 30 days. Without it, the loop stays at 97.2%. Proposes Add a collection at Store 4410 and mark its crates as pending in the Q3 report until they are scanned. Approve Edit confidence 92% Reuse rate, Q3 sample 97.1% Sample data 06Customers #### One fleet, a report per customer. The same scans split by customer or loop. Each card shows eight quarters on one scale, so a dip stands out, and the reason behind it is one click away. Pool operator North / 6 loops, reuse rate, Q4 2024 to Q3 2026 Sample data Retail North Own login 93.8% Q3 2026 -3.2 pts Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 FlaggedStore 4410 holds 260 crates unscanned for 30 days. Without it, the loop stays at 97.2%. Retail South Own login 97.6% Q3 2026 Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 No open flags Fresh Coop Own login 98.1% Q3 2026 Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 No open flags Bakery Group Own login 96.9% Q3 2026 Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 No open flags DC Ghent Own login 97.4% Q3 2026 Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 No open flags Grower 12 Own login 98.4% Q3 2026 Q4 2024 97% line Q3 2026 No open flags Each customer can log in to its own report. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Who reports reuse with Rotion. Packaging operators Reuse figures per customer Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores Digital packaging passport Cycles and history per asset Autopilot Flags what drags reuse down #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What does PPWR require for reusable packaging? PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, sets reuse targets for transport and sales packaging, and requires operators to evidence that reusable packaging actually circulates. Calculation rules apply from 30 June 2027 and reuse targets from 2030. The PPWR Navigator lists the deadlines that apply to you. Q.02 How does Rotion calculate the reuse rate? Rotion counts completed cycles, returns, losses and retirements per asset from the scan record. From those it calculates the reuse rate, cycles per asset and rotation time per asset type, customer and period. Every figure links back to the scans behind it. Q.03 Can we report reuse per customer? Yes. Reports can be split by customer, loop, site, asset type and period. Pool operators use this to give each customer its own reuse figures. Q.04 Which formats can we export? Reports export as CSV and PDF. Through the REST API and webhooks, reuse figures can also flow into your ERP, data warehouse or sustainability reporting tools. Q.05 Do we need asset-level tracking for PPWR? Asset-level scans give you reuse figures you can trace back to actual handovers, rather than estimates from purchases and stock counts. Read the PPWR reuse reporting guide for the requirements and options. #### Further reading. All articles PPWR 28 Sept 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 PPWR 25 Aug 2026 ##### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) PPWR 26 Jan 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get your reuse baseline now. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Integrations: SAP, Odoo, API | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/platform/integrations Integrations and tracking technology ### Works with what you already run. Rotion connects to your ERP, WMS and TMS, and reads the codes and tags already on your fleet. QR, barcode, RFID, BLE or NFC all become the same custody event on one record. Q · A #### Which systems does Rotion integrate with? Rotion has standard connectors for SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo and the most common WMS and TMS, and connects other systems through the REST API, webhooks, EDI or CSV import. It reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID, BLE and NFC tags and GS1 identifiers. Enterprise customers can add SSO and run Rotion in the cloud, a private cloud or on-premise. - SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo, WMS and TMS - REST API, webhooks, EDI and CSV - QR, barcode, RFID, BLE and NFC 01Connections #### Connect the systems you already run. Standard connections are part of every plan. Anything beyond them is built for you on a cost basis, on the Custom plan. Rotion 11 ports Business systems Data and events ERP StandardEvery plan In Delivery orders, partners Out Partner balances, deposit journal entries P1 SAP StandardEvery plan ##### Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP StandardEvery plan In Delivery orders, partners Out Partner balances, deposit journal entries P2 DYN 365 StandardEvery plan ERP StandardEvery plan In Delivery orders, partners Out Partner balances, deposit journal entries P3 ODOO StandardEvery plan ##### Other ERP ERP On requestCustom plan, at cost Such as Oracle NetSuite, Exact, Infor, Epicor, IFS, and AFAS In Orders, partners Out Balances, journal entries P4 ERP+ On requestCustom plan, at cost ##### Warehouse management WMS StandardMost common systems Such as Manhattan Associates, Blue Yonder, Körber, and SAP EWM In Picks, dock handovers Out Asset status per location P5 WMS StandardMost common systems ##### Transport management TMS StandardMost common systems Such as Transporeon, Alpega, SAP TM, and Oracle TMS In Routes and stops Out Pickup tasks for overdue assets P6 TMS StandardMost common systems ##### REST API Read and write Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom Two-way Assets, partners, handovers, balances P7 API Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom ##### Webhooks Events Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom Out Events for returns, overdue assets and handovers P8 HOOKS Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom ##### EDI EDIFACT On requestCustom plan, at cost In DESADV, despatch advice Out RECADV, receiving advice P9 EDI On requestCustom plan, at cost ##### CSV Files Every planImport and export In Opening balances, asset lists Out Any report P10 CSV Every planImport and export ##### Data and automation BI and workflows Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom Such as Snowflake, Power BI, Google Sheets, Make, n8n, and Zapier Out Reports, events and asset data P11 DATA Basic in every planAdvanced on Custom Front panel Into Rotion Back to your system Standard connections are set up by Rotion with no onboarding fee. Custom integrations and advanced API work sit in the Custom plan and are built on a cost basis. 02How it works #### One record, whatever reads it. A phone scan, a portal read and a BLE position become the same custody event, matched to the partner and the order. - 01 ##### Identify Existing barcodes, EPC-encoded RFID tags and GS1 GRAI codes map in. New assets get a GS1 QR label. - 02 ##### Read Phones, handhelds, RFID portals at the dock and BLE gateways on site all post reads to Rotion. - 03 ##### Sync Orders and routes come in from your ERP and TMS. Handovers and balances flow back. - 04 ##### Act Webhooks tell your systems when assets return, go overdue or need a pickup. 03Identifiers #### Read the codes already on your fleet. A phone scan, an RFID portal and a BLE gateway all land as the same custody event on one record. Nothing gets relabeled. 5 inputs Same crate - QR Phone scan, Grower Delta 07:52 - Barcode Handheld, DC Antwerp N. 11:20 - RFID (EPC) Dock portal 3, DC Antwerp N. 11:21 - BLE Gateway hall 2, Store 114 15:05 - NFC Phone tap, Wash line 2 Next day 06:40 One record Sample data CRT-600400-0412 Crate · GRAI 8712345.00042.7 - 07:52 Handover out Grower Delta QR - 11:20 Received DC Antwerp N. Barcode - 11:21 Matched to order 88213 DC Antwerp N. RFID (EPC) - 15:05 On site Store 114 BLE - Next day 06:40 Washed Wash line 2 NFC Relabeled 0 Mapped to GRAI 8712345.00042.7 04Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works RFID dock 3 reads 9% fewer crates than the SAP delivery orders for the last 5 days. Why The gap appears only on pallets loaded higher than 1.8 m. Dock 1 and dock 2 match the orders within 0.5% on the same flows. Proposes Mark dock 3 reads as partial and ask the driver for a validation scan until the reader is checked. Approve Edit confidence 92% Reads matched to orders 99.4% Sample data 05Deployment #### Run it where your security rules say. Most teams use the cloud. Enterprise customers can run Rotion in a private cloud or on their own servers. Deployment CloudPrivate cloudOn-premise Pick a position to see its terms. 01 / 03 ##### Cloud Hosting Hosted in the EU Plan Every plan Updates Automatic Single sign-on On the Custom plan 02 / 03 ##### Private cloud Hosting A dedicated instance, in the EU or your region Plan Custom plan Updates Scheduled with you Single sign-on SAML or OpenID Connect 03 / 03 ##### On-premise Hosting On your own servers Plan Custom plan Updates Scheduled with you Single sign-on SAML or OpenID Connect All three Same features, same API, same apps. Partners still join with a phone and a link. Most teams go live in weeks. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 06Systems #### Open to the systems around your loop. These are systems teams often run next to a reusable packaging loop. If yours is not on the list, it can still connect. ERP - Microsoft Dynamics 365 - Oracle NetSuite - IFS Warehouse management - Oracle WMS Transport management - Oracle TMS Data and automation - Snowflake - Power BI - Google Sheets - Make - n8n - Zapier Scanners and RFID - Impinj Standard connectors cover SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo and the most common WMS and TMS. Any other system connects through the REST API, EDI or CSV, or we build the connection with you on the Custom plan, at cost. #### Where integrations matter most. Roll cages and RTI BLE and RFID on high-volume carriers Totes and RPCs Retail and food supply chains Digital packaging passport GS1 identity per asset Partner portal Partners without integrations #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Does Rotion integrate with SAP and Odoo? Yes. Standard connectors for SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Odoo exchange orders, deliveries, partner balances and deposits. Rotion also has connectors for WMS and TMS, and any other system connects through the REST API, webhooks, EDI or CSV import. Q.02 Which tracking technologies does Rotion support? Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, passive RFID, BLE and NFC, with phones, handhelds, RFID portals or gateways. It is hardware-agnostic and does not sell tags, so the technology is chosen per flow and can change later without changing your data. Q.03 Can we use the barcodes or RFID tags already on our assets? Yes. Existing barcodes and EPC-encoded RFID tags map in as asset identifiers, alongside GS1 GRAI codes. Labels are printed only for assets that carry none. Q.04 Can we start without buying hardware? Yes. Most fleets start with printed QR codes and the phones the team already carries. RFID portals or BLE tags are added later, on the flows where your loss data justifies them. Q.05 Can Rotion run on-premise or in a private cloud? Yes, for enterprise customers. Rotion runs in the cloud by default, and private cloud or on-premise deployments with SSO are available on Custom plans. Book an hour with the team to go through your requirements. Q.06 Which integrations are included in every plan? Standard connections to SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Odoo and the most common WMS and TMS are in every plan, set up by Rotion with no onboarding fee, and so are CSV and basic use of the REST API and webhooks. EDI, custom integrations and advanced API work sit in the Custom plan and are built on a cost basis. See pricing. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 10 Sept 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 26 Aug 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) Comparisons 25 Aug 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Connect Rotion to your stack. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Crate Tracking Software for Returnable Crates | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/crate-tracking ASSET 600 x 400 x 320 mm Stacking crate grower → DC → store → wash line → ↺ Crate tracking software ### Know where every crate is. Rotion gives every returnable crate a digital identity. See which customer holds which crates, follow every rotation through the wash line, and get more of them back. Q · A #### What is crate tracking software? Crate tracking software records where each returnable crate is, who holds it and how it rotates between growers, distribution centers, stores and wash lines. Rotion does this per crate, on the QR, barcode or RFID codes already on your fleet. Customer balances, losses and wash capacity then come from scans instead of tally sheets. - Per-crate identity on existing labels - Balances per customer from scans - Autopilot flags crates overdue at a customer 01The problem #### Why crates go missing. Crates leave with every order and come back when customers get around to it. Every crate that does not come back is bought twice. P.01 ##### Tally sheets drift. Paper counts agree on delivery day and drift apart afterwards. By month end, nobody trusts the balance. P.02 ##### Customers sit on crates. A few customers hold far more crates than they need. Without per-crate data, you only notice at the next shortage. P.03 ##### Wash capacity is hidden. A pool’s real capacity is its rotation through washing. Queues at the wash line look like shortages elsewhere. 02How it works #### Your crate loop, scan by scan. Drivers and customers scan at handover with any phone. Stacks scan as one batch, and every crate stays traceable. - 01 ##### Dispatch Crates leave the packing line on a delivery. One SSCC scan covers the whole stack. - 02 ##### At customer Custody moves to the store or customer. Dwell time starts counting per crate. - 03 ##### Return The driver scans empties at pickup. Balances update for both sides at once. - 04 ##### Wash and out again Wash cycles and inspections log per crate, then the crate goes out again. 03Pool #### Where the pool is right now. Every crate has a holder and a place. The pool board shows all of them at once, and which customer is holding on too long. Pool board Sample data Crates in the pool 24,000 Four stages, one track. At customers 11,200 47% In transit 3,100 13% Wash queue 2,400 10% Ready at the DC 7,300 30% Fresh Market Gent 2,840 crates held Avg dwell 6 d 14 d Overdue 120 Groenhal Antwerpen Flagged 2,310 crates held Avg dwell 9 d 14 d Overdue 410 Daily Basket DC 1,980 crates held Avg dwell 4 d 14 d Overdue 30 Polder Fresh 1,760 crates held Avg dwell 5 d 14 d Overdue 0 Green Corner 1,540 crates held Avg dwell 7 d 14 d Overdue 85 Urban Grocer 770 crates held Avg dwell 11 d 14 d Overdue 140 + 3 more customers Autopilot Groenhal holds 410 crates past 14 days. Proposes a pickup with Thursday’s delivery. Approve Not now 04Wash line #### The wash line sets the pace. Crates come back in waves, and the wash line has a fixed capacity. Rotion shows the queue before it turns into a shortage at the packing line. Returns this week Sample data Thu + 1,200 Crates over wash capacity. The queue builds on Thursday. Wash capacity 3,200 / day - Mon 2,600 Within - Tue 2,900 Within - Wed 3,000 Within - Thu 4,400 +1,200 - Fri 2,700 Within - Sat 1,800 Within Wash capacity Crates returned Over capacity Autopilot Thursday returns exceed wash capacity by 1,200 crates. Proposes moving two Thursday pickups to Saturday morning, so the queue stays within one day. Approve Not now 05Platform #### Built for crate pools. Everything a producer or distributor needs to run a crate pool across customers, depots and wash stations. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Balance per customer Rotation and dwell time History per crate Deposits and settlements Autopilot Sample data 06Sizing #### Size the pool before the peak. Enter your peak week and see how many crates the pool needs, and how many a faster rotation saves. An estimate, not a quote. Pool estimator Estimate Crates needed at peak 26,400 crates 14 d 26,400 12 d 22,629 Two days faster 3,771 crates fewer with a cycle two days shorter Lost over 10 weeks 1,800 crates at the current loss rate Estimate based on your inputs and a 10% buffer. Rotion measures your real cycle time per customer. It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 07Field notes #### What crate data shows. IMG 044 · Cooperative, Hoogstraten · late afternoon N.01 ##### Wash cycles set real capacity. Cycle data shows where crates queue, when wash capacity limits delivery, and which flows starve the loop. N.02 ##### Harvest peaks hit every loop at once. Growers, packers and retail peak in the same weeks. With rotation history, you plan the peak around the crates you already own. N.03 ##### Balances decay without scans. Scan-based balances keep you and each customer looking at the same number all season. #### Run more than one asset type? Totes and RPCs Retail and food supply chains Pallets Exchange balances that add up Roll cages and RTI Carriers and trolleys Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our ERP or route planning? No. Rotion runs alongside your ERP and route planning and fills what they do not cover: crate-level history, loss patterns and per-customer balances. Connectors exist for SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS. Q.02 Do our customers need to install anything? No. Customers can confirm handovers on the web or a phone, and drivers can scan for them. Adoption does not depend on every customer cooperating. Q.03 Do we have to scan every single crate? No. With SSCC batching, a stack or pallet of crates scans once per handling step while each crate stays traceable. Q.04 Can we use the labels already on our crates? Yes. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID and GS1 GRAI identifiers, so relabeling is usually not needed. Q.05 How does Rotion reduce crate loss? Every crate has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags customers holding crates too long and proposes a pickup or reminder, so recovery happens before a write-off. Operators running Rotion report 28% fewer assets lost. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Operations 28 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Operations 21 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more crates back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Pallet Tracking Software for Returnable Pallets | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/pallet-tracking ASSET 1200 x 800 x 144 mm EUR pallet shipper → carrier → customer → repair → ↺ Pallet tracking software ### Exchange balances that add up. Rotion gives every returnable pallet a digital identity. See which carrier, warehouse or customer holds which pallets, settle exchanges on scans, and stop writing off what you cannot see. Q · A #### What is pallet tracking software? Pallet tracking software records where each returnable pallet is, who holds it and how it moves between shippers, carriers, warehouses and customers. Rotion keeps per-pallet history for serialized fleets and per-partner balances for exchange flows such as EPAL, on the QR, barcode or RFID markings already on your pallets. Exchange balances, losses and repair decisions then come from scans instead of paper exchange notes. - Exchange balances per partner from scans - Open exchange, pooled or own fleet - Autopilot flags pallets overdue at a partner 01The problem #### Why pallets go missing. Pallets pass through more hands than any other load carrier, and every hand keeps its own count. Each pallet that does not come back is bought twice. P.01 ##### Exchange notes disagree. Shipper, carrier and customer each keep their own version of the paper note. Balance disputes take hours and rarely end in a number both sides accept. P.02 ##### Carrier hops break the trail. A pallet that changes trucks twice changes custody twice. Without a scan at each hop, nobody can say where it left the loop. P.03 ##### Repair or scrap is a guess. Pool cost is decided at inspection. Without history per pallet, nobody knows a pallet’s real service life, so the choice to repair or write off follows habit. 02How it works #### Your pallet loop, scan by scan. Scans at loading and unloading fit existing dock steps. A full load scans as one SSCC while each pallet stays traceable. - 01 ##### Load out A full truckload leaves the dock. One SSCC scan books every pallet to the carrier. - 02 ##### Delivery The driver hands over at the customer dock. Custody and the exchange obligation move in the same scan. - 03 ##### Exchange and return Empties go back on the next drop. Both balances update at once, with the scan as evidence. - 04 ##### Inspect and repair Damaged pallets go to repair with their history. Repaired pallets rejoin the pool, scrapped ones leave it on record. 03Carriers #### Every carrier on one board. Each tile shows the open balance, the return rate and six weeks of trend. Autopilot points at the carrier that needs attention. Exchange balances · Euro pallets, weeks 36 to 41 Sample data Carriers 6 Pallets out 7,103 Open balance -430 Flagged 1 Carrier West Carrier · 176 loads Autopilot -418 balance 92.8% returned Noordhof Carriers Carrier · 6 loads In range -4 balance 97.9% returned Lindqvist Freight Carrier · 12 loads In range -6 balance 98.5% returned Baltic Haul Carrier · 9 loads In range -2 balance 99.3% returned Ems Valley Transport Carrier · 5 loads In range 0 balance 100.0% returned Kessel Logistics Carrier · 7 loads In range 0 balance 100.0% returned Autopilot · Custom plan Carrier West returned 418 fewer pallets than it took over six weeks, most on loads through Depot Ghent. Proposes a balance statement with scan evidence and a collection at Depot Ghent. Approve Not now 04Dispute #### Six weeks with one carrier. When the carrier’s paper notes and the scan record drift apart, the gap shows in the week it opened, with the evidence behind it. The dispute ends with a lookup. Sample data ##### Noordhof Carriers Euro pallets, weeks 36 to 41. Select a week to open its evidence. Shipped out Returned, scanned Returned, carrier note Disagreement Carrier note ###### Delivery note, week 40 Returned, claimed 33 Signed by Driver, handwritten Received Office, two days later Evidence Paper copy Scan record ###### Unloading scan, week 40 Returned, scanned 26 Time Tue 14:12 Dock Dock 3 Scanner HS-04 Load 1 SSCC, 26 pallets Confirmed Driver on phone SSCC (00) 387 1204 0000 1840 · 26 EUR -4 Agreed balance, week 41 4 pallets open with Noordhof Carriers, agreed by both sides from the scan record. Your team Noordhof Carriers 05Models #### Built for the pallet model you run. Open exchange, pooled or rented, or your own serialized fleet. The same scans feed each one, and you can run more than one side by side. Model 01 Count or serial ##### Open exchange. A balance per carrier, warehouse and customer, counted from scans at loading and unloading. It works without a label on every pallet. Sample data W36 W37 W38 W39 W40 W41 Pallets owed per week one partner - Balance per partner, count-based or serialized - One SSCC scan books a full load - Partners confirm on the web or a phone Model 02 Days held ##### Pooled or rented. A flexible rental calculator counts the days each partner holds a pallet and applies your fees. For pooling companies and for operators inside a company. Sample data W36 W37 W38 W39 W40 W41 Pallet days per week dashed: fees to date - Days held per partner, from the same scans - Fees calculated on your own terms - Results export or push to your invoicing tools Model 03 Per pallet ##### Own serialized fleet. Every pallet carries its own history: where it went, who held it, and whether it was inspected, repaired or scrapped. Sample data W36 W37 W38 W39 W40 W41 Pallet PAL 004218 inspected, repaired - History per pallet, from first scan to scrap - Inspection, repair or scrap on record - Autopilot on the Custom plan Autopilot Autopilot needs serialized pallets. It flags partners whose balance keeps growing, proposes a statement or a collection, and acts only on your approval. Scale Custom 06Platform #### Built for pallet pools. Own fleets, exchange flows and pooled pallets in one system, across carriers, warehouses and customers. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Exchange balance per partner History per pallet Leakage per lane Pool status Autopilot Sample data It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 07Field notes #### What pallet data shows. IMG 021 · Dock 4, Flanders · afternoon N.01 ##### Exchange notes are where disputes start. Scanned handovers give both sides one record per movement, so a balance question ends with a lookup instead of a phone call. N.02 ##### Carrier hops are the blind spot. Handover data shows which lanes and carriers return pallets and which hold on to them. N.03 ##### Repair loops decide pallet economics. Inspection and repair history per pallet shows how long pallets really last in each flow. #### Run more than one asset type? Crates Producers and distributors Roll cages and RTI Mixed fleets of carriers Reusable packaging operators Pools and wash centers Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our TMS or ERP? No. Rotion runs alongside your TMS and ERP and fills what they do not cover: pallet-level history, loss patterns and per-partner exchange balances. Connectors exist for SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS. Q.02 Do carriers and customers need to install anything? No. Partners confirm handovers on the web or a phone, and drivers can scan for them. Adoption does not depend on every carrier cooperating. Q.03 Can we track exchange pallets like EPAL? Yes. Rotion keeps per-partner balances for exchange flows and per-pallet history for serialized fleets, in the same system. Plastic pallets, half pallets and mesh pallet boxes run alongside them. Q.04 Do we have to scan every single pallet? No. With SSCC batching, a full load scans once per handling step while each pallet stays traceable. Q.05 Do pallets need a label each? No. Exchange balances also work count-based, per load and per partner. Serialized pallets are recommended: Autopilot and the advanced features need an identity per pallet. Q.06 Can Rotion handle pooled or rented pallets? Yes. A flexible rental calculator counts the days each partner holds pooled pallets and applies your fees. The results export or push to your invoicing tools, for pooling companies and for operators inside companies. Q.07 How does Rotion reduce pallet loss? Every pallet has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags partners whose balance keeps growing and proposes a statement or a collection, so recovery happens before a write-off. Read more in how to stop pallet losses and pooling disputes. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Operations 28 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Operations 27 Aug 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more pallets back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## IBC Tracking Software for Reusable IBCs | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/ibc-tracking ASSET 1200 x 1000 x 1160 mm IBC 1000 L filler → customer → cleaning → inspection → ↺ IBC tracking software ### Every IBC, with its own history. Rotion gives every intermediate bulk container a digital identity. See which IBCs sit at which customer, what each one last carried, and when it was cleaned and inspected. Q · A #### What is IBC tracking software? IBC tracking software records where each intermediate bulk container is, who holds it, what it carried and when it was cleaned, inspected and refilled. Rotion does this per container across chemical and food producers, fillers, customers and reconditioners, on the serials, QR codes or RFID tags your IBCs already carry. Site balances, deposits and cleaning trails then come from scans instead of spreadsheets. - Contents, cleaning and inspection per IBC - Recall trace by batch or LOT - A QR sticker is enough, sensors optional 01The problem #### Why IBCs go missing. IBCs spend most of their life on other people’s sites. Spreadsheets lose the trail at the second handover, and every container that does not come back is bought twice. P.01 ##### Containers stand still at customers. Full or empty, a large share of any IBC fleet waits at customer sites. Without dwell data per site, collection runs follow habit. P.02 ##### Cleaning history is on paper. For food-grade and chemical flows, an IBC without a documented cleaning cycle is a liability. Paper records do not travel with the container. P.03 ##### Service partners are unrecorded. Containers change state at cleaning and repair partners. When nobody scans there, that is also where they disappear. 02Record #### One IBC, one record. Every container carries its own data plate in Rotion: what it carried, when it was cleaned, when it is due for inspection and who holds it now. 01 Serial Sample data IBC 0x7C41 QR sticker, no sensor needed 02 Last contents Product A Filled 28 Sep 2026, Filler 07 03 LOT Recall trace ↓ L-2291-B Batch 2291 04 Cleaned on 11 Oct 2026 Partner South cleaning 05 Next inspection Inspection board ↓ 14 Mar 2027 2.5-year inspection, UN and ADR 06 Next test 14 Sep 2029 5-year test 07 Current holder Filler 07 Since 12 Oct 2026 Record of one IBC. Fills, dispatches, returns, cleaning cycles and inspections. Sample data 01 From the LOT Recall trace: every IBC that carried it. 02 From the dates Inspection board for the whole fleet. 03 From the status light Fill check at the filling scan. A QR sticker is enough. Sensors are optional: BLE, RFID, 4G or any other. Scan at the yard 03How it works #### Your IBC loop, scan by scan. Scans at dispatch and return fit existing warehouse steps. Customers and service partners confirm with any phone. - 01 ##### Fill and dispatch The IBC is filled and scanned out. Product, batch and customer attach to that container. - 02 ##### At customer Custody moves to the customer site. Dwell time and the deposit start counting. - 03 ##### Return and cleaning The empty IBC is collected and scanned into the cleaning partner. The cleaning cycle logs on the container. - 04 ##### Inspect and release Inspection and the next test date are recorded. Only released IBCs go back to filling. 04Recall #### A recall becomes a lookup. Start from the LOT on one IBC, or search by batch or any content data. Rotion lists every IBC that carried it, who holds it now and whether it was cleaned since, ready to export for the auditor. Search contents Sample data LOT L-2291-B Started from IBC 0x7C41 Product A, Batch 2291 14 IBCs carried this LOT 14 IBCs 11 cleaned 3 at customers 14 IBCs, 11 cleaned, 3 still at customers This IBC and 13 more Serial Current holder Cleaned since Status 0x7C41 Filler 07 Yes Ready to fill 0x7C3A Customer 22 No At customer 0x7B12 Customer 31 No At customer 0x7D08 Customer 09 No At customer 0x6F21 Partner South cleaning Yes Cleaned 0x7C55 Partner South cleaning Yes Cleaned 0x71E0 Filler 07 Yes Ready to fill 0x7A9C Filler 07 Yes Refilled 0x7C02 Customer 14 Yes Refilled 0x6E77 Depot North Yes Cleaned 0x7D1F Depot North Yes Cleaned 0x7B88 Inspection partner East Yes In inspection 0x72C4 Filler 03 Yes Ready to fill 0x7C60 Partner South cleaning Yes Cleaned Holder, cleaning cycles and contents per IBC Export for audit ↓ 05Platform #### Built for IBC fleets. Everything a filler or processor needs to run IBCs across customers, cleaning partners and regions. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform History per IBC Balance per site Deposits and settlements Rotation and dwell time Autopilot Sample data 06Inspection #### No IBC goes out past its date. Each IBC carries its 2.5-year inspection and 5-year test date. Rotion counts what falls due each month, blocks filling or dispatch once a date has passed, and checks the last contents at every filling scan. Inspections, October 2026 Sample data Due this month 38 Done 8 Upcoming 24 Overdue, blocked 6 October Inspection and test dates M T W T F S S 12 22 3 4 53 61 7 81 93 10 11 122 13 143 152 16 17 18 194 20 212 223 23 24 25 265 27 282 29 303 31 Done Overdue Upcoming Blocked from filling 6 IBC 0x3A12 Filler 07 Test, 2 Oct IBC 0x3A40 Filler 07 Inspection, 2 Oct IBC 0x51D8 Customer 22 Inspection, 6 Oct IBC 0x6B07 Partner South Inspection, 9 Oct IBC 0x6B11 Partner South Inspection, 9 Oct IBC 0x6B2E Customer 14 Test, 9 Oct Autopilot proposal Route the 6 overdue IBCs to the inspection partner. 2 already sit at Partner South, so one collection covers them. Custom plan. Acts only on approval. Approve route Review Next 12 months IBCs due per month Oct 38 Nov 41 Dec 29 Jan 33 Feb 47 Mar 52 Apr 36 May 31 Jun 44 Jul 27 Aug 22 Sep 39 Ready to fillClean first IBC 0x7C41 Filling line 2, scanned now Fill check Ready to fill Last contents Product A Cleaned 2 days ago Inspection valid until Mar 2027 Confirm fill IBC 0x7D09 Filling line 2, scanned now Fill check Clean first Last contents Product B Cleaned Not since last fill Inspection valid until Aug 2027 Filling blocked The filling scan reads the last contents and the cleaning record before a drop goes in. It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 07Customer #### Running IBC loops in the USA. Horizons ISG in the USA uses Rotion for its IBCs to optimize the reuse flow. IBC fleet, USA 08Field notes #### What IBC data shows. IMG 045 · Returns bay, Flanders · afternoon N.01 ##### Cleaning history is compliance history. Per-container cleaning trails turn quality audits into a lookup, and blocked containers stop entering the wrong loop. N.02 ##### Dwell at customers is the hidden fleet. Site-level dwell data shows where containers wait, which customers need collection runs, and how much fleet you could release. N.03 ##### Inspection dates need an owner. UN-marked IBCs carry periodic inspection and test dates. With the date on the record, a container due for testing does not go out full. #### Run more than one asset type? Pallets Exchange balances that add up Roll cages and RTI Dolav boxes, drums and mixed fleets Reusable packaging operators Pools, reconditioners and wash centers Packaging manufacturers From selling IBCs to running them #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our ERP? No. Rotion runs alongside your ERP and logistics systems and fills what they do not cover: container-level history, loss patterns and per-site balances. Connectors exist for SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS. Q.02 Can we use our existing IBC serials? Yes. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID and GS1 GRAI identifiers, and existing serials can be linked to a code. Relabeling is usually not needed. Q.03 Can Rotion record what an IBC last carried? Yes. Product and batch attach to the container at filling, and cleaning cycles log against it. Whether an IBC can be refilled with a given product becomes a lookup. Q.04 Do we need sensors on every container? No. A QR sticker is enough: Rotion records handovers by scan, with no device or data plan per container. Sensors are optional, whether BLE, RFID, 4G or any other, and their readings land on the same record. For a comparison with sensor-based tools, see the best IBC and tote tracking software. Q.05 Can we trace a recall by batch or LOT? Yes. Search by batch, LOT or other content data and Rotion lists every IBC that carried it, who holds it now and whether it was cleaned since, ready to export for an audit. Q.06 Can Rotion stop an IBC past its inspection date? Yes. Each IBC carries its periodic inspection and test dates, the 2.5-year inspection and the 5-year test under UN and ADR rules. Rotion can block filling or dispatch once a date has passed, and the filling scan warns about the last contents or a missing cleaning. Q.07 How does Rotion reduce IBC loss? Every IBC has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags sites holding containers too long and proposes a collection, so recovery is routine instead of a write-off. Read more in how to reduce IBC losses across partners. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Operations 7 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 09 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more IBCs back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Tote Tracking Software: Returnable Totes and RPCs | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/tote-tracking ASSET 400 x 300 x 220 mm Small load carrier (KLT) DC → store → supplier → wash → ↺ Tote tracking software ### See which loops leak totes. Rotion gives every tote, RPC and tray a digital identity. See which DC, store or supplier holds which totes, follow every wash cycle, and get more of them back. Q · A #### What is tote tracking software? Tote tracking software records where each returnable tote is, who holds it and how it cycles between suppliers, distribution centers, stores and wash centers. Rotion does this per tote for RPCs, KLT boxes, e-commerce and retail totes and bakery trays, on the QR, barcode or RFID labels already on them. Store balances, shrinkage and wash capacity then come from scans instead of manual counts. - Per-tote identity on existing labels - Balances per store and supplier from scans - Autopilot flags stores that build up stock 01The problem #### Why totes go missing. Totes cycle weekly between DCs, stores and suppliers. Counts drift, replacement orders pile up, and nobody can say where the pool went. P.01 ##### Back rooms fill up. Totes collect in store back rooms until the next truck, or for good. A fixed collection schedule does not see it. P.02 ##### Loops blur in the yard. Inbound supplier totes and outbound store totes mix in the same yard. One shared count turns into one disputed number. P.03 ##### Peaks hide shrinkage. Promotion weeks push extra volume through the same pool. Without rotation data, nobody knows how many came back after the wave. 02Loops #### Three loops run through one DC. A tote can leave for a store, a supplier or a customer’s door on the same day. Rotion keeps one record per tote and a return rate per loop, so the leak shows where it starts. Loops DC Halle Sample data All loops Store Supplier Home delivery Median days per stage, last 30 days Start DC Halle Wash line A Route 0.5 d Store 4 d Back on the truck 0.5 d To the supplier 1 d Supplier 2 d Inbound, then store 1 d + 4 d Van 0.5 d Customer’s door 6 d Driver pickup 0.5 d Longest stay: 6 d at the door DC Halle Wash line A Store Supplier Door 6 d One tote, one record Return rate per loop median days Store loop Return rate 97.8% DC 1 / Route 0.5 / Store 4 / Truck 0.5 / Wash 0.5 = 6.5 d Back on the next delivery, then Wash line A. Supplier loop Return rate 98.9% To supplier 1 / At supplier 2 / Inbound 1 / Store 4 = 8 d The supplier fills RPCs, confirms handovers in its own partner portal and sees its own balance. Home delivery loop Return rate 94.1% Van 0.5 / At customer 6 / Pickup 0.5 / Wash 0.5 = 7.5 d Totes stay longest at the customer’s door. The driver scans each tote at the door with the Rotion app. A € 3.00 deposit is charged at drop-off and refunded at pickup. 03Back rooms #### Back rooms show up before losses do. Each store holds a usual tote stock. Rotion compares what each store holds today with its usual stock and how long the totes have sat there. Routes R4 5 stores Sample data Store Usual Today Stock against usual Dwell Status Store 112 Usual 120 Today 118 -2 Dwell 3 d Normal Store 115 Usual 90 Today 96 +6 Dwell 3 d Normal Store 118 Usual 113 Today 340 +227 Dwell 9 d 3 × usual Store 121 Usual 140 Today 131 -9 Dwell 4 d Normal Store 124 Usual 80 Today 85 +5 Dwell 3 d Normal Usual stock Held today Above usual, flagged Dwell is the median days on site Autopilot Proposal Store 118, back room Store 118 holds 340 totes, three times its usual stock. Reason Returns from Store 118 fell after last week’s promotion, while deliveries kept the same volume. Two stores on the same route are back to normal. Action Add a return run of 340 totes to Tuesday’s route and notify the store manager. 04Platform #### Built for tote pools. Everything a retailer, supplier or pool operator needs to run totes across DCs, stores and wash centers. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Balance per store Shrinkage by loop Rotation and dwell time WMS and ERP sync Autopilot Sample data 05Promotions #### See how many came back after the wave. A promotion pushes extra totes through the same pool. Rotion counts out and back per day, so you know how many are still out when the wave has passed. Analytics Pool flow Weeks 38 to 41 Sample data Total out 18,900 28 days Total back 18,333 28 days Still out 567 Out minus back Promotion, week 39 Gap Wave comes back W38 W39 W40 W41 Out per day Back per day Out, not yet back Back above out Promotion week Still out, running count Peak 1,479, day 14 1,479 567 Still out after the wave: 567 totes. Holding the most Store 118 Store 115 Store 124 Week Out Back Net W38 4,200 4,074 +126 W39 Promotion 6,300 4,947 +1,353 W40 4,200 5,238 -1,038 W41 4,200 4,074 +126 Total 18,900 18,333 +567 It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 06Field notes #### What tote data shows. IMG 064 · Produce aisle, Belgium N.01 ##### Back rooms are where pools shrink. Store-level balances show build-up per location, so collection runs go where the totes are. N.02 ##### Promotions bend the loop. Rotation data shows how peaks travel through the pool, where extra totes are needed and how many return after the wave. N.03 ##### Supplier loops need their own record. Separate loop views keep supplier balances, store balances and pool health from blurring into one disputed number. #### Run more than one asset type? Crates Growers, DCs and wash lines Roll cages and RTI Carriers and trolleys Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores Reusable packaging operators Pools and wash centers #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our WMS or ERP? No. Rotion runs alongside your WMS and ERP and fills what they do not cover: tote-level history, loss patterns and per-partner balances. Connectors exist for SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS. Q.02 Do stores and suppliers need to install anything? No. Partners confirm handovers on the web or a phone, and drivers can scan for them. Adoption does not depend on every store cooperating. Q.03 Do we have to scan every single tote? No. With SSCC batching, a pallet or roll cage of totes scans once per handling step while each tote stays traceable. Q.04 Which totes can Rotion track? Any returnable tote: RPCs for fresh produce, KLT boxes for parts, e-commerce and retail totes, and bakery trays. Each type carries its own dimensions, deposit and wash rules, in one system. Q.05 How does Rotion reduce tote loss? Every tote has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags stores and suppliers that build up stock and proposes a return run, so recovery happens before a replacement order. Read more in how to reduce returnable container loss rates. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Operations 7 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops Operations 27 Aug 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more totes back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Keg Tracking Software for Breweries | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/keg-tracking-software ASSET 400 x 450 mm Keg 30 L brewery → distributor → venue → cleaning → ↺ Keg tracking software ### Know which venue holds your kegs. Rotion gives every keg a digital identity. See which distributor or venue holds which kegs, how fast they come back, and which ones never do. Q · A #### What is keg tracking software? Keg tracking software records where each keg is, who holds it and how it moves between breweries, distributors and venues. Rotion does this per keg, on the QR, barcode or RFID codes already on your kegs. Venue balances, deposits, dwell time and losses then come from scans at drop-off and pickup instead of deposit lists and annual keg counts. - Per-keg identity on existing codes - Balances and deposits per venue from scans - Autopilot flags venues sitting on kegs 01The problem #### Why kegs go missing. Kegs leave with every delivery and come back on the venue’s schedule. Deposit lists lose track as volumes grow, and every lost keg is bought twice. P.01 ##### Deposits do not cover the keg. Deposits are often a fraction of what a new keg costs. A venue that keeps or scraps a keg can still come out ahead. P.02 ##### The trail stops at the wholesaler. Most keg histories go cold at the distributor. After that step, nobody can say which venue holds which keg. P.03 ##### Cellars hide the fleet. Kegs stand full in cellars and empty behind bars. Dwell time drives the size of the fleet you need more than breakage does. 02Loop #### Every keg, every handover. Each handover is a scan on the codes already on the keg. Kegs that go through a distributor stay on the same record as kegs you deliver yourself, so you see where the fleet sits and how long each stage holds it. Through a distributor Direct delivery Venue stretch Fleet on record 13,100 Sample data - 01 Brewery 1,240 full and ready, 3 d Fill scan - 02 Distributor 2,860 East and North, 6 d Handover scan - Deposit lists stop here Paper lists end at the handover - Direct delivery skips this stop - 03 Venues 7,410 held at venues, 19 d Drop-off scan - 19 d Median days at venues, the longest leg - 04 Returning 980 empty, 2 d Pickup scan - 05 Cleaning 610 in the washer, 1 d Wash scan - Scans keep each keg on record Back to fill, the loop starts again One loop in median days 31 d · Drawn to scale - Brewery 3 d - Distributor 6 d - Venues 19 d - Returning 2 d - Cleaning 1 d 03Partners #### One record, a view per partner. A distributor joins on its own login and sees only the kegs it holds. Its drivers scan at drop-off and pickup with the Rotion app, so nobody starts an IT project. Kegs / Partners Brewery viewDistributor view Sample data ##### Partners holding kegs Signed in as the brewery · all partners Full fleet Partner In warehouse At its venues Median return Open deposit DEDistributor EastOwn login In warehouse1,720 At its venues3,050 Median return9 days Open deposit€143,100 DNDistributor NorthOwn login In warehouse1,140 At its venues2,180 Median return7 days Open deposit€99,600 BRDirect routesBrewery drivers In warehouse0 At its venues2,180 Median return12 days Open deposit€65,400 Total In warehouse2,860 At its venues7,410 Open deposit€308,100 Deposit per keg €30.00 Each figure comes from the last scan per keg ##### Distributor East Signed in as Distributor East · own venues only Scoped login Venue Kegs held Days held Status 31Venue 31 46 Held 41 days Overdue Autopilot · proposal Venue 31 has held 46 kegs for more than 40 days. It usually returns kegs in 14 days. Proposal: add a pickup at Venue 31 to Distributor East’s Friday route and send the venue its balance. Approve Review Autopilot proposes, on the Custom plan. A person at Distributor East approves before anything changes. 27Venue 27 24 Held 12 days On schedule 12Venue 12 18 Held 9 days On schedule 08Venue 08 11 Held 6 days On schedule Sorted by days held · 4 of 86 venues Pickups this week Tuesday Route 2 - Venue 12 Pickup - Venue 08 Pickup Friday Route 4 - Venue 27 Pickup - Venue 31 Proposed Drivers scan with the Rotion app at drop-off and pickup. Distributor East does not see Distributor North or the brewery’s direct routes. Join The brewery invites the distributor. It gets its own login, scoped to the kegs it holds. Scan Drivers use the Rotion app on their phones at drop-off and pickup. Nothing to install on site. See Both sides read the same record, so the count at the warehouse matches the count at the brewery. 04Platform #### Built for keg fleets. Everything a brewery or distributor needs to run kegs across direct delivery, wholesale and events. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Balance per venue Deposits and settlements Rotation and dwell time Fleet status Autopilot Sample data 05Deposits #### The deposit follows the keg. Each charge and each refund on a venue statement ties to the scan behind it. When a venue questions its balance, the statement answers with the keg, the date, the route and the time. Deposit statement Venue 31 · September 2026 Supplied through Distributor East · Friday route 4 Sample data Period 1 to 30 September 2026 Deposit per keg €30.00 Opening balance 41 kegs Scan lines 23 Date Keg Event Deposit Scan behind it Sep 04 KEG 0x2B90 Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:42 Code read GS1 GRAI Scanned by Driver, Distributor East Place Venue 31, cellar door Device Rotion app Signed Sep 04 07:42 Sep 04 KEG 0x2B91 Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:42 Sep 04 KEG 0x1F07 Returned empty -€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:44 Sep 11 KEG 0x2C14 Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 08:05 Sep 11 KEG 0x2B90 Returned empty -€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 08:07 Sep 11 KEG 0x1E9A Returned empty -€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 08:08 Sep 18 KEG 0x2C3F Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:51 Sep 18 KEG 0x2C40 Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:51 Sep 25 KEG 0x2C91 Delivered full +€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:38 Sep 25 KEG 0x2C14 Returned empty -€30.00 Driver scan · route 4 · 07:40 Showing 10 of 23 scan lines Opening balance · 41 kegs €1,230.00 Delivered full · 14 kegs +€420.00 Returned empty · 9 kegs -€270.00 Open balance · 46 kegs €1,380.00 What a deposit covers ##### A small number next to a large one. Replacement cost, 30 L keg (sample) €160 Deposit charged to the venue €30 Uncovered per lost keg €130 Keg deposits are commonly 15 to 20% of replacement value (Brewers Association). So Custody per keg stops the loss deposits cannot. A scan at every handover shows who held the keg last, and that is the party you collect from. A dispute, closed Venue 31 says it returned KEG 0x2C14 early. The record shows two scans on Friday route 4. - Sep 11 08:05 Delivered full - Sep 25 07:40 Returned empty Deposit charged and refunded once each. Nothing open on this keg. It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 06Field notes #### What keg data shows. IMG 067 · Venue cellar, Ghent · late morning N.01 ##### Venue dwell time drives fleet size. Per-venue dwell data shows which accounts turn kegs in days and which hold them for weeks. N.02 ##### Seasonality hides structural loss. Summer and festival peaks mask kegs that never return. With an identity per keg, you can tell seasonal float from real loss, and end-of-season recovery becomes a route plan. N.03 ##### Wholesale handovers are where history breaks. Scanned handovers keep custody continuous across tiers, so deposit balances survive the step that used to erase them. #### Run more than one asset type? Crates Beverage crates and trays Pallets Exchange balances that add up Brands and retailers Closed loops with venues and stores Reusable packaging operators Keg pools and cleaning partners #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our ERP or route planning? No. Rotion runs alongside your ERP and route planning and fills what they do not cover: keg-level history, loss patterns and per-customer balances. Connectors exist for SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS. Q.02 Do venues and distributors need to install anything? No. Partners confirm handovers on the web or a phone, and drivers can scan for them. Adoption does not depend on every venue cooperating. Q.03 Can we use our existing keg codes? Yes. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID and GS1 GRAI identifiers, so relabeling is usually not needed. Q.04 Are keg deposits enough to prevent losses? No. Kegs usually remain brewery property, and deposits are commonly a fraction of replacement value, so they do not stop a keg from leaving the loop. Custody evidence per keg and fast follow-up on overdue venues do. See how to reduce keg losses across distributors and venues. Q.05 How does Rotion reduce keg loss? Every keg has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags venues holding kegs too long and proposes a pickup or reminder, so recovery is routine instead of a write-off. Operators running Rotion report 28% fewer assets lost. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 14 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues: A Practical Tracking Playbook Operations 28 Aug 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide Comparisons 25 Aug 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more kegs back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Cup and Takeaway Packaging Tracking | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/cup-and-takeaway-tracking ASSET 400 x 300 x 300 mm Cup return crate venue → customer → return point → wash hub → ↺ Reusable cup and takeaway tracking ### Cups that come back. Rotion runs the loop behind reuse schemes. Every cup, bowl and takeaway box carries its own code, and deposits follow the scans from till to refund. You see what is out, where it is, and what never came back. Q · A #### What is reusable cup and takeaway tracking? Reusable cup and takeaway tracking records every cup, bowl and meal box from the moment it goes out with an order until it is washed and back at a venue. In Rotion each item carries its own QR code, RFID tag or barcode, so the deposit is charged and refunded on scans. Collection crates carry a code too, and one scan of a full crate books every item in it to the place it came from. - A unique code on every item - Deposits and refunds on scans - One crate scan books every item to its pickup point 01The problem #### Why reuse schemes leak. Reuse schemes fail on logistics. Deposits leak, returns pile up in the wrong place, and nobody sees the loop as a whole. P.01 ##### Deposits do not reconcile. The deposit is charged at one till and refunded at a return machine across town. Matching the two by spreadsheet takes hours and still leaves gaps. P.02 ##### Return points overflow. Items pile up at one return point while the next venue runs short. Without stock per point, collection runs come too late. P.03 ##### Events drain the pool. One festival weekend can move more cups than a month of regular trade. Without a count, you only see the loss when stock runs out. 02Deposits #### One cup, one deposit, every scan. The till charges the deposit, the return refunds it to the bank card, and each venue’s week nets out on its own statement. Items Cups CUP-0417-2291 Sample data Cup, 400 ml CUP-0417-2291 At a venue Code, QR CUP-0417-2291 Type Cup, 400 ml Wash cycle 38 Current holder Venue 12 Scans on this item Issued at the till, Venue 31 +€1.00 charged at till Day 1 · 12:04 Returned at Return machine 07 The customer needs no app and scans nothing. -€1.00 refunded to bank card Day 1 · 16:40 Crate CR-0512 scanned at Point 07 1 scan · 120 items to Point 07 Day 1 In at Wash Hub North Wash cycle 37 to 38 Day 2 · 07:15 Out to Venue 12 Holder: Venue 12 Day 2 · 11:30 Deposit statement This week, per venue €1.00 per item Venue 31 Campus South canteen Charged €1,240 Refunded €410 Net +€830 Return machine 07 Library Charged €0 Refunded €960 Net -€960 The net settles per venue. Refund on the machine’s terminal Return rate this month 93.4% Rotion records and nets deposits. It does not move money. 03Platform #### Built for reuse schemes. Everything a scheme operator, caterer or venue group needs to run reusable cups and takeaway packaging. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Deposits and refunds Stock per venue and point Return rates and losses Reuse reporting Autopilot Sample data Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 04Field notes #### What reuse data shows. IMG 103 · Station hall, Belgium · morning N.01 ##### Return friction decides return rates. Where return points stand and how fast a return takes affect return rates more than the deposit amount. Per-point data shows where returns stall. N.02 ##### Takeaway rules ask for a real system. Under PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), takeaway sellers must accept customers’ own containers from 12 February 2027 and offer a reusable option within a system for reuse from 12 February 2028. That system has to collect, clean and document. N.03 ##### Wash logistics set the pace. Items earn nothing in a washing queue. Throughput per wash hub shows whether the limit is capacity, collection timing or sorting. 05PPWR #### What PPWR asks of takeaway, and what you can show. Three takeaway dates in Regulation (EU) 2025/40, and the record that answers each. Reports PPWR takeaway Sample data - Feb 12, 2027 Article 32 Accept the customer’s own container. No extra charge, clear signage. Applies to All sellers, micro-enterprises included. Your evidence At the counter Signage and pricing. - Feb 12, 2028 Art. 33 · Annex VI Offer a reusable option in a system for reuse. Collect, clean, inspect, redistribute, document. Applies to Sellers. Micro-enterprises exempt. Your evidence Record in Rotion Per-item scans, exportable report. - Collected - Washed - Redistributed - Documented - Jan 1, 2030 Target Aim for 10% of takeaway in reusables. An obligation of effort. Applies to Sellers. Your evidence Record in Rotion Reusable share of sales, from issue scans. Read the PPWR takeaway rules Rotion is launching Retoer, a national reuse system for consumer packaging in Belgium. retoer.be #### Run more than one asset type? Totes and trays Retail and food supply chains Crates Producers and distributors Reusable packaging startups Start small on Rotion Starter Brands and retailers Deposit loops with stores #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need a code on every cup? Yes. Every cup, bowl or box carries its own QR code, RFID tag or barcode, because a deposit is only safe when it belongs to one item. Collection crates carry a code too, so you scan a full crate once instead of every item in it. Q.02 Does Rotion work with our POS? Yes. Rotion integrates with POS systems, and most common ones have an API. Deposits can be charged and refunded through your own tills and payment terminals, or refunded through the terminals on Rotion return machines. Q.03 Do customers need an app? No. The till scans the item at issue and the return machine scans it at return. The wash hub scans the crates again at drop-off and pickup. Q.04 What do the PPWR takeaway rules require? Takeaway sellers must accept customer-brought containers from 12 February 2027 and offer reusable packaging within a system for reuse from 12 February 2028, with micro-enterprises exempt from the second duty. From 2030 they should aim for 10% of takeaway sales in reusable packaging. See the PPWR takeaway rules for detail. Q.05 Can a small initiative start? Yes. Rotion Starter fits small initiatives at one location, from 150 euros a month with 14 days free. A scheme with more items, several venues or a POS integration starts on Launch. Q.06 Do events run in the same system? Yes. Festivals and events run on the same items, return points and wash hubs as regular trade, so an event weekend shows up in the same stock and return rates. #### Further reading. All articles PPWR 28 Sept 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 Reuse schemes 20 Sept 2026 ##### Reusable Takeaway Containers for Canteens and Campuses: How to Get Them Back Operations 28 Aug 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 06 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more cups back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## RTI Tracking Software: Returnable Transport Items | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/rti-tracking-software ASSET 800 x 720 x 1800 mm Roll cage DC → carrier → store → repair → ↺ RTI tracking software ### One record for every carrier. Rotion gives every returnable transport item a digital identity. Roll cages, dollies, CC trolleys and Dolav boxes run in one system, with custody per partner and recovery when they go missing. Q · A #### What is RTI tracking software? RTI tracking software records where each returnable transport item is, who holds it and how it moves between distribution centers, carriers, stores and repair partners. Rotion does this per item for mixed fleets of roll cages, dollies, CC trolleys, pallet collars and Dolav boxes, on QR, barcode, RFID or GS1 GRAI codes. Balances, losses and repair cycles then come from scans in one system. - Mixed fleets in one system - Custody per partner from scans - Autopilot flags partners holding RTIs too long 01The problem #### Why RTIs go missing. Roll cages and trolleys are the carriers nobody counts. They stay behind at stores, ride along with other loads and end up in someone else’s yard. P.01 ##### Mixed fleets, mixed records. Roll cages sit in one spreadsheet, Dolav boxes in another and CC trolleys in a pooling portal. Nobody sees the whole fleet. P.02 ##### Carriers keep what they bring. Empty roll cages and dollies travel back with carriers and get used for other customers. Without custody per handover, the loss has no owner. P.03 ##### Damage goes unrecorded. A broken wheel or bent frame takes an RTI out of service. Without repair history, you buy new ones instead of fixing the old. 02Fleet #### One fleet, five types, one record. Each RTI type runs its own loop with its own rules. Rotion keeps them in one record, so you see where each type spends its days and where it leaks. Fleet All RTI types Sample data Fleet total 12,230 items across 5 types Owned 10,870 4 types Pooled 1,360 rented from a pool Leak flagged 1 type Roll cage · Carrier back All types5Owned4Pooled1 Median days per stage, last 90 days Roll cage Owned Count 4,820 DC 1 d Carrier 1 d Store 2 d Carrier back 2 d Per turn 6 d Return rate 96.4% Return 7 d Inspect every 20 turns €45 deposit Leaks on the carrier’s truck. Dolly Owned Count 2,140 DC 1 d Store 3 d Back 1 d Per turn 5 d Return rate 98.7% Return 6 d Inspect every 30 turns €12 deposit CC trolley Pooled Count 1,360 Supplier 2 d DC 1 d Store 3 d Back to the pool 2 d Per turn 8 d Return rate 97.9% Return 10 d Inspected by the pool €30 deposit Dolav box Owned Count 610 Supplier 4 d Plant 6 d Back 2 d Per turn 12 d Return rate 99.1% Return 14 d Inspect every 15 turns €60 deposit Pallet collar Owned Count 3,300 DC 1 d Store 5 d Back 3 d Per turn 9 d Return rate 97.1% Return 10 d Inspect every 40 turns €5 deposit 5 types, 12,230 items in one record Sample data 03Carriers #### Carriers hold the gap. Every roll cage is scanned onto a truck and off it again. Rotion compares what each carrier collected with what it returned, week by week, and writes the statement when the gap stays open. Carriers Roll cages Weeks 36 to 40 Sample data Carrier North Collected 1,244 Returned 1,132 Open 112 Gap 9.0% Carrier West Collected 1,060 Returned 1,050 Open 10 Gap 0.9% Carrier South Collected 900 Returned 892 Open 8 Gap 0.9% ###### Carrier North, per week Roll cages collected, split into returned and still open Returned Open 4 Took over the Ghent stores 22 28 30 Custody statement Awaiting approval Rotion CS-2640-N Oct 12, 2026 Sample ###### Custody statement To Carrier North Period Weeks 36 to 40 Asset Roll cage, €45 deposit 112 roll cages were last scanned onto Carrier North trucks and never scanned off. Roll cage Last scan Truck Place RC-0418-2231 Sep 9, 06:42 NB-14 Store 2214 dock RC-0418-1876 Sep 16, 05:58 NB-09 Depot Ghent RC-0418-3302 Sep 23, 07:15 NB-14 Store 2214 dock RC-0418-0654 Oct 1, 06:10 NB-11 Depot Ghent and 108 more, each with its scan record Open roll cages 112 Deposit per roll cage €45 Value held €5,040 Return the 112 roll cages at Depot Ghent or confirm where they are. Page 1 of 3 Sample data Proposed by Autopilot. A person approves before it is sent. 04Platform #### Built for mixed RTI fleets. Everything a retailer, carrier or pool operator needs to run returnable transport items of every type. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Fleet by type Balance per partner Loss and anomaly alerts Reuse reporting Autopilot Sample data 05Repair #### Repair beats replacement. A driver or store scans a damaged item and picks what broke. Rotion books it to a repair partner, keeps the repair on the item’s record and brings it back into the fleet. Repair October RC-0418-0977 Sample data Damage reports this month 84 Wheel 46 Frame 21 Base 11 Other 6 Back in the fleet 61 of 84 Repaired 61 At Partner West 14 Scrapped 9 Saved against buying new €10,492 61 × (€210 new − €38 repair) Roll cage RC-0418-0977 Back in the fleet Front wheel broken Damage photo, Oct 5, 07:31 Turns 31 Reported at Store 2214 dock Repair partner Partner West Earlier repairs 2 Status Damage reported The driver scanned it at Store 2214 dock and picked front wheel. Oct 5, 07:31 Booked to Partner West Taken off the fleet count for loading. Oct 5, 09:04 Repaired Front wheel replaced. 3 days in repair Oct 8, 15:20 Back in the fleet Scanned in at Depot Ghent, ready for turn 32. Oct 9, 06:12 Cost summary Repair, average €38 New roll cage €210 Saved on this item €172 Repair history - Front wheel Turn 31 - Frame Turn 22 - Wheel Turn 9 It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 06Field notes #### What RTI data shows. IMG 041 · Cross-dock, Antwerp · morning N.01 ##### Carriers are part of the loop. Handover scans show which carriers bring empties back and which reuse them elsewhere. N.02 ##### Repair beats replacement. Repair history per item shows real service life, so you fix what can be fixed and buy only what you need. N.03 ##### Transport packaging has reuse targets. Under PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), calculation rules for reuse apply from 30 June 2027 and reuse targets from 2030. Per-item cycle counts are the evidence. #### Run more than one asset type? Pallets Exchange balances that add up Crates Producers and distributors Reusable packaging operators RTI pools and pooling Packaging manufacturers From selling carriers to running them #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What counts as a returnable transport item? Any carrier that moves goods and comes back to be used again: roll cages, dollies, CC trolleys, pallet collars, Dolav boxes, pallets, crates and trays. Rotion tracks all of them in one system, each with its own rules. Q.02 Can we track several RTI types in one system? Yes. Mixed fleets are the normal case. Each type carries its own dimensions, deposit and repair rules, and balances can be read per type or across the whole fleet. Q.03 Can we use the codes already on our RTIs? Yes. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID, BLE and GS1 GRAI identifiers, so relabeling is usually not needed. Q.04 Do we need to replace our ERP or WMS? No. Rotion runs alongside your ERP, WMS and TMS and fills what they do not cover: item-level history, custody per partner and loss patterns. For a comparison of tools, see the RTI tracking software buyer guide. Q.05 How does Rotion reduce RTI loss? Every item has a holder and a location at all times. Autopilot flags carriers and stores holding RTIs too long and proposes a statement or a pickup, so recovery happens before a write-off. Read the 5 points where assets disappear. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 10 Sept 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Comparisons 25 Aug 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 07 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get more roll cages back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## GSE Tracking Software for Ground Support Equipment | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/gse-tracking ASSET 3200 x 1700 x 510 mm ULD dolly GSE park → stand → return → workshop → ↺ GSE tracking software ### A record for every dolly. Rotion gives every piece of ground support equipment a digital identity. Dollies, pallet trailers, carts and tractors run in one system, with the owner, the holder and the service date on each unit. Q · A #### What is GSE tracking software? GSE tracking software records where each piece of ground support equipment is, who owns it and who holds it. Rotion does this per unit for ULD dollies, pallet trailers, baggage carts and tow tractors, on QR, barcode, RFID or BLE tags and the telematics already fitted. Peak use, idle units, damage and service dates then come from one record. - Owned and leased units in one system - Owner and holder per unit - Peak use per type from hand-out scans 01The problem #### Why GSE fleets keep growing. Dollies and carts have no engine and no tracker. They stay wherever the last shift left them. P.01 ##### Unpowered units are invisible. Telematics covers the tractors. The dollies and trailers they pull, often most of the fleet, have no position at all. P.02 ##### Owned and leased run apart. Owned units sit in one list and leased units in the lessor’s portal. Nobody sees the whole fleet at once. P.03 ##### Service dates slip. A unit past its inspection date goes out on the next shift because nobody checked it at hand-out. 02How it works #### Your GSE loop, scan by scan. Shift leads and drivers scan with any phone. Tractors report their position through the telematics already fitted. - 01 ##### Hand out Units leave the GSE park against a shift. One scan per unit or per train. - 02 ##### At the stand Units move between stands, sheds and teams. Custody follows each handover. - 03 ##### Return Units scan back in at the park. Missing units and damage show at once, with photos. - 04 ##### Workshop Inspections and repairs log per unit, then the unit rejoins the fleet. 03Peak use #### How many dollies the peak needs. Rotion records when each unit is handed out and returned, so you see how many of each type were in use at the busiest hour of each week. The rest is buffer you own or lease. Fleet / Peak use Sample data ##### Units in use at the busiest hour Week 34 to 41 454 units 4 types ULD dolly 160 40 200 142 58 PT Pallet trailer 120 30 150 104 46 CART Baggage cart 70 0 70 44 26 TUG Tow tractor 22 12 34 26 8 Fleet 372 82 454 138 Above the peak 138 Of 454 units in the fleet, 78 of them leased. Conclusion 138 units stayed above the highest peak in 8 weeks, 78 of them leased. Sample data. Peak use counts units out at the same time, from hand-out and return scans. 04Platform #### Built for mixed GSE fleets. Owned and leased, powered and unpowered, in one record. Pick a feature to see it. Explore the platform Fleet by type Holder per unit Overdue and idle units Service history Autopilot Sample data It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 05Field notes #### What GSE data shows. IMG 072 · GSE park, Wallonia · midday N.01 ##### Peak use sets the fleet size. Hand-out and return scans show how many units each type needs at the busiest hour, so you lease to the peak and not above it. N.02 ##### Leased units come back on evidence. Damage photos from the return scan sit on the unit, with the handler that held it. N.03 ##### Unpowered units count too. A printed code costs a fraction of a tracker, so dollies and carts get the same record as the tractors. #### Run a ground handling operation? Ground handling Handlers, lessors and the airport Rental equipment Check-out and check-in per item Roll cages and RTI Dollies and carriers in logistics Autopilot The agent that finds idle units #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Which GSE can Rotion track? Any unit that is handed out and comes back: ULD dollies, pallet trailers, baggage carts, tow tractors, belt loaders and other motorized GSE. Each type carries its own service rules. Q.02 Do we need trackers on every unit? No. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID and BLE tags, and takes live positions from telematics already fitted through the API. Dollies and carts without power get a printed code. Q.03 Can we track owned and leased units together? Yes. Each unit names its owner, so owned and leased GSE sit in one fleet view. Leased units carry their days on hire from the rental calculator. Q.04 Can Rotion block a unit that is due for service? Yes. Rotion keeps inspection and service dates per unit and blocks the hand-out scan when a date has passed, until the unit is serviced. Q.05 How do we start? Start with one unit type at one airport, for example the dollies you wait for most. Put a code on each, scan at hand-out and return, then add types on the same setup. Most teams go live in weeks. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Comparisons 8 Sept 2026 ##### Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental Companies: 2026 Buyer Guide Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 06 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Lease to the peak. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Solutions by Industry | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries Solutions ### One platform, every loop. Rotion keeps reusable assets accountable across partners, whatever the asset and whoever owns the fleet. Find your industry or your asset type. 01By industry #### By industry. Each industry runs its loop differently. The record per asset stays the same. Packaging operators and pools Multi-customer RTI fleets, settlements, reuse reporting Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores and suppliers Packaging manufacturers Packaging as a service, passports per asset Reuse startups Cups, takeaway and e-commerce packaging Rental equipment Check-out, check-in and utilization per item Garment and textile Workwear, linen and uniforms through the laundry Ground handling GSE for handlers, lessors and airports 02By asset #### By asset. Crates Growers, DCs, stores and wash lines Pallets Exchange balances and pooling IBCs Chemical and food liquids Totes and RPCs Retail and e-commerce Kegs Breweries, distributors and venues Cups and takeaway Deposit systems for horeca RTI and roll cages Mixed fleets of carriers GSE Dollies, trailers, carts and tractors Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 How is Rotion different from basic asset tracking or pooling tools? Basic tracking records the last scan. Rotion keeps a digital identity for every asset, logs its lifecycle across partners and uses that record to show losses, delays and bottlenecks. Autopilot then proposes the next step and acts once you approve. Q.02 Do all partners in the chain need to use Rotion? No. Partners join at their own level: a phone and a link, the web portal, or an integration. Access is set per role, so each partner sees only what is relevant to them. Q.03 Can we use our existing labels and scanners? Yes. Rotion reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID or combinations of these. Existing codes can usually stay. Q.04 How does Rotion avoid adding scans to the workload? SSCC batching lets a whole load scan once per handling step while every asset stays traceable, which lowers the number of scans. Q.05 Is Rotion suitable for large operations? Yes. Rotion handles high scan volumes across many locations and partners, with cloud, private cloud and on-premise options for enterprise requirements. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Find the setup for your loop. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Software for Reusable Packaging Operators and RTI Pools | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/reusable-packaging-operators For reusable packaging operators and pools ### Run the pool on one record. Rotion is the digital layer for RTI and pooling operations. See every asset across customers and regions, catch leakage early, settle balances on evidence and report reuse for PPWR. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for a pooling operator? Rotion gives a pool operator one shared record per asset across every customer, carrier and wash center. It shows where each asset is and who holds it, and flags leakage and stockpiling while it is still recoverable. Settlements rest on scan evidence, and the same scans produce reuse figures for customers and PPWR. - Runs alongside your existing RTI and ERP systems - Customer-specific views and reporting - Neutral: Rotion owns no fleets and competes for no customers 01The problem #### Inventory is not control. Traditional RTI systems show stock per customer. They cannot show how assets behave or where returns slow down, and margins leak there. P.01 ##### Leakage shows up late. Stockpiling, misuse and breakage surface at the yearly count, long after they could be recovered. P.02 ##### Disputes eat the margin. Balance discussions with customers run on spreadsheets that neither side trusts. P.03 ##### Customers ask for reuse data. Brands and retailers need rotation and reuse figures for PPWR. Aggregating them by hand does not scale. 02Closed loop #### Everyone in the pool, one record. Each party scans the assets it handles, with a phone or the reader it already has. Custody moves with every scan, so the pool knows who holds what. - 01 Producers Register new assets as they enter the pool, with the codes already on them. - 02 Fillers Scan assets in and out per load. Their balance updates with every scan. - 03 Carriers Confirm pickups and deliveries, so assets in transit have an owner too. - 04 DCs Book incoming and outgoing loads and see what they hold per asset type. - 05 Retailers Return empties and see their own balance, not the whole pool. - 06 Wash centers Log receipts, wash cycles, inspections and repairs per asset. 03Views #### Every customer sees its own pool. You see the whole fleet. Each customer and service partner sees the assets in its own custody and nothing else. Pick a view to compare. View as Operator Your team · every customer and partner Party Holds Avg dwell Overdue Filler 07 1,282 9 d 24 Retailer 3 DC 3,410 14 d 310 Grower 12 860 6 d 0 Wash center B 2,150 2 d 0 Filler 07 Customer · its own custody Party Holds Avg dwell Overdue Filler 07 1,282 9 d 24 Other party Wash center B Service partner · its own site Party Holds Avg dwell Overdue Other party Wash center B 2,150 2 d 0 Sample data · Each customer logs in to its own view. Access is set per customer and per role. 04Settlement #### A quarter closed on evidence. Every line on a customer statement points to the scans behind it. When a customer questions a number, you both open the same record. Settlement statement Filler 07 · Q3 2026 · crates Sample data - Opening balance, 1 July 1,180 Closing balance of Q2 Agreed - Issued to Filler 07 +4,320 52 issue scans, one per load Agreed - Returned to Wash center B −4,182 61 receipt scans at the wash center Agreed - Return of 2 August 24 Filler 07 counts 120, the wash center scanned 96 Questioned - Lost, attributed to Filler 07 −36 No scan for 90 days, last seen at Filler 07 Agreed - Closing balance, 30 September 1,282 Includes the 24 crates in question Deposit on attributed losses: 36 × € 4.00 = € 144.00 Line 04 · evidence ##### 24 crates, one record. - 28 Jul Last scan of the 24 crates, at Filler 07, dock 2. - 02 Aug Filler 07 books a return load of 120 crates. - 05 Aug Wash center B scans 96 crates of that load in. The 24 crates stay on the balance of Filler 07 until a scan shows where they are. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 05How it works #### Every handover on one record. Customers, carriers and wash centers scan with any phone or reader. Each scan moves custody, so the pool always knows who holds what. - 01 ##### Issue Assets leave your depot to a customer. One batch scan per load. - 02 ##### In circulation Customers fill, ship and pass assets on. Custody follows every handover. - 03 ##### Return and wash Returns, washes, inspections and repairs log per asset. - 04 ##### Settle and report Balances, deposits and reuse figures per customer, from the same scans. 06Platform #### Built for multi-customer fleets. Explore the platform ##### Fleet intelligence Location, rotation and utilization across customers and regions. Read more ##### Leakage and anomaly detection Autopilot flags stockpiling, breakage and slow returns per customer before they hit margins. Read more ##### Rotation per customer Cycle time, dwell and turns per customer, so a slow loop shows before it needs more assets. Read more ##### Next to your current systems Connectors for ERP, WMS and TMS keep orders, customers and scans in step with the systems you already run. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Retailer 3 DC holds 1,140 more pallet boxes than its 90-day average. Why Returns from Retailer 3 DC dropped 18% since week 36 while issues stayed flat. The pattern matches stockpiling before a peak. Proposes Send the customer a balance statement and propose a collection slot. Approve Edit confidence 92% Leakage caught this quarter 3.4% Sample data 08Migration #### Start next to your RTI system. Rotion runs alongside the system you have. Start with one customer group or region and widen the scope when the numbers hold. - 01 ##### Use the codes you have Rotion reads the QR, barcode, RFID or GS1 GRAI codes already on your assets. Nothing is relabeled. - 02 ##### Pick one customer group Start with one customer group or region. Opening balances come from your current records. - 03 ##### Run both side by side Compare the balances in Rotion with your current system for a few cycles, until they match or every gap is explained. - 04 ##### Widen the scope Add customers and regions when you are ready. Your current system can keep the work it already does well. #### The assets pools run on Rotion. Crates and trays Fresh produce and retail Pallets and pallet boxes Exchange and pooling IBCs Chemical and food liquids Roll cages and RTI Retail logistics carriers #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our RTI or asset management system? No. Rotion runs alongside existing systems and adds what they lack: asset-level behavior, leakage detection, reuse figures and visibility across parties. Q.02 Will customers see each other’s data? No. Access is set per customer and per role. You decide what each customer sees and what you share with brands or regulators. Q.03 Can Rotion handle customers with different requirements? Yes. Rotion is built for multi-customer, multi-loop operations where reporting, integrations and visibility differ per customer. Q.04 How does this help commercially? Better utilization improves asset ROI, settlements stop leaking margin, and customer-facing reporting becomes a service you can charge for. Q.05 Does Rotion help with PPWR? Yes. Rotion produces reuse rates and cycle counts from asset-level scans. PPWR calculation rules apply from 30 June 2027 and reuse targets from 2030. See the PPWR Navigator for deadlines. Q.06 How is this different from a traditional RTI system? A traditional RTI system books stock and transactions per customer. Rotion keeps a record per asset, so it shows dwell, rotation, losses and reuse per customer, and Autopilot acts on them. You can keep your RTI system and run Rotion next to it. Q.07 Do we have to relabel our fleet? No. Rotion reads the codes already on your assets: QR, barcode, RFID or GS1 GRAI. You start with one customer group or region and add the rest when you are ready. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Operations 28 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Insights 15 Sept 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 09 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Run a tighter pool. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Software for Brands and Retailers | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/brands-and-retailers For brands and retailers ### One loop, every store. Rotion tracks the trays, totes and roll cages moving between your suppliers, DCs and stores. See who holds what, recover what goes missing and report reuse for PPWR from the same scans. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for brands and retailers? Rotion gives every reusable tray, tote and roll cage in your loop its own record, shared with your suppliers, carriers and wash partners. It shows which DC, store or supplier holds each asset and flags losses and slow returns. Deposits settle on scan evidence, and the same scans produce the reuse figures PPWR asks for. - Runs several packaging suppliers and pool operators at once - Each partner sees only its own part of the loop - Neutral: Rotion is no packaging supplier or pooler 01The problem #### Pilots do not scale on spreadsheets. Most retail reuse starts with one supplier in one category and region. Control slips when you add stores, products and partners. P.01 ##### Stores keep what they receive. Empty totes and roll cages pile up in backrooms, and nobody knows the count until the next delivery runs short. P.02 ##### Every supplier has its own portal. Crates come from one pool, trays from another and roll cages from your own fleet. The numbers never meet in one place. P.03 ##### PPWR asks for proof. From 2030, 40% of transport and sales packaging must be reusable. Reuse rates per packaging category have to rest on evidence. 02Closed loop #### Every link in your loop. Suppliers, DCs, stores, carriers and wash partners scan what passes through their hands. Each one sees its own part of the loop. - 01 Suppliers Dispatch filled trays and crates with one batch scan per pallet. - 02 DCs Pick totes and roll cages for stores. Custody follows each load. - 03 Stores Receive, return and count empties with a phone at the back door. - 04 Carriers Confirm what they collect from stores and deliver to the DC. - 05 Wash centers Log wash cycles and inspections, so reuse figures build up per category. - 06 Consumers Return packaging at the store and get their deposit back. 03Repasys #### Six competing retailers, one tray. Repasys is Belgium’s first large-scale pilot for reusable food packaging. Six supermarket chains sell white mushrooms in one standard reusable tray, and consumers return it at any of them. Rotion runs the system behind it. Repasys trays on the shelf Participating retailers - Albert Heijn - Lidl 106,312 packages in use 6 retailers €0.30 deposit per tray - 01 ##### One identity per tray. Every tray carries a QR code to the GS1 Digital Link standard. Rotion issues the codes and keeps the record behind each one, from the producer line to the return kiosk. - 02 ##### Return at any store. Rotion supplies the scan stations and the in-store return kiosks. A return is designed to take less than three seconds. - 03 ##### Deposits cleared between competitors. A tray bought at one chain can come back at another. Rotion tracks where each tray was sold and returned, and settles the deposit between the retailers. - 04 ##### Each partner sees its own part. Retailers, the producer, the wash center and the logistics partners each see their own trays, and nothing commercially sensitive from the others. Digital traceability gives reusable packaging a reliable and transparent lifecycle, with countless valuable insights. When we do this on the basis of open standards, a connected ecosystem emerges that speaks the same language, and we can work together towards efficient and scalable implementation. That is how we open the door to a circular future. Read the Repasys case study 04Returns #### Bought here, returned there. In an open loop, consumers return packaging wherever it suits them. Rotion follows each item across stores and settles the deposit between the retailers involved. - 01 ##### Bought at one store The consumer pays a deposit with the product. The tray is linked to the store that sold it. - 02 ##### Returned at any store The consumer scans the tray at a return kiosk in any participating store and gets the deposit back. The kiosk is built for a return in less than three seconds. - 03 ##### Washed and back in stock Returned trays go to the wash center and back to the producer. Every wash is logged per tray. - 04 ##### Cleared between retailers Rotion matches where each tray was sold and where it was returned, and nets the deposits between retailers automatically. Deposit clearing Week 41 · trays · € 0.30 deposit Sample data Sold at Returned at Trays Deposit Fresh Market Daily Basket 420 € 126.00 Daily Basket Fresh Market 310 € 93.00 Green Corner Fresh Market 180 € 54.00 Daily Basket Urban Grocer 95 € 28.50 Urban Grocer Green Corner 60 € 18.00 Net position this week - Fresh Market + € 21.00 - Daily Basket + € 4.50 - Green Corner − € 36.00 - Urban Grocer + € 10.50 The retailer that sold a tray pays its deposit to the retailer that refunded it. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 05How it works #### Supplier to shelf and back. Suppliers, DCs, stores and wash centers scan with any phone or reader. Each scan moves custody, so you always know which site holds which asset. - 01 ##### Fill at the supplier Trays and crates leave the supplier filled. One batch scan per pallet. - 02 ##### Through the DC Totes and roll cages are picked for stores. Custody follows each load. - 03 ##### Shelf and return Stores and consumers return empties. Returns and deposits log per asset. - 04 ##### Wash and report Wash centers log cycles and inspections. Reuse figures build up per category. 06Platform #### Control across every supplier. Explore the platform ##### Store and DC balances Balances per site and per packaging type, updated with every scan. Read more ##### Loss detection Autopilot flags stores and suppliers where returns slow down or assets disappear. Read more ##### Deposit settlement Deposits between suppliers, stores and consumers cleared on the same scan data. Read more ##### PPWR reuse reporting Reuse rates and cycle counts per packaging category and per market. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Store 112 returned 22% fewer roll cages than it received over the last three weeks. Why Deliveries to Store 112 stayed flat while returns on the evening route dropped from week 38. Two other stores on the same route return normally, so the gap sits at this store. Proposes Ask the store manager to confirm the backroom count and add a collection to Thursday’s route. Approve Edit confidence 92% Roll cages recovered this month 412 Sample data #### The assets retail loops run on Rotion. Crates and trays Fresh produce and retail Totes and RPCs Store deliveries and e-commerce Roll cages and RTI Retail logistics carriers Repasys case study 106,312 packages, 6 retailers 08PPWR #### What PPWR asks of you, and when. Brands and retailers that use reusable packaging have to run it in a reuse system and prove their reuse rates. These are the dates that matter for retail loops. - 12 Aug 2026 ##### The regulation applies. The requirements for reuse systems are in force. From Rotion One record per item shows the system at work: issues, returns, washes and losses. - 30 Jun 2027 ##### Reuse rates get fixed rules. The rules for calculating reuse rates apply. From Rotion Cycles and reuse rates per packaging category, counted from scans. - 1 Jan 2030 ##### Reuse targets apply. At least 40% of transport packaging must be reusable. Transport packaging between your own sites, or between sites in the same member state, must be 100% reusable. The single-use bans in Annex V apply. From Rotion Reuse share per packaging category and per market, ready to report. - 2040 ##### Higher targets follow. The regulation sets higher reuse targets for 2040, subject to a review by the Commission. From Rotion Years of history per item, so progress is on record. Check your PPWR deadlines #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to choose one packaging supplier or pool operator? No. Rotion is supplier-agnostic and runs several packaging vendors, pool operators and your own fleet side by side. Each asset keeps its history when you change partners. Q.02 What does PPWR require from brands and retailers? Under Regulation (EU) 2025/40, operators using reusable packaging must take part in a reuse system since 12 August 2026. Calculation rules for the reuse targets apply from 30 June 2027, and from 2030 at least 40% of transport and sales packaging must be reusable. The PPWR Navigator lists the deadlines that apply to you. Q.03 Has Rotion run a retail loop at scale? Yes. Rotion runs Repasys, Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food: 106,312 packages across 6 retailers, with a €0.30 deposit and returns at any participating store. Read the Repasys case study. Q.04 Can deposits be settled between competing retailers? Yes. Rotion records where each item was sold and where it was returned, and clears the deposit between retailers from the same scans. No retailer has to reconcile by hand. Q.05 Who owns the data? You do. Access and sharing rules are set per partner, so each supplier, store and wash center sees only its own part of the loop. #### Further reading. All articles Operations 27 Aug 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) PPWR 25 Aug 2026 ##### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) PPWR 26 Jan 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 09 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Put every tray on one record. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Software for Reusable Packaging Manufacturers | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/packaging-manufacturers For packaging manufacturers ### Sell the crate, then the service. Rotion adds a digital identity, a packaging passport and reuse data to the packaging you make. Offer tracking and reporting as a service and earn after the sale, without running fleets yourself. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for a packaging manufacturer? Rotion gives each crate, tray, pallet or IBC you produce a digital identity and a passport from the end of the production line. Your customers use it to track, settle and report reuse, and you offer it as part of the product or as a service with recurring revenue. - Works with QR, RFID and GS1 codes on existing designs - Bundled with your packaging or resold under your own brand - Neutral: Rotion owns no fleets and competes for no customers 01The problem #### Reusable is becoming a commodity. Buyers compare reusable packaging on price per unit. Under PPWR they also need proof that it circulates. P.01 ##### Revenue ends at delivery. You sell a crate once. The value of every cycle after that goes to others. P.02 ##### Customers ask for data. Brands and pool operators want cycle counts, loss rates and reuse figures per item. Plain plastic cannot answer. P.03 ##### Product decisions run on guesses. Without usage data you do not know how long a design lasts, where it breaks or when a customer will reorder. 02Model #### One sale, or a service that keeps paying. Sell the crate once, or sell it with tracking, passports and reporting as a yearly service. The crate and the customer stay the same, and you earn a second line of revenue for as long as the crate circulates. Revenue / Customers / Customer 08 / Stacking crate 6040 Sample data Customer 08 · 12,000 crates · €9.40 each · life 8 years A · SellB · Sell plus service Year 1 €134,400 €112,800 Each year after €21,600 €0 Cumulative after 8 years €285,600 €112,800 0 100k 200k 300k Crate sale, year 1 Service, €21,600 a year Service by year 8 Per year and cumulative, EUR Year Sale Service Cumulative 1 112,800 21,600 0 134,400 112,800 2 0 21,600 0 156,000 112,800 3 0 21,600 0 177,600 112,800 4 0 21,600 0 199,200 112,800 5 0 21,600 0 220,800 112,800 6 0 21,600 0 242,400 112,800 7 0 21,600 0 264,000 112,800 8 0 21,600 0 285,600 112,800 Total 112,800 172,800 0 285,600 112,800 Service: Track and report at €1.80 per crate per year. Prices are set by you. Rotion’s fee to you is agreed separately. 03Closed loop #### From your line to every user. Your packaging leaves the line with an identity. Every party that handles it after that adds to the same record. - 01 Production Gives each item its identity and passport at the end of the line. - 02 Customers Track, settle and report reuse for the packaging you supply. - 03 Fillers Scan packaging in and out as they fill and ship it. - 04 Pool operators Run your packaging in their pool, on the same record. - 05 Wash centers Log wash cycles and inspections per item. - 06 Recyclers Record the end of life, so the passport closes with the last step. 04From the line #### From your line to every customer. Each crate gets its code and passport at the end of the line, by a scan station on the line or a batch import of codes. You keep one view across every customer that uses your packaging. Each customer sees only its own. End of line, scan station 2 Batch 2611 · 1,200 coded Production / Batch 2611 Sample data Registered at the end of the line ##### 1,200 crates, Stacking crate 6040 Design minimum 100 cycles · life 8 years · a passport per crate Shipped to - Customer 08 500 - Customer 14 400 - Pool operator 03 300 Passport 6040-2611-00417 Owner: Customer 08 transfers to When the owner changes Owner: Pool operator 03 Manufacturer view / Customers / Stacking crate 6040 Sample data ##### 3 customers · 30,000 crates in circulation Year 3 of 8 · pace to 100 cycles: 37.5 Customer 08 Crates held 12,000 Average cycles per crate against pace 36 Idle share 31% Dwell days 19 Flagged Dwell at its second DC rose from 6 to 19 days since August. 14% fewer cycles per crate than other customers on this design. At this rate it will reorder about 900 crates it already owns. Customer 14 Crates held 8,000 Average cycles per crate against pace 41 Idle share 12% Dwell days 7 Pool operator 03 Crates held 10,000 Average cycles per crate against pace 43 Idle share 9% Dwell days 5 Customers see only their own crates. Bar from 0 to 100 cycles, the line marks the pace Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 05How it works #### From the line to every cycle. The identity starts at your production line and follows the item through every customer, filler and wash center. Each scan adds to its passport. - 01 ##### Produce and register Each item gets a code and a passport at the end of the line. - 02 ##### Deliver to customers Batches ship to the brand, retailer or pool operator under their account. - 03 ##### In circulation Customers scan at each handover. Cycles, washes and damage log per item. - 04 ##### Repair or recycle Damaged items come back for repair or recycling with their full history. 06Platform #### Packaging with software in it. Explore the platform ##### Digital packaging passport Lifecycle data per item, transferable between customers and partners. Read more ##### Fleet view per customer Where your packaging sits, how often it rotates and how much stands idle, per customer. Read more ##### Reuse figures out of the box Customers report cycles, rotation and losses without building data pipelines. Read more ##### ERP and GS1 sync Connects to customer ERP and WMS systems and to GS1 identifiers through one platform. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Customer 08 runs 14% fewer cycles per crate than other customers on the same design. Why Dwell time at the second DC of Customer 08 rose from 6 to 19 days since August. At this rate the customer will reorder about 900 crates it already owns. Proposes Share the dwell report with Customer 08 and propose a fleet review before the next order. Approve Edit confidence 92% Service revenue this quarter € 12,600 Sample data 08Service #### Your service, on your terms. Bundle Rotion with your packaging, or resell it under your own name. You set the tiers and the prices; Rotion runs the platform, the scan apps and the updates. Settings / Service catalog Sample data ##### Passport €0.60 per item per year - Identity and passport per item - Cycle history Price set by you ##### Track and report €1.80 per item per year - Everything in Passport, plus - Custody per handover - Reuse rates and PPWR reuse reporting - Customer portal Price set by you ##### Deposits and settlements €2.40 per item per year - Everything in Track and report, plus - Deposits per item - Partner statements Price set by you Billing / Recurring licenses Sample data Customer Tier Crates Per crate per year Annual, EUR Customer 08 Track and report 12,000 1.80 21,600 Customer 14 Passport 8,000 0.60 4,800 Pool operator 03 Deposits and settlements 10,000 2.40 24,000 Recurring total €50,400 a year This quarter €12,600 Settings / Branding Under your brand or as Rotion Your brandRotion Portal name Molda Crates Rotion Portal address portal.moldacrates.example app.rotion.eu M R Molda Crates Rotion Customer 08 Crates held 12,000 Idle share 31% Runs on Rotion Rotion customer portal Molda Crates is a fictional manufacturer brand. #### Where manufacturers start. Digital packaging passport Lifecycle data per item Crates and trays Fresh produce and retail IBCs Chemical and food liquids PPWR Navigator Deadlines your customers face #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to become a software company? No. Rotion is the software layer on top of your physical packaging. You keep selling packaging, and Rotion provides the platform, scan apps, updates and partner portal. Q.02 Do we need to change our packaging design? No. Rotion works with existing designs and reads QR, barcode, RFID or GS1 codes. You can add digital capability per product line or per customer. Q.03 Who owns the customer relationship and the data? You keep the customer relationship. Data ownership is set per use case and can be transferred where needed. Rotion owns no fleets and does not compete for your customers. Q.04 How does a packaging passport help us sell? A passport turns a crate into a system customers can report on. Each item carries its identity, cycles and condition across every partner that handles it. See the digital packaging passport. Q.05 How does this help our customers with PPWR? Rotion records reuse cycles per item, so customers can evidence reuse rates without manual counts. PPWR calculation rules apply from 30 June 2027 and reuse targets from 2030. The PPWR Navigator shows the deadlines. Q.06 Can we resell Rotion under our own brand? Yes. You can bundle Rotion with your packaging as Rotion, or resell it under your own name with your own portal. You set the service tiers and the prices for your customers; Rotion runs the platform, the scan apps and the updates. Q.07 Do we see how our packaging is used after the sale? Yes. You get one view across every customer that uses your packaging: crates held, cycles per item against the design minimum, idle stock and dwell. Each customer sees only its own crates. Q.08 How do crates get their identity at the end of the line? Either works: a scan station at the end of the production line, or a batch import of the codes you print or mold into the crates. The passport starts there and transfers when a crate changes owner. #### Further reading. All articles PPWR 11 Mar 2026 ##### The PPWR guide for manufacturers, retailers and distributors Insights 26 Jan 2026 ##### Why Linear Packaging Systems Need to Go Circular Comparisons 24 Jan 2026 ##### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 09 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Ship packaging with a passport. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Software for Startups | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/reusable-packaging-startups For reusable packaging startups ### Launch the loop, keep the count. Rotion runs reuse schemes for cups, takeaway boxes, e-commerce packaging and canteen trays. Track every item, run deposits and show return rates from the first pilot. Starter costs from 150 EUR a month. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for a reuse startup? Rotion gives every cup, box or mailer in your scheme its own identity and records each handover between restaurants, canteens, webshops, consumers and your wash partner. It runs deposits, shows return rates per location and produces the reuse data clients, investors and regulators ask for. - Starter from 150 EUR/month, 14 days free - QR, RFID or both, on the same platform - One system from pilot to scale 01The problem #### Return rates decide the business. A reuse scheme lives on how many items come back and how often they go out again. Most startups only learn that number at the end of a pilot. P.01 ##### Items disappear quietly. Cups go home with consumers, boxes stay in offices and mailers sit in drawers. Without scans you cannot tell where the loop breaks. P.02 ##### Deposits get messy. A deposit paid at one site and refunded at another needs a clear ledger, or partners stop trusting the scheme. P.03 ##### Clients want proof. Caterers, retailers and investors ask for return rates, cycles and impact per site. A spreadsheet will not convince them. 02Cost per use #### Return rate decides what a bowl costs. A reusable bowl pays off when it comes back often enough. Set your own numbers and see the return rate where reuse beats single-use. ##### The life of one bowl, drawn use by use. Sample data At 90% 10 uses Break-even 95.5% 22 uses Your rate 97% 33 uses One use, the bowl comes back Last use, the bowl is lost Uses per bowl 33 Cost per use €0.35 Single-use €0.42 Break-even rate 95.5% At 97%, each use of a bowl costs €0.07 less than single-use. Sample numbers. Rotion shows your real return rate per site from the first scan. 03Closed loop #### Everyone in your scheme. Restaurants, canteens, webshops and consumers pass your packaging on. Each handover is a scan, so return rates show per location. - 01 Restaurants Hand out cups and boxes and take them back, with one scan each. - 02 Canteens Issue packaging at the counter and collect it at the return rack. - 03 Webshops Send orders in reusable mailers and see which ones come back. - 04 Consumers Pay a deposit, return the item at a return point and get the deposit back. - 05 Return points Collect returns. Each one counts for the location where it came in. - 06 Wash partner Washes, checks and sends items back into circulation, logged per item. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 04How it works #### Out, used, back, washed. Partners and consumers scan with any phone. Each scan moves the item to its next holder, so you see where returns stall. - 01 ##### Issue at the counter A restaurant or canteen hands out an item and the deposit is recorded. - 02 ##### With the consumer The item travels home, to the office or by post. Custody sits with the consumer. - 03 ##### Return point Returns at any participating site or drop box. The deposit is refunded. - 04 ##### Wash and back out The wash partner logs each cycle and restocks the sites running low. 05Pilot to scale #### Start on Starter. Keep the data when you grow. A pilot fits on Starter. When you add sites or items, you move up a plan on the same account, with every item and scan you already have. Settings / Plan and usage Sample data ##### Campus bowl scheme One account, 18 months Locations in use against the plan limit Months 1 to 18 Locations in use Plan limit First move up Same account. 1,500 bowls and 41,000 scans carried over. Month 4, Starter to Launch, nothing to migrate Starter €150 a month Months 1 to 3 Pilot at Canteen A Locations 1 / 1 Items 1,500 / 10,000 Launch €499 a month Months 4 to 12 Six sites on campus, from Canteen A to Canteen C and three cafés Locations 6 / 10 Items 12,000 / 100,000 Scale €999 a month Months 13 to 18 28 sites across the city, from Café 11 to Office 4 Locations 28 / 50 Items 60,000 / 500,000 Sample scheme. A location is any place where items are scanned or received. 06Platform #### Built to grow with the scheme. Explore the platform ##### Deposit ledger Deposits held, refunded and open, per site and per consumer. Read more ##### Return rates per site Rotation and return time for every location in the scheme. Read more ##### Losses per site See where items go out and stop coming back, per site and per week. Read more ##### Pilot reporting Cycles, return rates and reuse figures per site for clients and investors. Read more 07First 14 days #### Your first two weeks, free. Starter comes with 14 days free and no credit card. Most of a pilot fits in that time. startup.rotion.eu / Get started Sample data ##### Get your pilot running Day 7 of 14, 6 of 7 steps done - Day 1 Sign up at startup.rotion.eu and create your item type. Bowl, 500 ml - Day 2 Import or print QR codes and label the first 500 bowls. - Day 3 Invite Canteen A by phone and link. It sees only its own bowls - Day 4 First issue scan at the counter. Deposit of €2.00 held - Day 5 First return scan at the drop box. Deposit refunded - Day 7 First week: 1,140 issued, 1,086 back. Return rate 95.3% - Day 14 Trial ends. Export the pilot report for your client or investor. Canteen A, week 1 Return rate after one week 95.3% 1,086 of 1,140 bowls back, counted from the scans. - Issued 1,140 - Back 1,086 - Still out 54 Trial 7 days left, no credit card on file. At the end, export the pilot report and stay on Starter. Start free for 14 days Self-serve at startup.rotion.eu, no credit card #### Where reuse startups start. Cups and takeaway Deposits and return points Totes and RPCs E-commerce and retail packaging Rotion Starter From 150 EUR a month PPWR Navigator Takeaway and reuse deadlines #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 How much does Rotion cost for a startup? Rotion Starter starts at 150 EUR a month and comes with 14 days free. You set it up yourself through Rotion Starter and move to a larger plan when the fleet grows. Q.02 Do we need to choose QR or RFID up front? No. Rotion reads QR, barcode and RFID, and you can combine them. Adding or switching a technology does not change the platform or your data. Q.03 Can we pilot with Rotion and scale on the same setup? Yes. Pilots and full rollouts run on the same system. Rotion runs Repasys, a consumer reuse pilot with 106,312 packages across 6 retailers, on the same platform. Read the Repasys case study. Q.04 What does PPWR mean for takeaway reuse? From 12 February 2027 takeaway sellers in food service must accept containers that customers bring, and from 12 February 2028 they must offer reusable packaging within a system for reuse. That creates demand for schemes that can prove their return rates. See the PPWR Navigator and our guide to the takeaway rules. Q.05 Who owns the data and the customer relationship? You do. Rotion owns no fleets, consumers or contracts, and you decide what each partner sees. Q.06 Which plan does a pilot need? A pilot at one site fits on Starter: up to 10,000 items at one location, from 150 EUR a month. A location is any place where items are scanned or received, so a scheme with several canteens or restaurants starts on Launch. You move up on the same account and keep every item and scan. Q.07 Does Starter include Autopilot? No. Autopilot, Rotion’s AI agent, comes with the Custom plan. At pilot volumes the reports on Starter show where items stop coming back: return rate, cycles and losses per site. #### Further reading. All articles PPWR 28 Sept 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 Reuse schemes 20 Sept 2026 ##### Reusable Takeaway Containers for Canteens and Campuses: How to Get Them Back Insights 26 Jan 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Start your scheme on Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Rental Equipment Tracking Software | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/rental-equipment For equipment rental companies ### Know who has every item. Rotion tracks each rental item from check-out to check-in: tools, event equipment, construction kit, medical and IT devices. See who holds what, chase overdue returns, record damage on return and measure utilization per item. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for an equipment rental company? Rotion gives every rental item its own identity and records each check-out, handover and check-in with a scan. It shows which customer or job site holds each item, flags overdue returns, attaches damage photos to the return and reports utilization per item. Your rental system keeps contracts and invoicing. - Works on items without power or telematics - Runs alongside your rental ERP - Deposits and damage backed by scan evidence 01The problem #### The contract line is not the item. Rental systems count quantities per contract. Losses, damage and disputed returns happen at the level of the single item. P.01 ##### Returns are hard to prove. A customer says all nine items came back. Your depot note lists seven. Nobody can show which two are missing. P.02 ##### Damage surfaces too late. Damage is found at the next check-out, long after the customer who caused it has gone. P.03 ##### Utilization is a guess. Some items are always on hire and others never leave the shelf. Without data per item you buy more of the wrong kit. 02Off-hire #### Seven of nine, and which two. A customer says the whole order came back. Rotion shows each item on the contract with its last scan, so the gap has names, places and a holder. Depot Ghent / Contracts / R-24117 Sample data ##### Contract R-24117 Contractor 12, Site 3 Ghent On hire Sep 22, 2026 Due back Oct 5, 2026 Checked in Oct 5, 16:40, Depot Ghent Returned 7 of 9 Missing 2 Damaged 1 Blocked for test 1 Days on hire 13 # Item Name At check-in Last scan - 01 BRK-0412 Demolition breaker 11 kg Returned Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 02 BRK-0418 Demolition breaker 11 kg Chisel holder cracked, 1 photo Damage Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 03 GEN-0071 Generator 6 kVA Returned Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 04 LGT-0233 Site light tower Returned Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 05 LGT-0234 Site light tower Handed to Subcontractor 4 Not returned Oct 2, Site 3 Ghent - 06 PRP-1102 Scaffold prop set 6 props, one case, one scan Handed to Subcontractor 4 Not returned Oct 2, Site 3 Ghent - 07 CUT-0090 Floor saw Returned Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 08 HOS-0310 Water hose kit Case with 3 hoses, contents checked Returned Oct 5, Depot Ghent - 09 PMP-0055 Submersible pump Electrical test overdue Blocked, test due Oct 5, Depot Ghent ###### Exceptions 2 missing, 1 damaged Not returned, scan trail LGT-0234 PRP-1102 - Sep 22 Check-out at Depot Ghent - Sep 26 Delivered to Site 3 Ghent - Oct 2 Handover to Subcontractor 4 at Site 3Responsibility moves to Subcontractor 4 - Oct 5 Check-in at Depot Ghent: not scanned BRK-0418, damage Chisel holder cracked. Held by Contractor 12 from Sep 22 to Oct 5. Deposit Held for the contract €1,200 Held back until 2 items return €640 Released €560 Check-in facts go back to your rental system. Contracts and invoicing stay there. 03Closed loop #### Everyone who holds your kit. Items move from depot to customer, job site and back. A scan at each handover shows who is responsible right now. - 01 Depots Check items out and in with a scan, the small kit included. - 02 Customers Sign for what they take, so each hire starts on a record. - 03 Job sites Show which items are on site and since when. - 04 Subcontractors Take over items on site. The handover moves responsibility with it. - 05 Carriers Confirm deliveries and collections, so nothing goes missing between stops. - 06 Repair shop Logs damage photos, repairs and the date an item is ready again. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 04How it works #### Check-out to check-in. Depot staff, drivers and customers scan with any phone or reader. Each scan moves custody, so every item has one responsible holder. - 01 ##### Check out Items leave the depot against the order. One scan per item or per case. - 02 ##### On hire Items move between job sites and subcontractors. Custody follows each handover. - 03 ##### Check in Returns scan in at the depot. Missing items and damage show at once, with photos. - 04 ##### Inspect and ready Repairs, tests and cleaning log per item before it goes out again. 05Utilization #### Which breakers earn. Every check-out and check-in is recorded per item, so you see days on hire for each one before you buy more of the same. Fleet / Utilization Sample data ##### Demolition breaker 11 kg Depot Ghent Week 30 to 41 14 items BRK-0410 6 7 7 5 6 7 7 6 5 7 6 7 90% 76 d BRK-0411 7 6 5 7 7 6 7 7 6 5 7 6 90% 76 d BRK-0412 5 7 6 6 7 7 5 6 7 6 7 5 88% 74 d BRK-0413 7 7 6 5 7 6 7 5 6 7 6 7 90% 76 d BRK-0414 6 5 7 7 6 5 6 7 7 6 5 6 87% 73 d BRK-0415 7 6 6 7 5 7 6 6 5 7 7 6 89% 75 d BRK-0416 3 0 4 2 0 3 4 0 2 3 0 4 30% 25 d BRK-0417 0 2 4 0 3 2 0 4 3 0 2 3 27% 23 d BRK-0418 2 4 0 3 0 2 3 0 4 6 7 R 37% 31 d BRK-0419 4 0 2 3 4 0 0 3 2 4 3 0 30% 25 d BRK-0420 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0 d BRK-0421 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0 d BRK-0422 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0 d BRK-0423 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0 d Fleet utilization, 12 weeks 47% 554 of 1,176 possible days on hire On hire most weeks 6 items, 89% No hire in 12 weeks 4 items, 0% In repair, week 41 BRK-0418 Conclusion 4 of 14 breakers had no hire in 12 weeks. Move them to a busier depot or skip the next order. BRK-0420, BRK-0421, BRK-0422, BRK-0423 stayed on the shelf at Depot Ghent. 06Platform #### Control per rental item. Explore the platform ##### Who holds what Every item per customer, job site and depot, updated with each scan. Read more ##### Overdue and missing items Autopilot flags items past their return date and returns that came back short. Read more ##### Utilization per item Days on hire, idle time and turns for every item and item type. Read more ##### Deposits and damage Deposits held and released per customer, with damage photos from the check-in scan. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works A scaffold prop set and a site light tower on hire to Contractor 12 are 9 days past their return date. Why The rest of the order came back on 5 October. The last scan of the missing items was at Site 3 in Ghent, where Contractor 12 handed part of the kit to Subcontractor 4. Proposes Send Contractor 12 the item list with the last scans and hold € 640 of the deposit until the items return. Approve Edit confidence 92% Overdue items recovered this month 37 Sample data #### Where to go next. Autopilot The agent that chases returns Deposits and settlements Deposits backed by scans Infobric alternatives A buyer guide for rental fleets Garment tracking Textile rental and reuse #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our rental software? No. Your rental system keeps contracts, rates and invoicing. Rotion adds identity, custody and return evidence per item, and can feed the check-in facts back to it. Q.02 Does Rotion work on equipment without power or telematics? Yes. Rotion identifies items by QR code, barcode or RFID, so tools, cases, panels and accessories need no device. Large machines get a code too and sit in the same system. Q.03 How does Rotion handle damage on return? At check-in, staff scan the item and add a note and photos. The damage is attached to that item and to the customer who held it, with time and place, so a claim rests on evidence. Q.04 Can we see utilization per item? Yes. Every check-out and check-in is recorded per item, so Rotion shows days on hire, idle time and turns for each item and each item type. Q.05 How do we start? Start with one depot and the items you lose most often. Put a code on each, scan at check-out and check-in, and roll out to more depots on the same setup. Most teams go live in weeks. Q.06 Can Rotion stop kit going out with an overdue test? Yes. Rotion keeps inspection and test dates per item, for example electrical tests or lifting gear inspections, and blocks the check-out scan when a date has passed until the item is tested again. Q.07 How do cases and kits work? A case or kit gets its own code and holds its contents, so one scan checks out a set of props or a hose kit. At check-in, staff confirm the contents and anything missing is recorded against the customer who held the case. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Comparisons 8 Sept 2026 ##### Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental Companies: 2026 Buyer Guide Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get every rental item back. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Garment and Textile Tracking Software | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/garment-tracking For garment and textile rental ### Every garment, every wash. Rotion tracks workwear, hospital and hotel linen, uniforms and rental fashion item by item. Read RFID tags in the laundry, count wash cycles per garment and see which client holds what. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for garment and textile rental? Rotion gives every garment or linen item its own record, read from an RFID tag or code at each step. It counts wash cycles per item, shows which client, site or wearer holds it, flags losses at customers and shares each client’s data with that client only. - RFID, QR and barcode, read in batches - Views and reporting per client - Runs alongside your laundry and ERP systems 01The problem #### Counts per client hide the losses. Most textile services know how many items each client should have. They do not know which items, or how many washes each one has left. P.01 ##### Losses sit at customers. Linen and workwear go missing on wards, in hotel rooms and in lockers. The shortfall shows up as a replacement order. P.02 ##### Wash life is unknown. Without cycles per item you retire garments too early or send worn ones back out. P.03 ##### Excel cannot keep up. Manual entry for intake, sorting and dispatch takes hours and is out of date by the next delivery. 02Wash life #### Every wash counted, every jacket. Each read at the laundry adds a cycle to the garment. You see which items reach their wash limit this quarter, before you retire good ones or send worn ones back out. Clients / Plant 14 / Work jacket, navy Sample data Wash life Type Work jacket, navy Limit 75 washes Horizon 13 weeks Jackets 400 Wash limit 75 Washes per week about 1 At limit this quarter 56 ##### Jackets per wash count In use Reaches 75 within 13 weeks 10 14 22 30 34 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 62+ Limit 75 0187 Washes so far 56 jackets reach their limit this quarter. Order replacements now. Create replacement order Item Wearer Size, locker Repairs Washes 0042 Wearer 031 M, 1-07 1 73 0311 Wearer 268 XL, 4-22 0 71 0098 Wearer 077 L, 2-03 3 68 0187 Wearer 112 L, 3-14 2 64 0187 · WJ-NAVY-L ###### Jacket 0187 Work jacket, navy, size L Limit this quarter 64 of 75 washes 11 left 0 Reaches 75 in about 11 weeks 75 Wearer Wearer 112 Locker 3-14 Client Plant 14 Last read Today 07:42, intake at the laundry Repairs 2 Zip replaced €8.50 Week 12 Cuff repaired €4.00 Week 31 Repair cost €12.50 Holders Over its life - Plant 14 site Issued to Wearer 112, locker 3-14 - Laundry Washed, cycle counted - Plant 14 site Returned to locker 3-14 - Laundry 07:42, Intake read, wash 64 Limits are set per garment type. Rotion counts the washes, you decide when to retire. 03Closed loop #### Every step a garment takes. Garments and linen pass between clients, wearers and your laundry many times a year. Each read adds to the record of the item. - 01 Clients See the garments at their own sites and their own losses, and nothing else. - 02 Wearers Receive and return their own workwear. - 03 Laundry Reads every item in and out and counts its wash cycles. - 04 Sorting Matches clean items to clients and wearers before dispatch. - 05 Repair Logs repairs per item, so you know what each garment has had. - 06 Distribution Delivers clean items and collects soiled ones, with a read at each stop. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 04How it works #### Client to laundry and back. RFID gates and handheld readers record items in batches. Each read moves custody, so every garment has a holder. - 01 ##### Issue to the client Garments and linen leave the depot per client and site. One read per trolley. - 02 ##### In use Items are worn, used and stored at the client. Custody stays with the site. - 03 ##### Collect and wash Soiled items read in at the laundry. Each wash adds a cycle to the item. - 04 ##### Sort and repair Items are inspected, repaired or retired, then sorted for the next delivery. 05Client balance #### Delivered, read back, and the gap. Every delivery and every intake at the laundry is read per item, so the shortfall per client has a number and a list. Clients / Hotel 6 / Bath towel Sample data Client balance Weeks 35 to 40 Delivered 1,800 a week ##### Towels per week Delivered Read back at intake Gap -170 -160 -158 -162 Week 35 36 37 38 39 40 Delivered 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,800 Read back 1,792 1,796 1,630 1,640 1,642 1,638 Gap 8 4 170 160 158 162 Above stock 8 12 182 342 500 662 The gap starts in week 37 and is spread across floors 1 to 5. Equal shares on every floor point to towels leaving with guests, not a stuck trolley. Last 4 weeks W37 to W40 650 towels 9% fewer returned than received Delivered 7,200 Read back 6,550 Not returned 650 Gap per floor W37 to W40 Floor 1 132 Floor 2 128 Floor 3 131 Floor 4 127 Floor 5 132 Client portal Hotel 6 Statement, bath towels not returned Weeks 37 to 40 · Same reads as your laundry Bath towel × 650 €4,680.00 Replacement price €7.20 each Proposed charge €4,680.00 View the reads Accept Accepted charges go to your invoicing Garment and textile services on Rotion 06Platform #### Built for textile fleets. Explore the platform ##### Wash cycles per item Cycle counts and wash history per garment, from every RFID read. Read more ##### Losses at customers Autopilot flags clients and sites where items go in and fewer come back. Read more ##### Client balances What each client, site or wearer should hold, against what was read. Read more ##### Client reporting Each client sees its own garments, washes and losses, ready to share. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Hotel 6 returned 9% fewer bath towels than it received over the last four weeks. Why Deliveries stayed at 1,800 towels a week while intake at the laundry fell from week 37. The gap is spread across all floors, which points to towels leaving with guests rather than a stuck trolley. Proposes Send Hotel 6 a balance statement and propose a charge for the 650 towels not returned. Approve Edit confidence 92% Linen losses billed this quarter € 4,870 Sample data #### Where to go next. Partner portal Client views of their own items Autopilot Loss flags with reasoning Rental equipment Check-out and check-in per item Packaging operators Multi-customer pools #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need to replace our laundry or ERP system? No. Rotion runs alongside them and adds what they lack: identity per item, wash cycles, custody per client and partner views. It replaces the Excel files, not your core systems. Q.02 Does Rotion work with RFID in the laundry? Yes. Rotion takes batch reads from RFID tunnels, gates and handheld readers, as well as QR and barcode scans. Each read updates the location, holder and wash count of the item. Q.03 How is this different from an inventory system? Inventory systems count stock per client. Rotion follows each garment through its life: who held it, how often it was washed, when it was repaired and where it went missing. Q.04 Will clients see each other’s data? No. Access is set per client. Each client sees only its own garments and data, and you decide what is shared. Q.05 Does this help with textile product passports? Each garment carries its lifecycle, wash and repair history, which you can share with brands and clients when they ask for it. The same record can feed digital product passports as brands start to need them under ESPR. Q.06 Can Rotion tell us when garments reach their wash limit? Yes. You set a wash limit per garment type. Rotion counts every wash from the laundry reads, shows which items reach the limit within the period you choose and lists them per client, so you order replacements before worn garments go back out. Q.07 Can garments be assigned to wearers? Yes. Workwear can be assigned to a named wearer with a size and a locker, and loss charges per client can be exported or pushed to your invoicing. Laundries you work with can join as partners and read items in and out with their own readers. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Operations 1 Sept 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook Operations 26 Aug 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Count every wash. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## GSE Fleet Management Software for Ground Handlers | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/industries/ground-handling For ground handlers and GSE lessors ### Every GSE unit, one record. Rotion gives every dolly, pallet trailer, cart and tractor its own record. The handler that uses it, the company that leases it out and the airport it stands on share that record. See who holds each unit, which ones sit idle and which are due for service. Q · A #### What does Rotion do for ground handlers? Rotion gives every piece of ground support equipment its own identity and records each hand-out, handover and return with a scan. It shows who owns and who holds each unit and takes live positions from the telematics already on your GSE. It also flags service dates and shows which units sit idle. Your ERP and lease contracts stay where they are. - Owner and holder on every unit - Reads QR, RFID, BLE and existing telematics - Service dates that block a hand-out 01The problem #### Every handler buys for the peak. When nobody sees the whole fleet, each team keeps a buffer. The apron fills up with units that wait for the next freighter. P.01 ##### Units without an owner on record. A trailer blocks a stand, and the airport calls three handlers before someone claims it. P.02 ##### Damage with no one to charge. A leased dolly comes back with a cracked roller bed. The lease says who rented it, not who held it the night it broke. P.03 ##### Fleet size is a guess. Nobody knows how many dollies were in use at the busiest hour, so the next order or lease adds more of the same. 02Closed loop #### Everyone who touches a unit. A dolly can belong to a lessor, run for a handler and stand on the airport’s apron in the same shift. Each party sees the units it owns or holds. - 01 Ground handler Scans units out and in at each shift and stand, so every unit has a holder. - 02 GSE lessor Sees which handler holds each leased unit, for how many days and in what state it came back. - 03 Airport operator Gets a read-only view of whose GSE stands where, without the lease terms behind it. - 04 Shift teams Take units over at the stand. The handover moves responsibility with it. - 05 Workshop Logs inspections, repairs and the date a unit is ready again. - 06 Other handlers A borrowed unit stays on its owner’s record, with the handler that held it. 03Apron #### Whose trailer is on stand 14. Each unit carries its owner and its holder. When a trailer blocks a stand, the airport sees whose it is, and the handler sees which shift left it there. Apron / Whose GSE is where Sample data ##### Airport view, read only 5 zones 661 units Zone Handler A Handler B Handler C Airport Total Stands 11 to 16 Blocking stand 14 14 9 6 2 31 GSE park North 212 40 0 0 252 GSE park South 38 176 12 0 226 Cargo shed 2 46 0 88 0 134 Airport workshop 0 0 0 18 18 Total 310 225 106 20 661 Units by owner Blocking stand 14 ###### PT-0231 Pallet trailer On stand since: 03:52, Oct 12 The airport sees Owner Lessor 2 Holder Handler B Position Telematics, 2 min ago Call Handler B ramp desk Handler B sees Shift Shift B, night Last scan Stand 14, drop-off by shift B Sample data. The airport sees owner and holder. Lease terms and shift details stay with the handler and the lessor. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 04How it works #### Hand-out to return. Shift leads and drivers scan with any phone at hand-out, at the stand and at return. Live positions come from the telematics already fitted, through the API. - 01 ##### Hand out Units leave the lessor or the GSE park against a lease or a shift. The receiver signs. - 02 ##### On shift Units move between stands, sheds and teams. Custody follows each handover. - 03 ##### Return Units scan back in at the park or the lessor. Missing units and damage show at once, with photos. - 04 ##### Service Inspections and repairs log per unit. A unit past its service date cannot be handed out. 05Lease #### One trailer, one lease, one history. A lessor sees each unit it leases out: which handler holds it, for how many days, what came back damaged and when it is due for service. Lessor 2 / Leased units / PT-4471 Sample data ##### PT-4471 Pallet trailer, 20 ft Owner Lessor 2 Leased to Handler B On hire Aug 4, 2026 Off-hire Oct 4, 2026 Days on hire 61 Day rate €14 Hire to invoice €854 61 × €14 Service Due Oct 10 Blocked for hand-out Who held it Handler B, 60 days Handler C, 1 day, Sep 18 ###### Unit history - Aug 4 Hand-out at the Lessor 2 yard Signed by the Handler B shift lead. - Aug 5 First scan on the apron GSE park South. - Sep 18 Handover to Handler C for one night Scanned at Stand 12. Responsibility moves to Handler C. Handover - Sep 19 Back to Handler B Damage scan at Stand 12: roller bed cracked, 2 photos. Held by Handler C at the time. Damage - Oct 4 Off-hire at the Lessor 2 yard Returned with the damage already on record. - Oct 10 Service due Not serviced yet. Blocked for the next hand-out. Blocked for hand-out Damage, Sep 19 Roller bed cracked. Held by Handler C at the time. Handler C Sample data. Days on hire go to your invoicing. Contracts stay in your lease system. 06Platform #### Control per unit. Explore the platform ##### Who holds what Every unit per handler, shift, stand and park, updated with each scan. Read more ##### Overdue and idle units Autopilot flags units past their return date and units that have not moved in weeks. Read more ##### Peak use per type How many units of each type were out at the busiest hour, against the fleet you own and lease. Read more ##### Days on hire Days on hire per leased unit from the rental calculator, ready for invoicing. Read more 07Autopilot #### It notices first. Autopilot watches every scan in your loop, flags what is going wrong, proposes the fix with its reasoning, and acts once you approve. How Autopilot works Eight leased tow tractors have not been handed out in six weeks. Why Peak use of tow tractors has stayed at 26 or fewer since week 34, against 34 in the fleet. All eight idle units are on lease from Lessor 2. Proposes Propose to Lessor 2 to off-hire six tractors at the end of the month and keep two as buffer. Approve Edit confidence 92% Leased days saved this month 180 Sample data #### Where to go next. GSE tracking Dollies, trailers, carts and tractors Rental equipment Check-out and check-in per item Autopilot The agent that finds idle units Partner portal What each party sees #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 Do we need new trackers on our GSE? No. Rotion reads the QR codes, barcodes, RFID or BLE tags on your units and takes live positions from telematics already fitted to them through the API. Dollies and carts without power get a printed code. Q.02 Can the airport see our fleet? Only what you share. You can give the airport a read-only view of whose units stand where. Lease terms, shifts and costs stay with you. Q.03 How does Rotion work for GSE leasing companies? Each leased unit keeps one record across handlers. You see who holds it, its days on hire from the rental calculator, damage photos from the return scan tied to the handler that held it, and service dates that block the next hand-out. Q.04 Can units be shared between handlers? The record allows it. Every handover is scanned, so damage and loss land with the handler that held the unit. Whether units are pooled is up to the handlers and the airport. Q.05 Do we need to replace our ERP or lease system? No. Rotion runs alongside your ERP and lease contracts. Return facts and days on hire export or push to invoicing. Q.06 How do we start? Start with one unit type at one airport, for example the dollies you wait for most. Put a code on each, scan at hand-out and return, then add types and airports on the same setup. Most teams go live in weeks. #### Further reading. All articles Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Comparisons 8 Sept 2026 ##### Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental Companies: 2026 Buyer Guide Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E 08 · Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Know where every unit is. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Case Studies | Rotion Customers URL: https://www.rotion.eu/case-studies Customers ### Loops that run on Rotion. Operations teams use Rotion to keep reusable packaging accountable between producers, carriers, stores and wash centers, from first pilots to full fleets. 01Case 001 #### One tray, six retailers. Repasys is Belgium's first large-scale pilot for reusable food packaging. Six competing supermarket chains sell white mushrooms in one standard reusable tray. Consumers pay a deposit and return the tray to any participating store. Rotion gives every tray an identity, records each scan and clears the deposits between the retailers. Pilot running in the Mechelen region, coordinated by Flanders' FOOD and VIL with support from VLAIO. Read the Repasys case study Reusable trays in store Mechelen region Packages in use. 106,312 Retailers on one record. 6 Deposit per tray. €0.30 Return at the kiosk. under 3 s Repasys / Tray route Illustration Producer Fill + GS1 QR Distribution center Dispatch Six stores, return kiosk in each Albert Heijn ALDI Lidl Returned here Delhaize Carrefour Colruyt Sold here Cross-store return €0.30 cleared Colruyt → Lidl Returned Wash center Clean Clean trays back to the producer Tray flow Six stores, return kiosk in each Cross-store return, deposit cleared - 01Producer Filled and labeled with a GS1 Digital Link QR code. - 02Distribution Sent on to the stores. - 03Colruyt Sold with a €0.30 deposit. - 04Lidl Returned at the kiosk in under 3 seconds. - 05Rotion €0.30 cleared between the two chains. - 06Wash center Washed for the next fill. - 07Producer Back in the loop. “What makes REPASYS interesting for us is the combination of the project’s ambition and the simplicity of the system. A uniform tray, a clear deposit, return possible at any participating store.” Elke Gijsbrechts, Fost Plus Participating retailers 02Customers #### Find a loop like yours. One line per customer on what it runs in Rotion, grouped by the loop. All loops 15Retail packaging with Repasys 5Reusable packaging and IBCs 2Reverse logistics 2Garments and workwear 3Asset lifecycles 2Social economy 1 ##### Retail packaging with Repasys 5 customers - Repasys Belgium One reusable tray for white mushrooms across six supermarket chains, with deposits cleared per tray. Read the case study - Colruyt Group Runs reusable retail packaging in the Repasys pilot. - ALDI Runs reusable retail packaging in the Repasys pilot. - Carrefour Runs reusable retail packaging in the Repasys pilot. - Flanders' FOOD Coordinates the Repasys pilot for reusable retail packaging. ##### Reusable packaging and IBCs 2 customers - Horizons ISG USA Tracks its IBCs in Rotion to optimize the reuse flow. - Mivas Tracks its reusable packaging in Rotion. ##### Reverse logistics 2 customers - Kringwinkel Runs its reverse logistics in Rotion. - Bike Republic Runs its reverse logistics in Rotion. ##### Garments and workwear 3 customers - Dressr Runs garment rental in Rotion. - Proudd Runs workwear as a service in Rotion. - AMA Runs a product-to-order system and garment tracking in Rotion. ##### Asset lifecycles 2 customers - Brandweer Tracks its assets in Rotion to optimize their lifecycles. - Major Tracks dual-use assets in Rotion. ##### Social economy 1 customer - Stad Antwerpen Belgium Connects the social economy workshops (maatwerkbedrijven) in Rotion. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 03Reference call #### Talk to a team that runs one. Pick your industry and we will set up a call with a customer who runs a similar loop. Repasys return kiosk · produce aisle, Belgium IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Your loop could be next. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## How Repasys Scaled Reusable Packaging for Fresh Foods | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/case-studies/how-repasys-became-a-world-premier-reusable-packaging-fresh-foods Case study · Repasys ### One tray, six retailers. Repasys is Belgium's first large-scale pilot for reusable food packaging in fresh produce. Six competing supermarket chains sell white mushrooms in one standardized reusable tray, and Rotion keeps every tray accountable. 01At a glance #### The pilot in numbers. 106,312 packages in use 6 retailers on one record €0.30 deposit per tray Source: Repasys project data, Mechelen region pilot. 02The project #### A shared tray for competing chains. IMG 064 · Produce aisle, Belgium Albert Heijn, ALDI, Carrefour, Colruyt, Delhaize and Lidl sell white mushrooms in a single reusable tray across the Mechelen region during a nine-month pilot. Consumers pay a €0.30 deposit and return the empty tray to any participating store. An industrial wash center cleans it, and the tray goes back into circulation. Flanders' FOOD and VIL coordinate the project with support from VLAIO. It brings the full value chain together: retailers, producers, logistics partners, packaging manufacturers, Fost Plus, GS1 Belgilux, Comeos and Made. Repasys is the operational blueprint for how Belgian retail can respond to the PPWR, which restricts single-use plastic packaging on lightweight fresh produce from 2030. INDUSTRY Deposit-based reusable consumer packaging REGION Mechelen, Belgium PARTNERS Six retailers, producers, logistics, wash center What makes REPASYS interesting for us is the combination of the project’s ambition and the simplicity of the system. A uniform tray, a clear deposit, return possible at any participating store: these are exactly the conditions that help remove the barriers to reuse. 03What Rotion does #### Four layers, one record. - 01 ##### Identity Every tray carries a unique QR code printed to the GS1 Digital Link standard. Rotion issues the codes and keeps the record behind each one, from the producer line to the return kiosk. - 02 ##### Scanning Rotion specifies, deploys and supports scanning across the chain: stations at the producer and wash center, mobile and fixed scanning at logistics nodes and return kiosks in the stores. Each kiosk is built for a return in under 3 seconds. - 03 ##### Deposit clearing A tray bought at Colruyt can come back at Lidl. Rotion acts as the neutral clearing layer. From the same scans, it records where each tray was sold and returned, and which retailer owes or is owed the deposit. - 04 ##### Partner views Every partner sees return rates, dwell times, wash cycles, losses and deposit balances for its own part of the chain only. Anonymized totals go to the coordinators to evaluate the pilot. Digital traceability gives reusable packaging a reliable and transparent lifecycle, with countless valuable insights. When we do this on the basis of open standards, a connected ecosystem emerges that speaks the same language, and we can work together towards efficient and scalable implementation. 04Why it works #### Open standards make the pool shareable. IMG 046 · Wash center, Belgium · morning Open GS1 standards make the pool interoperable across six retailers, several logistics partners and the wash center. Each partner keeps its own systems and sees the same tray history. Return rates decide the unit economics of reuse. Fast kiosk returns, deposits cleared from the scans and one record per tray keep returns high and disputes low. With a circular approach, we can use raw materials more intelligently and reduce waste and emissions. 05Related #### The pieces behind the pilot. Brands and retailers Closed loops with stores Deposits and settlements Clearing between partners Digital packaging passport Identity per asset on GS1 codes Trays and totes Retail and fresh produce IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Run your loop on auto-pilot. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Navigator: EU Packaging Rules by Deadline | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/ppwr-navigator PPWR Navigator ### Single-use to reusable, decoded. An operational map of packaging swaps under Regulation (EU) 2025/40. Filter by status, complexity, investment and category to see which transitions to plan first. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, entered into force on 11 February 2025 and has applied in all 27 Member States since 12 August 2026. It sets bans on some single-use formats, reuse targets for transport, grouped, beverage and takeaway packaging, and rules for how reuse is calculated. Reuse targets need evidence. Rotion produces reuse rates and cycle counts from asset-level scans. See reuse reporting. - 12 Aug 2026 General application The regulation applies; reuse system requirements in force. - 12 Feb 2027 Bring your own container Takeaway sellers accept customer-brought containers. - 30 Jun 2027 Calculation rules Rules for calculating reuse rates apply. - 12 Feb 2028 Reusable takeaway option Takeaway sellers offer a reusable option. - 1 Jan 2030 Bans and reuse targets Single-use bans in Annex V and the 2030 reuse targets apply. - 2040 Higher targets Indicative reuse targets rise for 2040. Transport & Logistics Mandatory Cardboard shipping boxes (B2B transport)Foldable/nestable plastic crates or totes Deadline 2030 Complexity: Low CapEx: €€ Payback: 8-14 months Deadline 40% transport reuse target by 2030, 70% by 2040 What the regulation says Art. 29 transport packaging reuse target: 40% by 2030, 70% by 2040 (indicative). Applies to B2B shipments between sites or partner enterprises (100% target). What changes in operations Drop-in replacement. Only process change is return logistics. Compatible with existing conveyors, WMS, forklifts. What it costs Per-crate unit cost moderate; scales with fleet size. Tracking layer adds per-asset cost. Sectors Cross-sector Transport & Logistics Recommended Stretch wrap / pallet film (LDPE)Reusable pallet covers (Bearhug, Return2Sender, elastic nets) Deadline 2030 Complexity: Low CapEx: € Payback: 6-12 months Deadline Supports 2030 transport reuse and 2030 waste reduction targets What the regulation says Counts toward Art. 29 transport reuse target. Reduces plastic waste footprint under Art. 43 waste reduction targets (-5% by 2030, -15% by 2040). What changes in operations Minimal operational change. Requires stock of covers and return loop. No equipment changes. What it costs Low per-unit cost. No equipment changes. Scales incrementally with pallet volume. Sectors Cross-sector Transport & Logistics Recommended Single-use wooden pallets (one-way)Pooled standardised pallets (EUR/EPAL, CHEP-style) Deadline 2030 Complexity: Low CapEx: € Payback: 4-10 months Deadline Supports Art. 29 B2B transport target 100% by 2030 What the regulation says Already mature pooling model; reinforced by Art. 29 B2B transport targets. EPR eco-modulation will penalise single-use alternatives. What changes in operations Mature pooling ecosystem exists. Main change is service contract vs. purchasing. What it costs Operational expense via pooling service; no ownership CapEx. Sectors Cross-sector Transport & Logistics Recommended Big bags / FIBCs for bulk goodsReusable palletboxes or reusable IBCs Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€€ Payback: 18-30 months Deadline Art. 29 transport reuse 40% by 2030; 70% by 2040 What the regulation says Falls under Art. 29 transport reuse targets where applicable. Bulk contact packaging has conditional exemptions depending on product (food/chemical). What changes in operations Unloading paradigm shift: from cut-and-dump to tilt/vacuum extraction. Often requires new filling and discharge stations, dust management, cleaning infrastructure. What it costs Palletbox unit cost €100 to €800+ plus filling/discharge stations, dust management, cleaning infrastructure. Significant fleet investment. Sectors Chemicals, food ingredients, agriculture Transport & Logistics Mandatory Corrugated trays for grouped transportReturnable Plastic Containers (RPCs), stackable trays Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 10-18 months Deadline Grouped packaging (non-cardboard) 10% reuse by 2030, 25% by 2040 What the regulation says Art. 29 grouped packaging (non-cardboard) reuse target: 10% by 2030, 25% by 2040. Cardboard exempt but RPC systems count toward overall 40% transport target. What changes in operations Needs pooling infrastructure, wash cycles, reverse logistics. Widely adopted in FMCG/produce (EPS, IFCO model). What it costs RPC unit cost plus pooling/wash infrastructure. Usually accessed via service model (EPS, IFCO). Sectors FMCG, produce, grocery Fresh Produce & Retail Mandatory Plastic trays, nets, bags for fresh fruit & veg <1.5kgReusable retail crates, open display in bulk bins Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 12-20 months Deadline Hard EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 What the regulation says Art. 25 + Annex V: EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 on single-use plastic packaging for unprocessed fresh produce under 1.5kg (limited safety exceptions). What changes in operations Shelf and merchandising redesign. Hygiene and shrinkage concerns. Checkout process may need SKU identifiers on crates, not items. What it costs Shelf and merchandising redesign, crate fleet, checkout process changes. Store-level rollout cost. Sectors Grocery retail, produce suppliers Fresh Produce & Retail Recommended Cardboard fruit crates (one-way)Foldable plastic fruit/veg crates (pooling) Deadline 2030 Complexity: Low CapEx: € Payback: 8-14 months Deadline Supports Art. 29 transport reuse 40% by 2030 What the regulation says Counts toward Art. 29 transport reuse. Well-established via EPS, Euro Pool, IFCO. Eco-modulation of EPR fees will favour reusables. What changes in operations Mature pooling ecosystem. Retailer-supplier coordination needed but industry standard exists. What it costs Typically accessed via pooling service (OpEx not CapEx). Pay-per-trip model. Sectors Grocery retail, produce Fresh Produce & Retail Mandatory Single-use plastic packaging for mushrooms, berries, soft fruitsReusable deposit-return trays (Repasys-style) Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 14-24 months Deadline Under Art. 25 <1.5kg produce ban from 2030 What the regulation says Under the <1.5kg fresh produce ban (Art. 25 + Annex V) from 2030. Reusable deposit systems are the primary compliant replacement. What changes in operations Requires deposit system, consumer education, return points at retail. Proven in Belgian pilots. What it costs Deposit system infrastructure, return points, consumer-facing tracking. Proven at retailer scale in Belgian pilots. Sectors Grocery retail HORECA & Takeaway Mandatory Single-use plastic cups, plates, cutlery (dine-in)Reusable tableware, washable cups, branded mugs Deadline 2030 Complexity: Low CapEx: € Payback: 6-12 months Deadline Hard EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 What the regulation says Art. 25 + Annex V: EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 for on-site HORECA consumption. Includes cups, plates, trays, service-ware. What changes in operations Requires dishwashing capacity. Cost savings usually rapid given per-unit price differential. What it costs Tableware restock (typically already exists in most venues). Dishwasher capacity may need upgrading. Sectors HORECA, events HORECA & Takeaway Mandatory Takeaway cups and containers (coffee, food-to-go)Reusable takeaway container systems (Vytal, Recup, Billie Cup) Deadline 2027 Complexity: High CapEx: €€ Payback: 18-30 months Deadline Accept customer-brought containers from 12 Feb 2027; offer a reusable option from 12 Feb 2028; 10% reuse aim by 2030 What the regulation says Art. 32: from 12 February 2027 takeaway sellers must accept customer-brought containers at no extra charge. Art. 33: from 12 February 2028 they must offer a reusable packaging option within a system for reuse (micro-enterprises are exempt from Art. 33). Reuse aim of 10% by 2030. What changes in operations Needs deposit system, cleaning logistics, consumer adoption, multi-venue interoperability. Tracking essential. What it costs Deposit infrastructure, cleaning logistics, multi-venue interoperability platform, consumer-facing app. Sectors HORECA, cafes, QSR HORECA & Takeaway Mandatory Single-serve sachets (sauce, sugar, creamer, seasoning)Bulk dispensers, refillable condiment stations Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: € Payback: 8-16 months Deadline Hard EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 What the regulation says Art. 25 + Annex V: ban from 1 Jan 2030 on single-use plastic sachets in HORECA for condiments, sauces, sugar, seasoning, creamer. What changes in operations Hygiene compliance, dispenser maintenance, portion control. Staff training required. What it costs Dispenser units per venue. Low per-station cost but scales with venue count. Sectors HORECA, QSR HORECA & Takeaway Mandatory Hotel miniature toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, body lotion)Wall-mounted refillable dispensers Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 12-20 months Deadline Hard EU-wide ban from 1 Jan 2030 What the regulation says Art. 25 + Annex V: ban from 1 Jan 2030 on single-use plastic packaging for cosmetics/hygiene in the accommodation sector. What changes in operations Dispenser installation across rooms, refilling operations, brand experience redesign. What it costs Dispenser installation across all rooms, refilling operations, brand-compliant design. Scales with room count. Sectors Hospitality, accommodation Beverage Mandatory Single-use PET bottles, aluminium cans (beverages)Refillable glass or PET bottles (deposit-return) Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€€ Payback: 24-48 months Deadline 10% reuse by 2030, 40% by 2040; 90% collection SUP bottles/cans by 2029 What the regulation says Art. 29 beverage reuse target: 10% by 2030, 40% by 2040 (with exceptions for wine, spirits, milk). DRS mandatory for Member States not hitting 90% collection for single-use bottles and cans by 2029. What changes in operations Major CapEx: bottling line adaptation, inspection systems, reverse logistics, wash infrastructure. Clear ROI at scale. What it costs Bottling line adaptation, inspection systems, wash infrastructure, reverse logistics fleet. Major CapEx requiring multi-year amortisation. Sectors Beverage producers, bottlers Beverage Mandatory Shrink-wrap multipacks (bundled bottles/cans)Reusable crates, carriers, baskets Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 10-18 months Deadline Hard EU-wide ban on SUP grouped packaging at POS from 1 Jan 2030 What the regulation says Art. 25 + Annex V: ban from 1 Jan 2030 on single-use plastic grouped packaging at point of sale (purely promotional bundling). What changes in operations Bottling line end-of-line changes. Crate pooling infrastructure. Retailer shelf standards. What it costs Bottling line end-of-line changes, crate fleet, pooling infrastructure. Sectors Beverage, retail Beverage Recommended Cardboard beer/soft drink multipack traysReturnable beverage crates Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 14-22 months Deadline Supports 10%/40% beverage reuse targets What the regulation says Counts toward 10%/40% beverage reuse targets. Standard practice in mature beverage markets (Germany, Belgium, Netherlands). What changes in operations Retailer coordination critical. Industry standards exist. Deposit integration. What it costs Crate fleet, deposit integration, retailer coordination. Sectors Beverage, brewery E-commerce Mandatory Single-use cardboard shipping boxes with void fillReusable shipping bags/boxes (RePack, LivingPackets, Opopop) Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€ Payback: 18-36 months Deadline 40% e-commerce transport reuse by 2030, 70% by 2040; 50% empty-space cap from 2030 What the regulation says Art. 29 e-commerce transport reuse target: 40% by 2030, 70% by 2040. Art. 24: 50% empty-space ratio cap from 2030 also pushes redesign. What changes in operations Reverse logistics for B2C is the hardest variable. Works best with closed-loop retailers or subscription models. Consumer behaviour change needed. What it costs Reusable mailer/box fleet, reverse logistics network, consumer-facing return infrastructure. Sectors E-commerce, D2C brands E-commerce Recommended Bubble wrap, air pillows, paper void fillReusable protective inserts, foam shaped inserts Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: € Payback: 12-20 months Deadline Art. 10 minimisation from 2026; 50% empty-space cap from 2030 What the regulation says Supports Art. 10 minimisation (from 2026) and 50% empty-space cap (2030). EPR eco-modulation will penalise single-use fill. What changes in operations Works well in closed-loop B2B. More complex in open B2C. SKU-to-insert matching for multi-SKU ops. What it costs Foam/insert tooling for standard SKUs. Low cost in closed-loop B2B, higher complexity in B2C. Sectors E-commerce, electronics, fragile goods Industrial & B2B Recommended Single-use plastic drums, jerrycans for chemicals/liquidsReusable IBCs, stainless steel drums, returnable jerrycans Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 14-24 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B: 100% reuse target between sites of same/partner enterprises What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B transport: 100% reuse target for packaging between sites of same or partner enterprises. EPR eco-modulation penalises single-use. What changes in operations Cleaning/decontamination infrastructure is the main lift (especially for chemicals). Strong existing market for IBCs. What it costs IBC/drum fleet plus cleaning and decontamination infrastructure. Existing rental/pool market reduces CapEx exposure. Sectors Chemicals, lubricants, food ingredients Industrial & B2B Recommended EPS foam boxes (temperature-sensitive goods)Insulated reusable cool boxes with phase-change materials Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€€ Payback: 16-28 months Deadline Supports Art. 10 minimisation and Art. 29 transport reuse What the regulation says Supports Art. 10 minimisation and Art. 29 transport reuse. EPS increasingly restricted under national law and recyclability grade rules. What changes in operations CapEx on insulated boxes is significant. Reverse logistics and conditioning cycles required. Critical for pharma cold chain. What it costs Insulated box units are high unit-cost (€100 to €500+). Phase-change material conditioning infrastructure. Critical for pharma cold chain. Sectors Pharma, cold chain, seafood, meal kits Industrial & B2B Recommended Cardboard gaylord boxes / one-way palletboxesFoldable plastic palletboxes (injection-moulded) Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€€ Payback: 18-30 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B 100% reuse target where applicable What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B transport 100% target where applicable. Strong EPR eco-modulation incentive. Durability of HDPE/PP palletboxes gives high rotation counts. What changes in operations Handling equipment usually compatible. Folding mechanism reduces return transport cost. Initial unit cost is higher. What it costs Palletbox unit cost €100 to €800 depending on design. Fleet investment significant; amortises over 50+ rotations. Sectors Manufacturing, automotive parts, industrial Automotive & Parts Recommended Single-use cardboard/foam dividers for partsReusable dunnage, custom-fit plastic trays Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 12-20 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B closed-loop 100% reuse target What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B closed-loop: 100% reuse target. Automotive is already a mature reusable dunnage sector (VDA standards). What changes in operations Tooling investment for custom dunnage. Existing industry standards (VDA, Odette) ease adoption. What it costs Custom tooling for part-specific dunnage. VDA/Odette standards reduce design cost. Sectors Automotive, aerospace, industrial Fashion & Retail Recommended Polybags / dust covers for garments in transitReusable garment covers / shipping bags Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: € Payback: 14-24 months Deadline Supports Art. 29 transport reuse 40% by 2030 What the regulation says Art. 29 transport reuse target 40% by 2030. Fashion industry pressure on single-use polybags accelerates voluntary adoption. What changes in operations Works well in closed-loop (DC to store). Harder in open B2C e-commerce. Brand experience considerations. What it costs Fabric/polymer cover unit cost is low. Scales with garment throughput. Sectors Fashion, apparel retail Fashion & Retail Recommended Cardboard hanger boxes, garment cartonsReusable hanging garment racks/containers Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 16-24 months Deadline Art. 29 transport reuse target 40% by 2030 What the regulation says Art. 29 transport target (40%/70%). Common in apparel DC-to-store (GOH, garment on hanger). What changes in operations Closed-loop between DC and store works well. Requires truck fitment, rack pooling. What it costs Rack fleet plus truck fitment. Closed-loop DC-to-store reduces reverse logistics cost. Sectors Fashion retail Agriculture & Horticulture Recommended Single-use plastic plant trays, potsReusable multi-use nursery trays Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 12-20 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B 100% reuse target closed-loop grower-retailer What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B transport 100% target for closed-loop between grower and retailer. EPR eco-modulation favours reusables. What changes in operations CC (Container Centralen) model well established in horticulture. Expansion to smaller trays is next step. What it costs Tray fleet investment. CC Container pooling model already established for larger units. Sectors Horticulture, nurseries Agriculture & Horticulture Recommended Single-use plastic sacks (feed, seed, fertiliser)Reusable FIBCs/big bags with tracking Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€ Payback: 16-28 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B transport target; supports Art. 43 waste reduction What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B transport target. Supports waste reduction under Art. 43. Tracking ensures return loop integrity. What changes in operations Cleaning between uses (contamination risk), tracking, return logistics to rural/dispersed sites. What it costs FIBC unit cost plus cleaning infrastructure and tracking layer. Reverse logistics to dispersed rural sites adds cost. Sectors Agriculture, animal feed Construction Recommended Plastic film wrap on building materialsReusable construction packaging covers Deadline 2030 Complexity: High CapEx: €€ Payback: 18-36 months Deadline Art. 29 B2B transport; eco-modulation pressure by 2030 What the regulation says Art. 29 B2B transport. Low adoption currently but eco-modulation and waste targets will push change by 2030. What changes in operations Site-to-site coordination, durability in harsh conditions, return loops in fragmented construction supply chain. What it costs Durable covers for harsh site conditions. Return logistics in fragmented construction supply chain is the main cost driver. Sectors Construction, building materials Construction Mandatory Cardboard boxes for fittings, fixtures, hardwareStackable returnable tote systems Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: €€ Payback: 10-18 months Deadline Art. 29 transport reuse 40% by 2030 What the regulation says Art. 29 transport reuse target 40% by 2030. Wholesale distribution to contractors is closed-loop friendly. What changes in operations Works well with distributor networks (Lecot, Gamma Wopla, etc.). Crate return via route density. What it costs Tote fleet via distributor network (e.g. Lecot, Gamma Wopla). Route density makes return economics favourable. Sectors Construction, hardware wholesale Postal & Express Recommended Single-use padded mailers (jiffy bags)Reusable padded shipping envelopes Deadline 2030 Complexity: Medium CapEx: € Payback: 14-24 months Deadline Art. 29 e-commerce target 40% by 2030; Art. 10 minimisation from 2026 What the regulation says Art. 29 e-commerce target 40% by 2030. Art. 10 minimisation from 2026. Low-hanging fruit for subscription and rental models. What changes in operations Strong fit for B2B or subscription B2C. Prepaid return labels, drop-off network, consumer compliance. What it costs Mailer unit cost low. Return label and drop-off network costs via existing postal infrastructure. Sectors E-commerce, subscriptions, rental Payback estimates assume tracked reusable assets with 50 to 500+ cycles depending on format. They include asset CapEx, washing, handling, reverse logistics and tracking, offset against avoided single-use material and EPR fees. CapEx bands are indicative for a pilot to mid-scale rollout and vary by volume and country. This navigator is guidance, not legal advice; check the regulation text and national rules. - Which reuse targets apply to which packaging - What data a reuse rate needs - How to evidence cycles per asset - A timeline from now to 2030 #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What is the PPWR? The PPWR is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and has applied in every Member State since 12 August 2026, with bans, reuse targets and reporting rules phased in to 2030 and 2040. Q.02 When do the PPWR reuse targets apply? The reuse targets apply from 1 January 2030, with higher indicative targets for 2040. The rules for calculating reuse rates apply from 30 June 2027, so the data to prove reuse needs to exist before 2030. Q.03 Which single-use packaging is banned from 2030? Annex V lists the formats, for example single-use plastic packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg, single-use plastic for food and drinks consumed on site in horeca, single-use condiment sachets in horeca, and hotel miniature toiletries. Use the filters above to see the swaps per category. Q.04 How do we prove reuse for the PPWR? You need asset-level records: which reusable packaging was issued, returned and reused, and how many cycles each item completed. Rotion produces these figures from scans at each handover. See reuse reporting. Q.05 Is the navigator legal advice? No. It is an operational guide to the regulation, kept up to date by the Rotion team. Check the regulation text and national implementation for your situation. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get your reuse data ready for 2030. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Guide | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/buyers-guide Buyer's guide ### Choose tracking software with care. A practical guide for operations, procurement and IT teams comparing returnable packaging tracking software. Build your requirements list here, then get the full guide by email. 01The guide #### Six chapters and an RFP template. For teams writing a shortlist or an RFP. It works for any supplier you compare, including us. Buying returnable packaging tracking software. A buyer's guide for multi-partner loops Buyer's guide Edition 2026 Contents - 01 Know your loop before you shop. - 02 The requirements, weighted. - 03 Ten questions for every supplier. - 04 Types of tools and where each one stops. - 05 Data, integration and exit. - 06 Plan and measure a pilot. - A Appendix: an RFP requirements template. 02Requirements #### Build your requirements list. Tick what your loop needs. Each line has a suggested weight; change it to fit. Copy the list into your RFP. 16 criteria in 5 groups Weight Identity and custody 3 R.01 Each asset has its own ID and history, not only a balance per partner. Weight for R.01MustShouldNice R.02 Every handover records who holds the asset, with the scan as evidence. Weight for R.02MustShouldNice R.03 One scan per pallet or load (SSCC) keeps asset-level traceability. Weight for R.03MustShouldNice Partners 4 R.04 Partners join with a phone and a link, with nothing to install. Weight for R.04MustShouldNice R.05 Partner users do not add to the price. Weight for R.05MustShouldNice R.06 Each partner sees only its own assets, balances and statements. Weight for R.06MustShouldNice R.07 The partner portal shows in the partner's language. Weight for R.07MustShouldNice Identifiers and hardware 2 R.08 Reads the codes already on the fleet: QR, barcode, RFID and GS1 GRAI. Weight for R.08MustShouldNice R.09 Works with phones first; sensors only where they pay off. Weight for R.09MustShouldNice Integration and data 4 R.10 Standard connectors for your ERP, WMS and TMS, set up by the supplier. Weight for R.10MustShouldNice R.11 An open API and webhooks. Weight for R.11MustShouldNice R.12 Full data export at any time, in open formats, also after the contract ends. Weight for R.12MustShouldNice R.13 Hosting in the EU and single sign-on. Weight for R.13MustShouldNice Reporting and money 3 R.14 Deposits charged and refunded by scan, on statements partners can accept or dispute. Weight for R.14MustShouldNice R.15 Reuse rates and cycle counts per packaging category, traceable to the scans, for the PPWR. Weight for R.15MustShouldNice R.16 Flags missing returns and proposes the next step, instead of showing only the last scan. Weight for R.16MustShouldNice - R.01 Each asset has its own ID and history, not only a balance per partner. - R.02 Every handover records who holds the asset, with the scan as evidence. - R.03 One scan per pallet or load (SSCC) keeps asset-level traceability. - R.04 Partners join with a phone and a link, with nothing to install. - R.05 Partner users do not add to the price. - R.06 Each partner sees only its own assets, balances and statements. - R.07 The partner portal shows in the partner's language. - R.08 Reads the codes already on the fleet: QR, barcode, RFID and GS1 GRAI. - R.09 Works with phones first; sensors only where they pay off. - R.10 Standard connectors for your ERP, WMS and TMS, set up by the supplier. - R.11 An open API and webhooks. - R.12 Full data export at any time, in open formats, also after the contract ends. - R.13 Hosting in the EU and single sign-on. - R.14 Deposits charged and refunded by scan, on statements partners can accept or dispute. - R.15 Reuse rates and cycle counts per packaging category, traceable to the scans, for the PPWR. - R.16 Flags missing returns and proposes the next step, instead of showing only the last scan. Nothing here yet. Must - R.01 Each asset has its own ID and history, not only a balance per partner. - R.02 Every handover records who holds the asset, with the scan as evidence. - R.03 One scan per pallet or load (SSCC) keeps asset-level traceability. - R.04 Partners join with a phone and a link, with nothing to install. - R.05 Partner users do not add to the price. - R.06 Each partner sees only its own assets, balances and statements. - R.07 The partner portal shows in the partner's language. - R.08 Reads the codes already on the fleet: QR, barcode, RFID and GS1 GRAI. - R.09 Works with phones first; sensors only where they pay off. - R.10 Standard connectors for your ERP, WMS and TMS, set up by the supplier. - R.11 An open API and webhooks. - R.12 Full data export at any time, in open formats, also after the contract ends. - R.13 Hosting in the EU and single sign-on. - R.14 Deposits charged and refunded by scan, on statements partners can accept or dispute. - R.15 Reuse rates and cycle counts per packaging category, traceable to the scans, for the PPWR. - R.16 Flags missing returns and proposes the next step, instead of showing only the last scan. Nothing here yet. Should - R.01 Each asset has its own ID and history, not only a balance per partner. - R.02 Every handover records who holds the asset, with the scan as evidence. - R.03 One scan per pallet or load (SSCC) keeps asset-level traceability. - R.04 Partners join with a phone and a link, with nothing to install. - R.05 Partner users do not add to the price. - R.06 Each partner sees only its own assets, balances and statements. - R.07 The partner portal shows in the partner's language. - R.08 Reads the codes already on the fleet: QR, barcode, RFID and GS1 GRAI. - R.09 Works with phones first; sensors only where they pay off. - R.10 Standard connectors for your ERP, WMS and TMS, set up by the supplier. - R.11 An open API and webhooks. - R.12 Full data export at any time, in open formats, also after the contract ends. - R.13 Hosting in the EU and single sign-on. - R.14 Deposits charged and refunded by scan, on statements partners can accept or dispute. - R.15 Reuse rates and cycle counts per packaging category, traceable to the scans, for the PPWR. - R.16 Flags missing returns and proposes the next step, instead of showing only the last scan. Nothing here yet. Nice Your requirements list Requirements selected Paste it into your RFP. The guide has the full template. 03Supplier questions #### Ten questions to ask every supplier. Ask each one in the demo. A good answer is one the supplier can show you on screen. ##### Q.01 Show me one asset's history across three partners. Why it matters Balances per partner hide where assets go missing. Only a per-asset history shows which handover lost it. A good answer A timeline for one asset with each holder, place and time, and the scan behind every step. ##### Q.02 What does a partner need to install, learn or pay? Why it matters Your loop is only as good as the partner who scans least. A good answer Nothing to install, a link to join, and partner users that do not add to your bill. ##### Q.03 Do we have to relabel our fleet? Why it matters Relabeling costs money and months, and stops a pilot before it starts. A good answer It reads your QR, barcode, RFID or GS1 GRAI codes as they are, and one asset can carry more than one. ##### Q.04 What happens when a scan is missed? Why it matters Scans get missed in every loop, so the gap needs to stay visible. A good answer The gap is flagged, the next scan closes it, and the record shows what was inferred. ##### Q.05 How do we get all our data out? Why it matters Your asset history is your evidence. It should not stay with the supplier. A good answer Full history as CSV or through the API, at any time, also after you leave. ##### Q.06 Which systems do you connect to as standard, and who builds it? Why it matters Integrations are where projects slow down and costs grow. A good answer Named standard connectors that the supplier sets up, and custom work quoted before you sign. ##### Q.07 How is the price built, and what will year one cost? Why it matters Prices per user grow with every partner you add. A good answer Published plans, priced per fleet or platform, with year one written out line by line. ##### Q.08 How do you calculate a reuse rate? Why it matters Under the PPWR, reuse figures need to stand up to an auditor. A good answer The formula on screen, each figure traceable to its scans, and read-only access for an auditor. ##### Q.09 How does a partner dispute a balance? Why it matters Disputes settled by phone and spreadsheet cost more than the assets. A good answer Statement lines linked to their scans, accepted or disputed by the partner in its own portal. ##### Q.10 What does our first loop look like in week one? Why it matters A pilot shows more than any slide. A good answer One loop with two or three partners, live in weeks, measured on returns and scan coverage. 04Types of tools #### Know which kind of tool you are looking at. Most tools in this space were built for one job. Each is good at that job; check where it stops. Type of tool Built for Where it stops Balance administration Built for Counts per partner, documents and invoices. Where it stops No identity per asset, so losses cannot be traced to a handover. Hardware trackers Built for Live location of high-value carriers. Where it stops A tracker, battery and subscription per asset; the cost turns against you on large crate fleets. Indoor positioning Built for Real-time location inside your own site. Where it stops The walls of your own site, and it needs installed anchors. ERP and WMS modules Built for Packaging as stock in your own system. Where it stops Partners cannot see or confirm anything themselves. Pooling provider portals Built for The provider's own pool. Where it stops One provider's assets, not your mixed fleet. Circulation platforms Where Rotion sits Built for One record per asset shared by every partner, with custody, deposits and reuse reporting. Where it stops It is software on the codes your assets carry; it does not do live indoor positioning. 05Before the demo #### Two checks before you book a demo. Both save time on your side and ours. ##### When Rotion is not the right choice. Save yourself a demo if one of these is you. - 01 You track fixed IT assets on one site. - 02 Your packaging is one-way and never comes back. - 03 You want a hardware tag and nothing else. - 04 You need live positions inside a building. If your assets move between partners and come back, plan a pilot. ##### Plan a pilot you can measure. Start with one loop, two or three partners and six to eight weeks. Agree up front on what counts as success. M.01 Scan coverage at each handover. M.02 Days until an asset comes back. M.03 Assets unaccounted for at the end. M.04 Partners scanning without a reminder. Starter lets small teams try Rotion free for 14 days. See Starter Czech Republic Goodlok in Czechia runs its reusable packaging on Rotion Starter. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See it on your own loop. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Software Pricing | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/pricing Pricing ### Plans priced by fleet size. Set how many assets and locations you run. You see the plan that fits and what your first year costs, line by line. Plan estimate Estimate Your plan #### Launch Fits your assets and locations, with room to grow. Assets 40,000 of 100,000 Locations Up to 10, plan limit 10 - 01 Subscription, Launch 12 × €399, billed annually €4,788 - 02 Standard connection For example SAP or Microsoft Dynamics No fee - 03 Custom integration Requested Scale plan, on a cost basis Quoted - 04 Support Email within 24 hours Included - 05 Autopilot From the Custom plan Not included Per asset per month at the plan limit €0.004 Year one €4,788 Custom work comes on top only if you need it. Prices are never per user. Starts with a 30-minute demo 01Plans #### Four plans, one price for the platform. Every plan covers your whole team and your partners. Pick by the assets and locations you run, and move up when the loop grows. ##### Starter from €150 from €150 per month up to 10,000 assets at 1 location, in and out For small fleets and reuse startups. Includes - 14 days free, self-serve - SAP or Microsoft Dynamics connection - Scan with the phones you have - Email support within 48 hours Starts with 14 days free ##### Launch €399€499 per month , billed annually , billed monthly up to 100,000 assets and 10 locations For teams launching a closed loop with a first set of partners. Includes - Digital packaging passport per asset - Live asset tracking and event log - SAP or Microsoft Dynamics connection - QR, barcode and RFID - Email support within 24 hours Starts with a 30-minute demo ##### Scale €799€999 per month , billed annually , billed monthly up to 500,000 assets and 50 locations For larger operations that need partner roles and custom integrations. Everything in Launch, plus - Roles and permissions per partner - SSCC batching and group scans - External operator access - Custom integrations, APIs and extra services, on a cost basis - Phone support on weekdays and a dedicated account manager Starts with a 30-minute demo ##### Custom Quoted for your fleet and setup more than 500,000 assets or 50 locations, or Autopilot For large fleets that want Autopilot, strict security or their own hosting. Everything in Scale, plus - On-premise or self-hosted option - SSO with SAML and SCIM - Audit logs and compliance exports - Support up to 24/7 with an SLA - Autopilot, the AI agent Quoted for your fleet 02Year one #### Everything you pay in year one. The estimate above has four lines. Here is what each one covers, for a Launch plan billed annually. Line 01 ##### Subscription. Access to the platform for your whole team and your partners. On Launch, billed annually, that is 12 × €399. €4,788 Line 02 ##### Standard connection. A connection to SAP or Microsoft Dynamics is included in every plan, with no onboarding fee. €0 Line 03 ##### Custom integration. Custom connections, APIs and extra services come with the Scale plan. We build them on a cost basis and quote them before you sign. Quoted Line 04 ##### Support. Every plan includes support. Starter answers email within 48 hours, Launch within 24 and Scale within 12, with phone support on weekdays. Custom can run 24/7. €0 03Starter or Launch #### Where most fleets decide. Both plans run the same platform. The difference is how many assets and locations you run, and how you start. Starter Launch Who it is for Small fleets and reuse startups A closed loop with a first set of partners Assets Up to 10,000 Up to 100,000 Locations 1, in and out Up to 10 How you start Self-serve, 14 days free A 30-minute demo Support Email within 48 hours Email within 24 hours Price From €150 a month €399 a month billed annually, €499 monthly Move up When your fleet passes 10,000 assets or a second location joins the loop, Launch is the next step. Autopilot comes in with Custom. 04Compare plans #### What Launch, Scale and Custom include. Compare plans Launch Scale Custom Trackable assets Up to 100,000 Up to 500,000 Unlimited Locations Up to 10 Up to 50 More than 50 Support Email within 24 hours Email within 12 hours, phone on weekdays 9:00 to 17:00, dedicated account manager Up to 24/7, agreed per contract Operations and control Configurable process stages and workflows ✓ ✓ ✓ Hierarchical asset structures · ✓ ✓ External operator access · ✓ ✓ Interface in several languages · ✓ ✓ Dashboards per customer or partner · ✓ ✓ Issue reports with photos and guided triage · · ✓ Guided actions per scan, by role and state · · ✓ Advanced reporting and data export · · ✓ Consumer web app for return incentives · · ✓ Intelligence and analytics Lifecycle analytics and operational KPIs ✓ ✓ ✓ Autopilot anomaly detection · · ✓ Benchmarks per partner and lane · ✓ ✓ Forecasting and demand prediction · · ✓ Integration and security Standard connection to SAP or Microsoft Dynamics ✓ ✓ ✓ Custom integrations, APIs and extra services, on a cost basis · ✓ ✓ On-premise or self-hosted installation · · ✓ Dedicated instance or private cloud · · ✓ Custom branding and white label · · ✓ Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Pricing questions. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 How much does Rotion cost? Rotion Starter costs from €150 a month for up to 10,000 assets at one location. Launch costs €499 a month, or €399 a month billed annually, for up to 100,000 assets and 10 locations. Scale costs €999 a month, or €799 billed annually, for up to 500,000 assets and 50 locations. Custom plans are quoted. Q.02 Can we start small and grow later? Yes. Many teams start with one fleet, one flow or one region and add assets, locations and partners as reuse grows. You move up a plan when you need to. Q.03 Are there setup or onboarding fees? Only for custom work. A standard connection to SAP or Microsoft Dynamics is included in every plan. Custom integrations, APIs and extra services come with the Scale plan, built on a cost basis and quoted before you sign. Q.04 Does Rotion work with our systems and scanners? Yes. Rotion connects to SAP, Odoo, WMS and TMS systems and reads QR codes, barcodes, RFID or a mix. Existing labels and hardware can usually stay. See integrations. Q.05 Can we run Rotion in a private cloud or on-premise? Yes, on the Custom plan. Enterprises with strict data or compliance requirements can choose a dedicated instance, a private cloud or an on-premise installation. Q.06 Is there vendor lock-in? No. Rotion uses GS1 identifiers and an open API, so your asset data stays portable across partners and systems. Q.07 What support is included? Every plan includes support. Starter answers by email within 48 hours, Launch within 24 hours. Scale answers email within 12 hours and adds phone support on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00 and a dedicated account manager. Custom support is agreed per contract and can run 24/7. Q.08 Do you charge per user? No. Prices are for access to the platform, never per user. Add your whole team and your partners. Q.09 What counts as a location? Any place where assets are scanned or received: a warehouse, a wash center, a store or a customer site. Q.10 Which plans include Autopilot? Custom. Autopilot is set up for your loop as part of a Custom plan. Starter, Launch and Scale run without it. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Get your own number in 30 minutes. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Rotion Starter: Track Crates, Kegs and Cups for €150 URL: https://www.rotion.eu/starter Rotion Starter ### Start tracking this week. Rotion Starter is the self-service plan for small fleets and reuse startups. Track crates, kegs, cups and kit with the phones your team already carries, for €150 a month. 01First hour #### Your first hour. Sign up, describe what you track, print labels, scan, and see who holds what. Most of it happens on one phone. 00:00 ##### Sign up. Name your workspace and add your work email. The trial starts straight away, with no card needed. Lumo Cups 14 days free 00:06 ##### Describe what you track. Create an asset type with a prefix, a count and the number of days before an item counts as late. Cup 400 ml CUP 2,000 14 days 00:15 ##### Print your labels. Rotion makes an A4 sheet of QR labels for every item. Print them on your own printer, or order them from Rotion. IDs CUP-0001 to CUP-0024 00:32 ##### Make the first scan. Point the phone at a label and pick who takes it. Custody moves with the scan. CUP-0042 Café Noord 09:32 00:50 ##### See who is late. The overdue list shows every partner holding items longer than your return target. 3 partners 23 overdue Minute 00:50 Sample data Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked 02On Starter #### Running a loop on Starter. Goodlok in Czechia runs its reusable packaging on Rotion Starter. Starter, Czechia 03Plan check #### Does Starter fit? Starter covers up to 10,000 assets at one location. Pick the loop closest to yours and see where it lands. Cup startup 4,000 cups, 1 location Small brewery 1,200 kegs, 1 location Event operator 9,000 cups, 3 locations Growing crate pool 18,000 crates, 2 locations Assets 4,000 of 10,000 0 Starter 10,000 20,000 Locations 1 of 1 0 Starter 1 4 AutopilotNot in Starter. It comes with Custom. SupportStarter: email within 48 hours. Launch: within 24 hours. Starter fits. 4,000 cups at 1 location sit inside the Starter limits of 10,000 assets and 1 location. Starter 14 days free €150 /month Assets 1,200 of 10,000 0 Starter 10,000 20,000 Locations 1 of 1 0 Starter 1 4 AutopilotNot in Starter. It comes with Custom. SupportStarter: email within 48 hours. Launch: within 24 hours. Starter fits. 1,200 kegs at 1 location sit inside the Starter limits of 10,000 assets and 1 location. Starter 14 days free €150 /month Assets 9,000 of 10,000 0 Starter 10,000 20,000 Locations 3 of 1, over the limit 0 Starter 1 4 AutopilotNot in Starter. It comes with Custom. SupportStarter: email within 48 hours. Launch: within 24 hours. Launch fits. 3 locations is more than the 1 location Starter covers. Launch covers up to 100,000 assets and 10 locations. Launch or €399 a month billed annually €499 /month Start on Starter and move up on the same record. Your data stays. Assets 18,000 of 10,000, over the limit 0 Starter 10,000 20,000 Locations 2 of 1, over the limit 0 Starter 1 4 AutopilotNot in Starter. It comes with Custom. SupportStarter: email within 48 hours. Launch: within 24 hours. Launch fits. 18,000 crates is more than the 10,000 assets Starter covers. 2 locations is more than the 1 location Starter covers. Launch covers up to 100,000 assets and 10 locations. Launch or €399 a month billed annually €499 /month Start on Starter and move up on the same record. Your data stays. A location is any place where assets are scanned or received. 04Cost #### Your first year, month by month. The first 14 days are free, then you pay €150 a month with no annual commitment. There is no fee per asset, user or location. First year on Starter €1,800 First year with the move €3,545 Move to Launch in month 8 €150 €499 Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 days free Starter, €150 a month Launch, €499 a month. Assets and history stay. ##### Year one Trial, 14 days €0 12 months × €150 €1,800 Year total €1,800 No card needed for the trial. Cancel any month. Trial, 14 days €0 Months 1 to 7, 7 × €150 €1,050 Months 8 to 12, 5 × €499 €2,495 Year total €3,545 Same record. Your assets and history stay when you move up. 05What you get #### Everything a first loop needs. Starter runs on the same record as every larger plan, so you keep your data when you move up. ##### Phones as scanners. Your team scans with the phones it already carries. There is no hardware to buy and nothing to install on partner sites. ##### Your own QR codes. Print label sheets yourself whenever you add items, or order them from Rotion. Each code gives one item its own identity. ##### Room to grow. When the loop outgrows Starter, you move up to Launch on the same record. Your assets and history move with you. 06Who it is for #### Built for the first loops. Reuse startups Cups, takeaway and e-commerce packaging Cups and takeaway Deposit systems for horeca and events Kegs Small breweries and their venues Plans for larger fleets Launch, Scale and Custom #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What does Rotion Starter cost? Rotion Starter costs €150 a month, with no fee per asset, per user or per location. The first 14 days are free and need no card. Q.02 Who is Starter for? Starter is for small fleets and reuse startups that track crates, kegs, cups or kit at one location, up to 10,000 assets. Larger fleets with more locations usually start on Launch or Scale. Q.03 Do we need special scanners? No. Starter works with the phones your team already uses. You can print your own QR labels or order them from Rotion. Q.04 Can we move to a larger plan later? Yes. Starter runs on the same record as the other plans, so your assets and history move with you when you move up to Launch. Q.05 Can we cancel? Yes. Starter is billed monthly and you can cancel any month. There is no annual commitment. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Track your first loop this week. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Returnable Packaging Operations and Deposits | Rotion Blog URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/category/operations Blog / Operations ### Running returnable packaging across partners. Playbooks for crates, pallets, IBCs and kegs that travel between sites, customers and partners. How to cut losses, settle deposits and end disputes with scan data instead of spreadsheets. Articles 9 Start here Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook In Rotion See the platform Latest · Operations · 28 Sept 2026 #### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks A practical pallet tracking playbook for shippers, 3PLs, and receivers that need fewer losses, faster dispute closure, and cleaner custody evidence across EU and US returnable packaging operations. Read the article Operations 21 Sept 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks Operations 14 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues: A Practical Tracking Playbook Operations 10 Sept 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 7 Sept 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops Operations 1 Sept 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook Operations 28 Aug 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 27 Aug 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) Operations 26 Aug 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Software Comparisons | Rotion Blog URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/category/comparisons Blog / Comparisons ### Comparing reusable packaging software. How tracking tools, ERP add-ons and reusable packaging platforms differ, and the questions to ask any vendor before you choose. Each comparison states its criteria. Articles 8 Start here Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 In Rotion Get the buyer's guide Latest · Comparisons · 29 Sept 2026 #### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Compare the 9 best IBC and tote tracking tools for chemical and ingredient producers in 2026, and why Rotion leads for multi-party loops: TrackAbout, Packwise, Sensolus, GPX and more. Read the article Comparisons 29 Sept 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Comparisons 17 Sept 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Comparisons 15 Sept 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Comparisons 8 Sept 2026 ##### Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental Companies: 2026 Buyer Guide Comparisons 25 Aug 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Comparisons 1 Mar 2026 ##### Rotion vs Legacy ERP Systems: Why Circular Systems Need a Dedicated Layer Comparisons 24 Jan 2026 ##### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Economics and Insights | Rotion Blog URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/category/insights Blog / Insights ### How reuse systems work, and why they stall. The economics and mechanics of reusable packaging: where assets leak, when reuse pays off and what it takes to run a pool at scale. Articles 7 Start here How reusable packaging systems actually work In Rotion See the platform Latest · Insights · 15 Sept 2026 #### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Running a reusable packaging pool is an operations discipline. Why analytics, efficiency, and multi-party coordination separate expert poolers from asset owners with spreadsheets, and why technology is the deciding factor. Read the article Insights 28 Jan 2026 ##### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear Insights 26 Jan 2026 ##### Why Linear Packaging Systems Need to Go Circular Insights 26 Jan 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 23 Jan 2026 ##### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale Insights 22 Jan 2026 ##### Is reusable packaging economically viable in your context? Insights 21 Jan 2026 ##### How reusable packaging systems actually work IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Explained: Reuse Targets and Deadlines | Rotion Blog URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/category/ppwr Blog / PPWR ### The PPWR, explained for packaging teams. What the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, asks of manufacturers, retailers, distributors and food service: the reuse targets, the dates and the reporting. Articles 4 Start here The PPWR guide for manufacturers, retailers and distributors In Rotion Open the PPWR Navigator Primary source Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on EUR-Lex Latest · PPWR · 28 Sept 2026 #### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 From 2027 takeaway sellers must accept customer-brought containers, from 2028 they must offer reusable packaging, and from 2030 aim for 10% reusable sales. What PPWR Articles 32 and 33 require, and what the system behind them has to prove. Read the article PPWR 25 Aug 2026 ##### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) PPWR 11 Mar 2026 ##### The PPWR guide for manufacturers, retailers and distributors PPWR 26 Jan 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## 9 Best IBC & Tote Tracking Software Tools 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/best-ibc-tote-tracking-software-chemical Comparisons 29 September 2026 · 13 min read ### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Compare the 9 best IBC and tote tracking tools for chemical and ingredient producers in 2026, and why Rotion leads for multi-party loops: TrackAbout, Packwise, Sensolus, GPX and more. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Short answer: Rotion fits chemical and ingredient producers whose IBCs, totes and drums circulate between fillers, customers, reconditioners and partner sites, and who must know per-asset who has what, what it last carried, and settle deposits or rental on it. It sells no sensors and runs on the QR, barcode or RFID labels your containers already carry. Book a 20 minute walkthrough on your own loop. IBC and tote tracking software keeps count of reusable industrial packaging, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), totes, drums and tanks, as it circulates between a filler and its customers, and turns those movements into balances, loss rates and return times. This comparison covers nine tools in 2026. One of them, Rotion, is built for the full job: multi-party circulation with asset-level identity, deposits and PPWR-ready reporting. The other eight each cover a slice of it, and we say precisely which slice and where each one stops. Full transparency: we build Rotion. Every description below is factual and sourced from the vendor’s own published material, and we state Rotion’s limits in the same table. #### Comparison at a glance Tool Built for Where it stops Rotion Full circulation control for IBCs, totes and drums: asset-level identity, contents history, deposits, PPWR reporting across partners Software control layer, not telemetry: no fill-level or temperature sensing of its own, and no hardware to sell; it runs on the labels your containers already carry TrackAbout (Datacor) Returnable container tracking inside the Datacor process-manufacturing suite Gas-cylinder heritage and single-owner workflows; a suite module with no published pricing and no published PPWR posture Packwise Fill-level and condition telemetry via its own Smart Cap sensor per container A sensor and data plan per IBC; supplier-side telemetry, not multi-party circulation control, deposits or reuse evidence Sensolus Battery-powered trackers on high-value assets A device and a published per-asset monthly fee on every container; location and condition, not loop administration GPX Intelligence GPS tag tracking of returnable containers in North America A tag fitted to every container; published coverage is North America, with no EU coverage statement and no PPWR posture Anova Remote monitoring of what is inside industrial tanks Contents telemetry (level, pressure, temperature), not circulation: no handover, deposit or balance workflows Nexxiot Telematics for railcars and ISO tank containers Rail and intermodal scale with bolt-on devices; not built for IBC and tote loops between fillers and customers TrackOnline Balance administration between parties Balances and documents, not asset identity; seat-metered tiers, and no chemical-industry offering in its published navigation CoreRFID Bespoke UK RFID integration projects for internal IBC fleets A tag-and-handheld project for one owner’s own plants, not a multi-party SaaS Already running the numbers on your own fleet? The 8-question buyer scorecard turns this table into questions you can answer from your own loop before you talk to any vendor. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What does IBC and tote tracking software do? IBC and tote tracking software registers every movement of reusable industrial packaging, intermediate bulk containers, totes, drums and tanks, and maintains per-partner balances from those movements. A complete platform adds asset-level identity, contents history per container, deposit and rental settlement, and reuse reporting for EU PPWR compliance. Most tools in the category stop at one layer: telemetry from a sensor, or administrative balances. Only the full control layer tells you whether the loop actually works, and which specific container broke it. #### 1. Rotion: circulation control for IBCs, totes and drums across partners Rotion tracks reusable industrial packaging at asset level and adds the operational layer the rest of this list lacks: enforceable circulation rules, deposit and settlement logic, partner onboarding and PPWR-ready reuse reporting. It is hardware-agnostic (QR, RFID, barcodes) and works with the labels your IBCs and totes already carry, so there is no sensor to buy, fit or battery-manage per container. Rotion also logs what each container carried over time, which matters when the answer to “can we refill this IBC with product X” depends on its history. For fillers and processors, the dedicated IBC tracking and tote tracking pages describe the workflows in detail. When containers circulate between your plant, your customers and a reconditioner, you also need to know who has which one, what it carried, who owes the deposit, and whether you can prove reuse rates. Rotion is built to answer that; none of the tools below is. #### 2. TrackAbout (Datacor): container tracking inside a process-manufacturing suite TrackAbout is asset tracking software owned by Datacor, positioned for process manufacturing and tracking returnable containers from gas cylinders to chemical totes, IBCs and tanks, with rental billing and maintenance workflows (Datacor, what we track). Its heritage and flagship named customers are gas businesses, and its workflows describe a single owner scanning its own assets through fill, delivery and return. A multi-party loop also needs circulation rules and settlement between organisations, which one owner’s scan trail does not provide. Pricing is not published, and its product pages carry no published PPWR posture. For an EU chemical or ingredient producer whose containers cross company boundaries, the compliance and deposit questions land outside what the published product describes; Rotion is built exactly for them. #### 3. Packwise: a sensor cap per container, telemetry rather than control Packwise, based in Dresden, fits its Smart Cap device to industrial containers, plastic and stainless steel IBCs, tanks and tank containers, to create a digital twin with location, fill level and temperature data (packwise.de). The constraint ships with the model: a sensor and a data service per container, sold through pay-per-use or vendor-managed-inventory arrangements with no published pricing. Telemetry answers what is in the container and where it is; it does not maintain partner balances, settle deposits, enforce circulation rules or produce per-asset reuse evidence for PPWR reporting. A reuse loop depends on those jobs. They are Rotion’s core, and Rotion does them on labels you already have, with no hardware to buy. #### 4. Sensolus: a tracker and a monthly fee on every asset Sensolus, based in Belgium, sells battery-powered smart trackers and BLE tags with a cloud platform, and lists IBC containers among its tracked asset types (sensolus.com). Its pricing is published and honest: tracking-as-a-service at roughly 6 EUR per asset per month for smart trackers at 500 assets, or 1 EUR per asset per month for BLE tags at 1,000 (pricing). That model works for hundreds of high-value carriers and inverts for a fleet counted in the thousands: the fee recurs monthly on every container, forever, plus the device and its battery lifecycle. A location on a map does not settle deposits, reconcile partner balances or evidence reuse rates. Rotion tracks the same containers through the labels they already carry, with no hardware line at all. #### 5. GPX Intelligence: container tags with a North American footprint GPX Intelligence fits its AssetTag Pro device to returnable containers, IBCs, totes, racks and bins, reporting over a terrestrial network of connected devices, with dwell-time analytics and loss flagging (gpx.co). Two structural limits for a European chemical loop: it is a device fitted to every container with pricing confirmed on a call, and the published coverage map for the returnable-container product shows North America, with no EU coverage statement and no PPWR mention on its pages. No deposit or multi-party balance features are described. For an EU producer that must evidence reuse under Regulation 2025/40, a US tag network answers a different question than the one the regulator asks. Rotion answers the regulator’s question at asset level, without a device per container. #### 6. Anova: monitoring what is inside the tank, not where the loop leaks Anova provides industrial remote monitoring, delivering inventory level, pressure and temperature from connected sensors across industries including chemicals and industrial gases (anova.com). It is contents telemetry: what is inside the vessel and when to schedule a refill. Its published platform describes no returnable-container circulation workflows, no handover records, no deposits, no partner balances and no reuse reporting, and no pricing. Contents monitoring and circulation control are different products that happen to touch the same asset. If your problem is refill logistics, telemetry addresses it; if your problem is IBCs that leave your plant and do not come back, that is a circulation problem, and it is the one Rotion is built to close. #### 7. Nexxiot: railcar and ISO tank telematics, a different scale of asset Nexxiot, based in Zurich, equips railcars, intermodal containers and ISO tank containers with its Edge and Globehopper telematics devices feeding its Connect cloud (nexxiot.com). It operates at rail and intermodal scale: bolt-on devices on assets worth tens of thousands of euros each. That scope is the limitation for this comparison. IBC, tote and drum loops between a filler and its customers involve far more assets of far lower unit value. A telematics device per asset has no economics there, and the missing layer is administrative: who has which container, who owes what on it, and what it carried. No pricing is published. Rotion covers exactly that layer, from ISO tanks down to drums, on existing labels. #### 8. TrackOnline: balance administration, without a chemical lane TrackOnline, made by Bexter in Delft, registers and manages reusable packaging, maintaining balances per customer or supplier and reconciliations between parties (trackonline.com). Its published tiers are seat-metered, from 235 EUR per month for 3 admin and 5 light users to 1,535 EUR per month for financial features (what is TrackOnline), so cost grows with every seat a partner network adds. A chemical buyer hits two ceilings. Balance administration answers how many per partner; it cannot say which specific IBC is missing, what it carried and who owes its deposit. And its published industries are pooling, freight forwarding, food retail and horticulture, with no chemical-industry offering in its navigation. For contents-sensitive, deposit-bearing chemical packaging, asset-level identity is the layer the job requires, and it is where Rotion starts. #### 9. CoreRFID: a bespoke tagging project for your own plants CoreRFID is a UK RFID integrator that builds tailored IBC tracking from UHF tags, handheld readers and a custom hosted application (corerfid.com). Its published chemical deployment tracks one owner’s fleet of 3,000 IBCs across that owner’s own six UK plants. It is an internal fleet, scanned by the owner’s staff, on a bespoke integration. A multi-party loop cannot be a bespoke project at every partner, because partners will not install your readers or run your custom app. Rotion is a SaaS control layer built for exactly that boundary: partners scan with what they have, and the loop’s rules, deposits and reuse evidence live in one neutral system. #### Running BESTMIX or evaluating SDS software? That is a different category Feed, food and chemical producers often evaluate returnable asset tracking alongside the systems they already run, and two names come up that do not belong in this list. BESTMIX is formulation, quality and ERP software for feed and food producers (bestmix.com); its published product pages describe no returnable asset tracking. SDS software manages safety data sheets, which is a compliance document workflow. If your ERP runs your recipes and your SDS system runs your hazard documentation, neither knows which IBC is at which customer or who owes the deposit on it. Returnable asset tracking is the third system, and Rotion runs alongside your existing ERP rather than replacing it. #### How do you choose between them? Start from the question your operation actually asks. Telemetry vendors (Packwise, Sensolus, GPX, Anova, Nexxiot) answer where a container is or what is inside it, at the price of a device and a fee per asset. Administration tools (TrackOnline) answer how many per partner. Integration projects (CoreRFID) and suite modules (TrackAbout) answer one owner’s internal question. The moment IBCs and totes cross company boundaries, the job becomes circulation control: asset-level identity, contents history, deposits, and reuse evidence a regulator will accept. Three questions settle it: - How many organisations touch your containers? More than one, and telemetry or internal scan trails stop short; you need enforceable rules and one neutral record across all of them. - What must you prove? Deposit settlement, refill eligibility and PPWR reuse reporting need per-asset records, including what each container carried. Estimates do not survive an audit or a contamination question. - What does the hardware cost at your fleet size? A sensor or tag per container is a recurring line item on every asset, forever. Rotion works with the QR, barcode or RFID labels your containers already carry. #### Proof: what this looks like in production REPASYS is Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food, and Rotion is the platform that runs it: 106,312 packages circulating across 6 participating retailers, live for nine months, with a sub-ten-second return experience at the counter. The loop crosses producers, retailers, wash hubs and logistics partners, the same multi-party shape as an IBC loop between a filler, its customers and a reconditioner. Read how REPASYS became a world premier in reusable packaging for fresh foods. #### What working with Rotion looks like The practical questions buyers ask before a demo, answered up front: - Pricing. Plans are priced by fleet size, not by seats or by device: adding partners, locations or scanners does not add licence cost. The Launch plan for fleets under 100,000 assets starts at 399 EUR per month billed annually (499 EUR billed monthly). Details on the pricing page. - Hardware. None to buy. Rotion reads the QR codes, barcodes and RFID labels your containers already carry. - Integrations. Works alongside the systems you already run, including SAP, Odoo and other ERPs. - Your data. Rotion is neutral infrastructure: no vendor lock-in, and the circulation history stays yours. - Onboarding. New partners and locations join the loop without per-seat licences or a training project; the scan flows are built for the least-trained hands in the loop. #### Frequently asked questions ##### Do I need to fit a sensor or GPS tracker to every IBC? No. A sensor per container gives you telemetry, at a device and subscription cost that recurs on every asset. Asset-level tracking needs identity: QR codes, barcodes or RFID labels scanned at loop touchpoints are enough. Rotion is hardware-agnostic and works with the labels your IBCs and totes already carry. ##### Can I track IBCs and totes at customer sites I do not control? Yes, and this is where sensor networks and internal RFID projects stop. You cannot install readers or custom apps at a customer’s plant. Rotion records handovers through simple scans by whoever holds the container, so the loop’s record keeps building at partner sites, reconditioners and carriers without any infrastructure of yours on their premises. ##### What does the EU PPWR mean for reusable industrial packaging? The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation 2025/40) applies across all Member States since 12 August 2026, including the requirement that operators using reusable packaging participate in reuse systems that meet Annex VI standards for collection, reconditioning and redistribution. The reuse targets follow: at least 40% reusable transport packaging by 2030, with the calculation rules for evidencing reuse rates applying from 30 June 2027. Documenting reuse in practice is difficult without asset-level records of circulation. ##### Does BESTMIX or SDS software track returnable assets? No. BESTMIX is formulation and ERP software for feed and food producers; SDS software manages safety data sheets. Neither maintains per-container identity, partner balances or deposits for returnable packaging. Returnable asset tracking is a separate system, and Rotion runs alongside your ERP and compliance software rather than replacing them. ##### What does IBC tracking software cost? It depends on the model. Sensor vendors charge per device: Sensolus publishes roughly 6 EUR per asset per month, which is 72 EUR per IBC per year before the hardware. Seat-metered tools like TrackOnline publish tiers from 235 to 1,535 EUR per month with user limits. Rotion prices by fleet size: 399 EUR per month billed annually for fleets under 100,000 assets, with no per-seat or per-device fees. #### How we evaluated Every vendor description on this page is sourced from that vendor’s own published pages, linked inline, retrieved on 29 September 2026. The criteria are the columns of the table above: what the tool is built for, and where its published capabilities stop. Rotion’s own figures come from the REPASYS deployment and rotion.eu’s published pages, and Rotion’s limits are stated in the same table. Regulatory statements follow the official text of Regulation 2025/40, linked in the FAQ. Corrections are welcome: if a vendor’s published capabilities change, tell us and we will update the page. Run a smaller fleet and want to start without a procurement project? The Rotion Starter plan gets a single loop live from 150 EUR per month: start on your own data. About the author. Jonas Janssen is CTO and co-founder of Rotion. He builds the platform described on this page: the asset-level data model, the circulation rules engine and the PPWR reporting layer. Based in Leuven, Belgium. Reviewed by the Rotion team, 29 September 2026. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Comparisons 25 August 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/best-pallet-tracking-software Comparisons 29 September 2026 · 12 min read ### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Compare the 9 best pallet tracking tools for multi-location recovery in 2026, and why Rotion leads for multi-party loops: TrackOnline, Loopario, myCHEP, Sensolus and more. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Short answer: Rotion fits operations whose pallets circulate between producers, carriers, retailers and depots, and that must recover them across many locations: per-pallet identity on existing QR, barcode or RFID markings, exchange balances from scanned handovers, deposits, and PPWR-ready reuse evidence. It sells no trackers and runs own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows in one system. Book a 20 minute walkthrough on your own loop. Pallet tracking software registers pallet movements between partners and locations, and turns them into balances, loss rates and recovery actions. This comparison covers nine tools in 2026. One of them, Rotion, is built for the full job: multi-party, multi-location circulation with asset-level identity, deposits and PPWR-ready reporting. The other eight each cover a slice, a pooler’s own account, a balance ledger, or a tracker per pallet, and we say precisely which slice and where each one stops. Full transparency: we build Rotion. Every description below is factual and sourced from the vendor’s own published material, and we state Rotion’s limits in the same table. #### Comparison at a glance Tool Built for Where it stops Rotion Full circulation control: per-pallet identity, exchange balances, deposits, PPWR reporting across own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows Software control layer, not telemetry: no GPS hardware of its own; it runs on the QR, barcode or RFID markings your pallets already carry TrackOnline Balance administration between parties Balances and reconciliations, not per-pallet identity; seat-metered tiers from 235 to 1,535 EUR per month Loopario Load carrier exchange accounts, German logistics networks Base product reconciles accounts from uploaded documents; asset-level visibility requires added tags or trackers per asset class, and no pricing is published PackControl Dutch counterparty and pool-rule administration Balance administration in one market, and setup-heavy by its own description; no per-pallet identity in its published capabilities Sensolus Battery-powered trackers on high-value carriers A device plus roughly 6 EUR per asset per month, 72 EUR per pallet per year at its published rate; location, not loop administration myCHEP Administering your CHEP pooling account Scoped to CHEP’s own pallets and your CHEP account: orders, collections and invoices, not your mixed fleet PAKi portal Ordering and vouchers in PAKi’s open pool Account administration with one pool operator; no asset-level tracking of your own or mixed fleets Millwood PalletView Pallet inventory visibility inside Millwood’s US recovery programs Tied to Millwood’s own recycling and recovery services; US footprint, no published pricing or PPWR posture LogSoft Back-office for logistics service providers and pooling providers Built for the pooler’s and LSP’s side of the desk; no published pricing, PPWR posture or named deployments Want to score your own operation against these criteria first? Work through the 8-question buyer scorecard: it turns this table into questions you can answer from your own loop. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What does pallet tracking software do? Pallet tracking software registers every pallet movement, handovers, returns, repairs, and maintains balances per partner and per location from those movements. A complete platform adds per-pallet identity, enforceable circulation rules, deposit settlement and reuse reporting for EU PPWR compliance, across own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows together. Most tools stop at one layer: a pooler’s account portal, an administrative balance ledger, or GPS dots from a tracker. Only the full control layer tells you which pallets are where, who owes them back, and whether recovery is actually working. #### 1. Rotion: circulation control and recovery across every location and partner Rotion gives every pallet a digital identity through the QR, barcode or RFID markings it already carries, so there is no relabeling project and no tracker hardware. It builds exchange balances from scanned handovers instead of paperwork (pallet tracking). Each pallet carries a digital packaging passport logging exchanges, returns, repairs and inspections, which is the per-asset evidence PPWR reporting needs. Rotion consolidates own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows in one system, so multi-location recovery stops being three spreadsheets and a pooler portal. When a balance says a site is short 60 pallets, it cannot say which 60 or which handover lost them. Rotion can, so the recovery team knows which pallets to go after. The rest of this list stops before that layer. #### 2. TrackOnline: balance administration, priced by the seat TrackOnline, made by Bexter in Delft, registers and manages reusable packaging including pallets, maintaining balances per customer or supplier with reconciliations (trackonline.com). Its published tiers are seat-metered: 235 EUR per month for 3 admin and 5 light users at the Standard tier, up to 1,535 EUR per month for financial features and 10 admin plus 15 light users (what is TrackOnline). Two ceilings follow. Cost grows with every seat, exactly at the partner edge where pallet loops live. And balance administration answers how many per partner; it cannot say which specific pallet is missing, where it was last scanned, and who owes it back. Multi-location recovery needs the second answer, and that is the layer Rotion starts at. #### 3. Loopario: account reconciliation first, asset visibility as an add-on Loopario, known as Logistikbude until its 2026 rebrand, manages load carrier exchange accounts for pallets, containers and racks: balances, web-shared account links and automated reconciliation, with AI reading load carrier slips and delivery documents (loopario.com). Its own tracking page describes the structure: the base is account reconciliation from uploaded documents, and asset-level visibility depends on technology added per asset class, barcodes, RFID tags or IoT trackers (tracking page). Reading paperwork faster still does not tell you who holds each pallet. Its published references are German logistics networks, and no pricing is published. Rotion is asset-level from the first scan, on markings pallets already carry, across every partner in the loop. #### 4. PackControl: pool-rule administration for Dutch counterparties PackControl automates returnable packaging administration for Dutch operations: balances per counterparty, flagged deviations, deposit and rental cost calculation, and pooling rules for EPS, CHEP, IPP, IFCO and Royal FloraHolland items (packcontrol.com). It is an administrative layer, and its published capabilities stop there: reconciled counts, in one market, with no per-pallet identity described. It is also setup-heavy by its own description: before use, all rules, agreements and exceptions must be configured. When the question moves from “do our counts match” to “which pallets are at which of our forty locations, and which do we recover first”, an administrative layer has no answer. Rotion answers it at asset level, across markets and partners. #### 5. Sensolus: tracker economics against a pallet’s unit value Sensolus, based in Belgium, sells battery-powered trackers and BLE tags with a cloud platform, and lists pallets among its tracked asset types (sensolus.com). Its published pricing is roughly 6 EUR per asset per month for smart trackers at 500 assets, which is 72 EUR per pallet per year, recurring, before battery and device lifecycle (pricing). That model fits hundreds of high-value carriers; it inverts on pallet fleets counted in the tens of thousands, where the annual fee rivals the asset it tracks. A location on a map does not maintain exchange balances, settle deposits or evidence reuse rates. Rotion tracks the same pallets through the markings they already carry, with no hardware line at all. #### 6. myCHEP: the portal for one pooler’s own pallets myCHEP is CHEP’s customer portal for the administrative tasks of pallet and container pooling: creating and modifying orders, delivery ETAs, collections, invoice status and reports (chep.com). It does that job for exactly one population: CHEP’s pallets on your CHEP account. Nothing in its published feature set covers your own white pallets, exchange pallets, or assets from any other pool. Most real operations run mixed flows, and a pooler’s portal cannot be the system of record for a fleet the pooler does not own. Rotion is pool-neutral by design: own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows in one system, with the pooler’s account as one lane among several. #### 7. PAKi portal: open-pool account administration, not fleet tracking PAKi Logistics, part of Faber Group, provides open-pool services for Euro pallets and box pallets, and its online portal handles ordering and releasing pallets, e-Vouchers, contracts, invoices and account statements (paki-logistics.com). Like myCHEP, it is the administration of your relationship with one pool operator. It shows your PAKi balance; it does not identify individual pallets, cover your own or exchange fleets, or produce per-asset reuse evidence. For a company whose pallets flow through PAKi and two other channels at once, the portal shows only one of the three. Rotion sits above all the channels and keeps the one record recovery decisions need. #### 8. Millwood PalletView: visibility bundled with one provider’s services PalletView is Millwood’s pallet management software, giving visibility of pallet counts, locations and conditions across locations, with barcode scanning and cloud reporting (millwoodinc.com). Its published framing bundles the software with Millwood’s own recycling and recovery programs, including on-site equipment, trailers and labor. The tracking layer comes tied to one provider’s physical services, on a US footprint, with no published pricing and no published PPWR posture. A European multi-partner loop needs a neutral software layer that works with whichever recyclers, poolers and carriers you already use. Rotion is built to be that neutral layer. #### 9. LogSoft: built for the pooler’s back office, not the shipper’s loop LogSoft is an independent software vendor for logistics service providers, pooling providers and owners of returnable transport packaging, with automated reconciliation, lost-equipment invoicing and multi-tenant client management (logsoft-software.com). It equips the pooler’s and LSP’s side of the desk, managing clients under a master account. Its published pages name no customers, no pricing and no PPWR posture. For a producer or retailer recovering its own pallets across sites, a pooler back office is the wrong seat in the transaction. Rotion is the shipper’s and loop operator’s control layer, with partners onboarded without per-seat licences, and the circulation history stays yours. #### What looks like pallet tracking software but is not? Two adjacent categories surface in every search and solve a different problem. Pallet-business ERPs such as Pallet Connect run a pallet manufacturer’s or recycler’s own operations, production, brokerage, sales and yard inventory (palletconnect.com); they do not track your pallets once they leave with a customer. Pallet marketplaces such as PalletTrader are for buying and selling pallets, not tracking them. If you run a pallet yard, you need an ERP; if your pallets circulate and must come back, you need circulation control, which is the category this page compares and the job Rotion is built for. #### How do you choose between them? Start from where your pallets actually are: spread across partners and locations you do not control. Pooler portals (myCHEP, PAKi) administer one pool’s account. Balance tools (TrackOnline, Loopario, PackControl) reconcile totals per partner. Tracker vendors (Sensolus) sell location at a per-asset fee. Service-bundled tools (Millwood) tie visibility to their own operations, and LSP back-office suites (LogSoft) sit on the other side of the desk. The moment recovery spans locations and organisations, the job becomes circulation control: per-pallet identity, one record across all flows, deposits, and reuse evidence a regulator will accept. Three questions settle it: - How many flows do your pallets move in? Own fleet, exchange and one or more pools at once means no single pooler portal or balance ledger can be the system of record; you need one neutral layer across all of them. - What must you prove? Recovery priorities, deposit settlement and PPWR reuse reporting need per-pallet records. A month-end balance cannot say which pallets to collect from which site first. - What does the hardware cost at your fleet size? A tracker per pallet is a recurring fee on every asset, forever. Rotion works with the QR, barcode or RFID markings your pallets already carry. #### Proof: what this looks like in production REPASYS is Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food, and Rotion is the platform that runs it: 106,312 packages circulating across 6 participating retailers, live for nine months, with a sub-ten-second return experience at the counter. The loop crosses producers, retailers, wash hubs and logistics partners, the same multi-party, multi-location shape as a pallet network. Read how REPASYS became a world premier in reusable packaging for fresh foods. #### What working with Rotion looks like The practical questions buyers ask before a demo, answered up front: - Pricing. Plans are priced by fleet size, not by seats or by device: adding partners, locations or scanners does not add licence cost. The Launch plan for fleets under 100,000 assets starts at 399 EUR per month billed annually (499 EUR billed monthly). Details on the pricing page. - Hardware. None to buy. Rotion reads the QR codes, barcodes and RFID markings your pallets already carry. - Integrations. Works alongside the systems you already run, including SAP, Odoo and other ERPs. - Your data. Rotion is neutral infrastructure: no vendor lock-in, no pool bias, and the circulation history stays yours. - Onboarding. New partners and locations join the loop without per-seat licences or a training project; the scan flows are built for the least-trained hands in the loop. #### Frequently asked questions ##### What is the difference between pallet balance administration and pallet tracking? Balance administration reconciles totals per partner: a site is short 60 pallets. Pallet tracking at asset level identifies the pallets themselves: which 60, where each was last scanned, and who owes them back. Recovery, deposit settlement and PPWR reuse evidence all need the second; a balance alone cannot direct a collection run. ##### Can I track pooled pallets and my own pallets in one system? Yes, and it is the decisive requirement for mixed operations. Pooler portals such as myCHEP and the PAKi portal administer only that pool’s account. Rotion consolidates own-fleet, exchange and pooled flows in one system, so every location’s position and every partner’s balance comes from one record instead of three windows. ##### Do I need GPS trackers on my pallets? No. A tracker per pallet is a recurring cost on every asset: at Sensolus’s published rate of roughly 6 EUR per asset per month, 72 EUR per pallet per year before hardware. Per-pallet identity from QR, barcode or RFID markings, scanned at handovers, gives recovery and balances without any device, which is how Rotion works. ##### What does the EU PPWR mean for pallets? The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation 2025/40) applies across all Member States since 12 August 2026, including the requirement that operators using reusable packaging participate in reuse systems that meet Annex VI standards for collection, reconditioning and redistribution. The reuse targets follow: at least 40% reusable transport packaging by 2030, with the calculation rules for evidencing reuse rates applying from 30 June 2027. Pallets are reusable transport packaging; documenting their reuse is difficult without asset-level records of circulation. ##### How do companies recover pallets across multiple locations? Recovery works when three records exist per pallet: identity, last known holder, and the rule that obliges its return. Software that maintains all three can rank locations by pallets outstanding, trigger collections, and settle deposits or lost-equipment charges automatically. Rotion maintains exactly those records from simple scans at each handover. #### How we evaluated Every vendor description on this page is sourced from that vendor’s own published pages, linked inline, retrieved on 29 September 2026. The criteria are the columns of the table above: what the tool is built for, and where its published capabilities stop. Rotion’s own figures come from the REPASYS deployment and rotion.eu’s published pages, and Rotion’s limits are stated in the same table. Regulatory statements follow the official text of Regulation 2025/40, linked in the FAQ. Corrections are welcome: if a vendor’s published capabilities change, tell us and we will update the page. Run a smaller fleet and want to start without a procurement project? The Rotion Starter plan gets a single loop live from 150 EUR per month: start on your own data. About the author. Jonas Janssen is CTO and co-founder of Rotion. He builds the platform described on this page: the asset-level data model, the circulation rules engine and the PPWR reporting layer. Based in Leuven, Belgium. Reviewed by the Rotion team, 29 September 2026. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 25 August 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Takeaway Rules 2027-2030: Reusable Packaging | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/ppwr-takeaway-reusable-packaging-rules PPWR 28 September 2026 · 7 min read ### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 From 2027 takeaway sellers must accept customer-brought containers, from 2028 they must offer reusable packaging, and from 2030 aim for 10% reusable sales. What PPWR Articles 32 and 33 require, and what the system behind them has to prove. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Beyond its reuse targets for pallets and crates, the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation puts three dated obligations on everyone selling takeaway food and drink. Every one of them assumes something most restaurants do not have: a documented system that can prove where its reusable packaging is. ##### The PPWR takeaway timeline, at a glance Date Obligation Who it hits 12 August 2026 (in force) Reuse systems must meet Annex VI requirements: collection, cleaning, inspection, redistribution, documentation (Article 27) Anyone operating or joining a reuse system today 12 February 2027 Customers may bring their own container for takeaway drinks and ready-prepared food, at no extra charge and on no less favourable conditions, with clear signage (Article 32) All HORECA final distributors, micro-enterprises included 12 February 2028 Customers must be offered the option of reusable packaging within a system for reuse (Article 33) HORECA final distributors; micro-enterprises exempt 1 January 2030 Sellers shall endeavour to offer 10% of takeaway products in reusable packaging (Article 33(5)) Same group; an obligation of effort, not of result Status note: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 has been in force since 11 February 2025 and generally applicable since 12 August 2026. The dates above are application dates written into the Regulation, not proposals. #### What do PPWR Articles 32 and 33 require for takeaway? PPWR Article 32 requires takeaway sellers of cold or hot beverages and ready-prepared food in the HORECA sector to let customers use their own containers from 12 February 2027. PPWR Article 33 requires the same sellers to offer a reusable packaging option within a system for reuse from 12 February 2028. Neither option may cost the customer more or come with worse conditions than the single-use version. Two details matter more than the headlines: - “Within a system for reuse” is a defined term. The reusable cup a restaurant hands out only satisfies Article 33 if it circulates in a system meeting the PPWR’s Annex VI requirements: organised collection, cleaning to food-safety standard, inspection, redistribution, and documentation of how the loop works. A shelf of branded cups with no return loop behind it does not qualify. - The 10% figure is 2030 and it is an endeavour clause. Sellers must aim for 10% of takeaway products in reusable packaging from 1 January 2030. It is an obligation of means. But an obligation of means still gets audited by asking what you did, and “we joined a tracked reuse scheme” is the answer that holds. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Who counts as a final distributor, and who is exempt? The final distributor is the business that hands the filled packaging to the consumer: the restaurant, the coffee bar, the caterer’s counter, the canteen till. Article 32’s bring-your-own-container duty applies to all of them, micro-enterprises included. Article 33’s reusable-offer duty exempts micro-enterprises but binds everyone else, including the multi-site caterers and campus food services that dominate Belgian and Dutch contract catering. For a caterer running forty client sites, that reading has a direct consequence. The obligation lands on each serving point, but no serving point can run its own reuse system. The system, and the evidence it produces, will be shared: one pool, one wash flow, one count, forty sites reporting from it. #### What is a “system for reuse” under the PPWR? A system for reuse under the PPWR is an organisational, technical or financial arrangement that keeps reusable packaging circulating: it collects packaging back, cleans and inspects it, redistributes it, informs users how to return it, and documents all of the above. Those requirements sit in Annex VI and apply through Article 27, which has been in force since 12 August 2026. That is the part of the regulation that turns a sustainability initiative into an operations problem. Every requirement in the list is a process, and every process needs a number behind it: - How many containers are in the pool, by category? - What share came back last month, per site and per return point? - How many are at the wash hub, and how many disappeared between return and wash? - Can you show a rotation count per container category for the reporting year? A takeaway reuse scheme that cannot answer those questions does not meet the definition. In practice it is inventory shrinkage with a mission statement. #### What should a restaurant, caterer or pool operator do before 2027 and 2028? Work backwards from the evidence. The sequence that works: pick the container formats, pick or become the pool operator, put an identity on every container or batch, and start counting a full year before the Article 33 date so the 2028 offer launches with a working return loop instead of a pilot. Concretely, by role: - Restaurants and coffee bars. Article 32 needs signage, hygiene procedure and till training more than software. Article 33 is the buy decision: join a reuse scheme whose operator can show you per-site return rates, not just a marketing return rate. - Caterers and canteen operators. Closed and semi-closed sites are where reuse already works. Choose deposit or deposit-free per site, instrument the return points, and demand one pool count across all sites. The number your client’s sustainability report needs is the same number Annex VI documentation needs. - Pool operators and wash hubs. Articles 32 and 33 are your demand curve: thousands of HORECA businesses must offer what you run. What wins the contracts is the evidence layer: asset-level tracking, per-partner return rates, loss attribution, and reporting a client can hand to an auditor. #### How do Belgian and French rules layer on top of the PPWR? Belgium and France already regulate reusable serviceware today, ahead of the PPWR dates. In Flanders, VLAREMA has banned single-use drink packaging at events since June 2023 and for public authorities earlier than that, and where reusables are used it requires a collection-for-reuse system of at least 90%, measured. In France, the AGEC law has required reusable tableware for on-site dining since January 2023, with reused-packaging targets rising to 10% in 2027. Sources: OVAM on VLAREMA drink and food packaging rules and Ministère de la Transition écologique on loi AGEC, both verified 17 September 2026. For a Belgian caterer, 2028 is not the first deadline. A 90% collection requirement is already a measured return rate written into Flemish law, stricter than anything the PPWR asks of takeaway before 2030. Whoever can already produce that number for VLAREMA has Article 33 evidence for free. #### Where does Rotion fit in a takeaway reuse system? Rotion is the control layer of the system for reuse: it gives every cup, bowl and meal box an identity, records every issue, return, wash and redistribution as an event, and turns the loop into the numbers Annex VI documentation and customer reporting need. Rotion is hardware-agnostic, works with QR codes, barcodes and RFID, and runs deposit and deposit-free loops alike. We already run consumer-facing reuse at scale. Rotion runs REPASYS, Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food: 106,312 packages in circulation across 6 retailers, on a 0.30 euro deposit, over a nine-month pilot, with returns taking under ten seconds. The counterparty there is the same one a takeaway scheme has: a consumer with no contract, a deposit, and a return point. The count keeps such a loop honest, and producing that count is what Rotion does. #### FAQ Does the PPWR ban single-use takeaway packaging? No. Articles 32 and 33 create duties to accept brought containers (2027) and to offer a reusable option (2028), plus a 10% endeavour target (2030). Separate PPWR provisions ban specific single-use formats from 2030, but the takeaway articles are about offering reuse, not banning single-use. Do small takeaway businesses have to comply? Partly. Micro-enterprises are exempt from the Article 33 reusable-packaging offer, but not from Article 32: from 12 February 2027 every takeaway seller must accept customer-brought containers at no extra charge. Can a restaurant charge more for the reusable option? No. Both articles require the reusable or refill option at no higher price and on conditions no less favourable than the single-use version, with clear signage at the point of sale. What evidence does a system for reuse need? Annex VI expects the loop to be documented: collection, cleaning, inspection and redistribution, plus clear return information for consumers. Operationally that means a pool count by category, return rates per site, and rotation counts per reporting period. Asset-level tracking is how schemes produce those numbers. Does a deposit make a takeaway scheme compliant? A deposit is one incentive mechanism, not a compliance requirement. The PPWR cares that the system collects, cleans and recirculates packaging and can document it. Closed sites like canteens often hit higher return rates deposit-free than open high-street schemes hit with deposits. See how Rotion tracks reusable cups, bowls and meal boxes across sites, return points and wash partners. Book a demo. #### Keep reading. All articles PPWR 26 January 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. Reuse schemes 20 September 2026 ##### Reusable Takeaway Containers for Canteens and Campuses: How to Get Them Back Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Partners | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/stop-pallet-losses-pooling-disputes Operations 28 September 2026 · 5 min read ### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks A practical pallet tracking playbook for shippers, 3PLs, and receivers that need fewer losses, faster dispute closure, and cleaner custody evidence across EU and US returnable packaging operations. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Pallet losses and pooling disputes are usually treated as inventory variance, but most of them come down to missing custody proof. The operator that can show one clean movement timeline per lane closes disputes faster, keeps pallets moving, and avoids writing off assets that are still recoverable. ##### Pallet control at a glance - Treat loss and dispute closure as one system. The same missing custody evidence that causes loss also causes long-lived chargebacks. - Define one event contract for every handoff. Shipper, 3PL, and receiver each log the same event fields, not local spreadsheet variants. - Use one operating model across EU and US lanes. Keep RTI language and US terms like returnable containers, totes, RPCs, and dunnage in one evidence model. - Link operations data to financial settlement. Every damage, detention, and replacement charge maps to a timestamped custody record. #### Why do pallets still disappear when monthly balances look correct? Monthly balances can look correct while pallets still leak out of the loop because balances are snapshots, not chain-of-custody proof. A lane can reconcile in aggregate while specific handoffs remain disputed, delayed, or undocumented. Those unresolved movements become write-offs, detention charges, and repeated partner escalations. The operational pattern is consistent across pallet-intensive flows: - outbound shipment recorded by one system - partial receipt recorded by another - return confirmation delayed or missing - liability discussion starting weeks later with no shared event trail This gets worse when pallet quality state is undocumented. The USDA Forest Service work on 48-by-40-inch GMA-style pallets shows that repair quality affects performance and that stronger standardization improves outcomes. Condition and handling quality therefore decide part of whether the lane stays financially controllable. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What operating model reduces pallet loss across shippers, 3PLs, and receivers? The fastest path starts with one lane-level operating model that forces complete handoff capture and named exception ownership. The moment a movement cannot be matched, it goes into an owner queue with SLA, evidence, and financial impact attached. Use this four-step loop: - Issue and allocate - Assign pallet IDs, or controlled batch IDs where lane economics require batch handling. - Capture sender, receiver, expected return window, and asset class. - Capture each handoff - Log full receipts and partial receipts as separate events. - Capture condition at receipt, not in later email chains. - Return and inspect - Record return timestamps and locations. - Trigger immediate exceptions for overdue, damaged, or unmatched returns. - Reconcile and settle - Map each financial outcome to custody events. - Close by dispute SLA, not by month-end spreadsheet cleanup. For EU-heavy loops, EPAL operating guidance reinforces why this matters. The EPAL Euro pallet page highlights a strict, exchange-driven quality system, including dimensional specs, repair requirements, and treatment markings. If your internal process cannot preserve those distinctions by event, exchanges degrade into arguments. #### Which identifiers and events should a pallet tracking loop capture? Use globally interpretable identifiers and event semantics so multi-party lanes can exchange evidence without manual translation. GS1 GRAI is designed for identifying returnable assets such as pallets, crates, and kegs. EPCIS 2.0 is designed to share visibility events across systems and organizations. A practical minimum event set for pallets includes: - what: pallet or pallet batch ID, quantity, and condition class - when: timestamp at dispatch, receipt, transfer, and return - where: location and partner node - why: business step such as ship, receive, return, inspect, or adjust On day one, event consistency at every custody change matters more than perfect hardware. Hardware upgrades can follow once exception queues show where capture reliability is weakest. #### How do EU and US rules change what pallet teams must prove? Compliance pressure now sits closer to operations than to policy teams. In the EU, new packaging and packaging-waste rules apply from 12 August 2026, with stronger requirements around recyclability and reuse pathways. In US state programs, producer responsibility rules are also becoming operational and timeline-driven. For packaging operators running returnable pallets, this means the same data has to satisfy two jobs: - prove day-to-day custody and financial accountability - prove that reuse and recovery processes are actually functioning Two US examples show why this matters to lane design: - California SB 54 already has approved permanent regulations (effective 1 May 2026), with a Producer Responsibility Organization framework in motion. - Minnesota’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act requires producers to fund at least 90% of covered service costs by 2031 and requires covered packaging pathways (refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable) by 2032. If a pallet flow crosses borders, phytosanitary rules remain non-negotiable. ISPM 15 governs wood packaging material in international trade, so treatment status and marking evidence belong in the same operational record as custody events. #### What should pallet tracking software do before you automate disputes? Before any AI workflow or auto-settlement logic, pallet software should deliver reliable evidence primitives. If those are weak, automation only accelerates bad decisions. If those are solid, dispute cycle times and write-offs usually drop quickly. Use this acceptance checklist: - Handoff completeness: every custody change captures who, when, where, and quantity. - Condition traceability: damage and repair states are timestamped and attributable. - Exception ownership: overdue and unmatched movements always have a named owner. - Financial linkage: charges and credits map to underlying custody records. - Partner transparency: each party can access the evidence they need without parallel spreadsheets. - Lane-level KPI rhythm: unresolved exception age, dispute closure time, and recovery rate are reviewed weekly. If your current process fails two or more checks, start with one high-volume lane and stabilize evidence quality first. That pilot usually reveals 80% of the data-model gaps you need to fix network-wide. #### FAQ ##### Do we need item-level tracking on every pallet to reduce losses? Not always. Many lanes improve quickly with controlled batch tracking plus strict handoff and exception discipline. Move to per-pallet identity where the financial risk, dispute volume, or partner complexity justifies the added capture effort. ##### Can one process work for EU pallet pooling and US returnable-container teams? Yes. Keep one event contract and one exception workflow, then map local language in reporting. EU teams may describe RTIs and exchange pools, while US teams may search for returnable containers, RPCs, totes, and dunnage. The underlying custody model can stay shared. ##### How does ISPM 15 affect pallet tracking processes? For cross-border wood packaging movement, ISPM 15 compliance is a gate. Operationally, that means treatment and marking evidence should be linked to custody events, so non-compliant assets are intercepted before shipment rather than discovered at border controls. ##### What is the first KPI to watch after go-live? Track unresolved exception age first. If that metric drops, dispute closure time and pallet recovery usually improve next. It is the clearest indicator that custody evidence is becoming usable in day-to-day operations. ##### Start with one pallet lane, not a full-network redesign If you want a low-risk rollout path, pilot one pallet lane end to end with the same control model: https://startup.rotion.eu/?asset=pallets&utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=stop-pallet-losses-pooling-disputes #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 21 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks Operations 10 September 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 14 September 2026 ##### How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues: A Practical Tracking Playbook IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/stop-returnable-crate-losses-deposit-disputes Operations 21 September 2026 · 5 min read ### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks A practical crate tracking playbook for growers, packers, distributors, and retailers who need fewer losses, faster dispute closure, and cleaner proof across EU and US returnable container loops. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. If your crate loop crosses legal entities, loss and deposit fights come down to proof. The operator that can show one clean custody timeline per crate, or per crate batch when needed, closes disputes faster and leaks less value. ##### Crate control at a glance - Treat crate losses and deposit disputes as one workflow. A missing crate and an open deposit argument usually share the same root cause: incomplete custody evidence. - Use one event model from dock to dock. GS1 frameworks for returnable assets and event visibility support a shared language for what happened, when, where, and why. - Run EU and US vocabulary in one loop. Keep RTI terms and US terms like returnable containers and RPCs in the same operating model. - Link compliance and operations. Packaging rules now reward reusable systems, but teams still need transaction-grade data to prove execution. #### Why do returnable crates still go missing when partner balances look correct? Returnable crates still go missing because balances alone are snapshots, not evidence. A partner balance can look correct at month-end while handoff errors, partial receipts, and delayed returns stay unresolved for weeks. When teams work from totals, disputes are negotiated. When teams work from event evidence, disputes are closed. The pattern is common in fresh-produce and food loops: grower dispatches full loads, consolidation or cross-dock creates split receipts, retailer return timing drifts, and finance settles deposits long after operations moved on. The FAO guide on reusable plastic crates addresses this directly. It treats handling practice, cleaning, storage, and operational control as one management process. In practical terms, crate loss control needs three linked records: - Movement evidence: outbound, inbound, transfer, return, and condition events - Responsibility evidence: who had custody between each event - Financial evidence: which deposit, credit, or replacement charge maps to that custody record Without all three, teams over-invest in reconciliation and under-invest in circulation performance. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### How should a crate tracking loop work across growers, packers, distributors, and retailers? A crate tracking loop works when every custody handoff is captured once, shared fast, and tied to exception ownership. The loop can start without perfect hardware, as long as it has one consistent event contract and a routine that forces unresolved exceptions into named queues. Use this four-step operating loop: - Issue and allocate crates - Assign crate IDs or controlled batch IDs by lane. - Record asset type, quantity, sender, receiver, and expected return window. - Capture handoffs at receipt - Log full and partial receipts separately. - Record condition states at receipt, not later in email. - Return and inspect - Register return events with timestamp and location. - Route damaged or missing crate cases immediately. - Reconcile and settle - Match deposit and liability outcomes to custody evidence. - Close disputes by SLA, not by month-end spreadsheet rewrite. This is where standards help. GS1’s Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) is explicitly designed for reusable transport assets such as crates. GS1 EPCIS is designed to share interoperable event data across organizations, including the what, when, where, why, and how of custody events. Together, they support a common event language across grower, packer, distributor, and retailer systems. #### What should crate tracking software do before you roll it out across the network? Crate tracking software should prove dispute closure on real lanes before broad rollout. Teams should reject a pilot that only shows clean dashboard totals. A useful pilot closes one contested return from first movement record to final financial decision, with all parties reading the same evidence. Use this acceptance checklist: - Custody timeline proof: Can each side see the same event history for the disputed crate movement? - Exception ownership: Are unresolved cases assigned to named owners with due dates? - Deposit linkage: Are financial adjustments tied to traceable custody events? - Multi-party fit: Can one model cover growers, depots, carriers, and retailers without manual data stitching? - Vocabulary fit: Can teams work with both EU terms (RTI, returnable transport packaging) and US terms (returnable containers, RPCs, totes)? Rotion is built for this multi-party control layer. The objective is fewer unresolved exceptions, faster liability decisions, and less dead stock in the wrong place. #### How do EU and US packaging rules change the crate tracking requirements? EU and US packaging policy now increases the value of reusable-loop execution, but regulation alone does not fix losses. Teams still need event-level operational proof. The policy shift matters because producer responsibility and reuse direction are now explicit, with deadlines that put pressure on operational data quality. On the EU side, the European Commission confirms PPWR rules started applying from 12 August 2026, with requirements that push packaging toward reuse or recovery and stricter recyclability direction. On the US side, state EPR frameworks are now concrete enough to affect operating plans: - Washington: the Recycling Reform Act requires producers to join and fund a PRO, with system reimbursement mechanics tied to the program timeline. - Minnesota: the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act requires covered packaging to be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2032. - California (SB 54): 2032 targets include 100% recyclable or compostable packaging and a 25% reduction in covered single-use plastic packaging and food service ware. For crate operators, compliance and commercial performance now depend on the same capability: proving how assets move through a real multi-party loop. #### FAQ ##### Do we need item-level RFID to reduce crate losses? Not always. Many networks can cut losses first with consistent handoff capture and exception ownership using existing scan infrastructure. RFID can help on high-volume or low-line-of-sight lanes, but it does not replace an event contract, ownership model, and deposit linkage. ##### Should we track each crate or only by batch? Use the smallest unit that supports reliable dispute closure at acceptable operating cost. Some lanes justify per-crate identity, others work with controlled batch IDs. Whatever you choose, the granularity must still resolve real financial disputes without manual reconstruction. ##### Can one process serve both EU RTI and US returnable-container teams? Yes. Keep one event model and one exception workflow, then map local vocabulary in reporting and UI. That lets teams run RTI, returnable-container, and RPC language in parallel without splitting systems, governance, or data ownership. ##### What is the first KPI to monitor after go-live? Track unresolved exception age, then measure how quickly disputed movements reach financial closure. If exception age drops and closure speed improves, loss reduction and deposit accuracy usually follow. If not, your loop still lacks shared custody evidence where it matters. ##### Start with one crate lane, not a full-network redesign If you want to validate this with minimal rollout risk, start with one returnable crate lane and run the control model end to end: https://startup.rotion.eu/?asset=crates&utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=stop-returnable-crate-losses-deposit-disputes #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 28 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks Operations 27 August 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) Operations 26 August 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Takeaway Containers for Canteens and Campuses | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reusable-takeaway-containers-canteens-campuses Reuse schemes 20 September 2026 · 11 min read ### Reusable Takeaway Containers for Canteens and Campuses: How to Get Them Back Closed-site reuse loops return meal boxes and trays at rates open high-street loops never reach. Here is what makes the difference, and what a canteen, campus or caterer has to track to prove it. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. A reusable meal box only pays for itself if it completes enough trips. What separates a loop that works from one that quietly drains is whether somebody can count the pool. ##### Return rates by loop type, at a glance Loop type Who returns the container Publicly reported return rate What the number depends on Open high-street takeaway, reusable cups offered as the default Anyone, anywhere, eventually About 51% per cycle in the Petaluma default-reusable trial (Packaging Europe on the Closed Loop Partners / NextGen Consortium trial) Density of return points across a whole town Closed site: campus dining, staff canteen, hospital People who come back tomorrow Above 97% in operator-reported campus programmes (TriplePundit, 2025 · University of Victoria programme report) Return points on the route people already walk Managed operator network, deposit-free Consumer, at any partner in the network 99.2%, self-reported by Vytal The operator controlling containers, washing and logistics end to end Retail fresh-food trays, multi-party Consumer, back to the store REPASYS: 106,312 packages across 6 retailers on a 0.30 euro deposit, nine-month pilot Shared counting discipline between six competing retailers The table shows one pattern. A container comes back when returning it is on the path someone already walks. A campus, a staff restaurant, a hospital and a corporate canteen all have that property. A high street does not. That is why reusable takeaway packaging is a better business in B2B2C settings than in open retail, and why the operational question changes shape once you are there. On a campus the containers come back. The problem is knowing how many, from where, in what condition, and which ones did not. #### Why do reusable takeaway containers come back on a campus but not on a high street? Reusable takeaway containers come back on a campus because the person holding one returns to the same place within a day or two, and the return point sits where they already go. Open high-street loops have to rely on a consumer making a separate trip to a partner they may never visit again. For anyone building a reusable foodservice programme, site selection matters more than campaign design. A caterer running staff restaurants at 40 corporate sites has 40 closed loops, each with a captive population and a natural return point. A meal-prep company delivering ready meals to home addresses has none, and needs to buy the return leg some other way. It also means the reported return rate of a programme says as much about its geography as about its software. When a campus dining programme reports 99% and a city-wide cup scheme reports half that, they are running two different kinds of loop. Comparing them without saying which is which produces the wrong conclusion about whether reuse works. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What does a canteen or campus reuse loop actually look like end to end? A canteen or campus reuse loop has five stages: fill, hand over, return, wash, redistribute. Each stage is usually run by a different team, and often by a different company. The loop is only as accountable as its weakest handoff, which is almost always the one between the return point and the wash hub. The stages, and who typically owns each: - Fill. The kitchen or the ready-meal producer puts food in a reusable box, bowl or tray. Owner: the caterer or the producer. - Hand over. A staff member, student, patient or visitor takes it away. Owner: nobody, which is the whole point of B2B2C. There is no contract, no address and no invoice behind the person holding the asset. - Return. The container goes into a return machine, a staffed counter or a back-of-house rack. Owner: the site. - Wash. An in-house dishwash line or an external wash hub cleans and inspects. Owner: facilities or a third party. - Redistribute. Clean stock goes back to the fill point, sometimes at a different site from where it was returned. Owner: logistics, or nobody in particular. Most programmes instrument stage 3 and nothing else, because that is what a return machine gives you for free. That produces a number everyone quotes and nobody can reconcile: the machine knows what it accepted, the kitchen knows what it filled, the wash hub knows what it washed, and the three numbers never match. #### Who is accountable for a container held by someone who does not work for you? Nobody is, and that is the structural problem of B2B2C reuse. In every other returnable packaging loop the counterparty is a business with a contract. In foodservice reuse the counterparty is a consumer, so accountability cannot rest on the person holding the asset. It has to rest on the sites, the machines and the wash partner, which means it has to rest on the count. This is where deposits get overrated. A deposit on a meal box is a nudge that lifts the return rate a few points. It is not a recovery mechanism, because the sums are too small to chase and the administration costs more than the asset. Rotion’s 150 euro tier does not touch deposit money for exactly this reason: tracking where units are is a different job from administering refunds. What replaces the contract is asset-level accountability across the parties who do have contracts: - Each container is a unit with an identity, not a line in a balance count. - Every handoff between site, machine, wash hub and fill point creates an event with an owner and a timestamp. - Missing and overdue units land in an exception queue with a name against them, not in a monthly variance report. - Loss is reported per site and per route, so the operator can see whether the leak is one building, one shift or one wash cycle. Without that, the answer to “how many boxes do we have” is a purchase order minus a guess. #### What does return-machine data tell you, and what does it miss? Return-machine data tells you precisely what came back at that machine. It does not tell you what is still out, what is at another site, what the wash hub has, or what the total pool is. That per-machine count is genuinely useful, but it says nothing about the fleet as a whole. Return machines are now standard equipment in this segment. GRIN builds reverse vending machines for reuse operators, and its public deployments match the buyer profile in this post. They include all 17 dining facilities of SiO, the student welfare organisation for Oslo and Akershus, plus canteens in Norway’s new Government Quarter and the immigration directorate. The deposit goes straight back to a payment card, with no app required. CircleCube builds the same class of machine for gastronomy, retail and corporate campuses with its ReturnCube and EventCube products. On the packaging side, Circulware produces reusable meal boxes and tableware in the Netherlands rated for around 125 uses. Put those three together and you have a working loop: a container designed for 125 trips, a machine that accepts it back, and a site that wants the number. What is still missing is the layer that reconciles them. Whether a box actually completes 125 trips or quietly stops at 12 decides whether the programme pays back, and no single machine or container tells you that. Rotion fills that gap. It is hardware-agnostic and works with QR codes, RFID and barcodes, so the return machines, the containers and the wash partner stay whoever the operator chose. It gives those parties one shared record of what is circulating. #### What do canteen and campus operators actually have to prove? Two national rules already turn return rates into compliance numbers for canteen and campus operators, and a third EU obligation arrives in 2028. The binding one today is Flemish: where reusables are used, the collection-for-reuse system must reach at least 90%. That is a measured return rate written into law. The rules that bite now, status-tagged: - Flanders, VLAREMA Art. 5.3.12.1 to .4 (IN FORCE). Single-use drink packaging has been banned at events since 15 June 2023 and for public authorities since 2020 and 2022. Where reusables are used, a collection-for-reuse system of at least 90% is mandatory, with a full ban from 1 January 2030. Source: OVAM, verified 17 September 2026. - France, loi AGEC (IN FORCE). Reusable tableware has been mandatory for on-site dining since 1 January 2023, venue cafeterias included, with reused-packaging targets of 5% in 2023 rising to 10% in 2027. Source: Ministère de la Transition écologique, verified 17 September 2026. - EU, PPWR Article 33 (ADOPTED, applies from 12 February 2028). Final distributors serving takeaway food and drink in the HORECA sector must offer a reusable option within a system for reuse, at no higher price and on no less favourable conditions, with micro-enterprises exempt. Article 32 additionally requires accepting customer-brought containers from 12 February 2027. Corrected 2026-09-28: this obligation sits in Articles 32/33, not Article 29 (Article 29 is the reuse targets). Sources retrieved 2026-09-28: ppwr-packaging.com, ERP PPWR guide. Editor: confirm against the Official Journal text of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 before publishing; ledger item F6 remains _unverified_ until that check. A 90% collection requirement is a number somebody has to produce, per year, with evidence behind it. An operator who can only report what a machine accepted cannot produce it, because the denominator lives somewhere else. For US readers the regulatory hooks are different but the operational question is identical. Packaging EPR laws in California, Oregon, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington shift end-of-life costs onto producers and reward reusable formats. Campus dining and corporate foodservice programmes running reusable to-go containers and clamshells face the same counting problem under a different rulebook. #### What should reusable foodservice tracking software do? Reusable foodservice tracking software should produce one defensible pool number across sites, machines and wash partners, and close exceptions with a named owner. Scanning throughput in a demo proves nothing. Ask for one missing-container case to be opened, chased and closed end to end before signing anything. Capability What to require in the demo Why it matters in a canteen or campus loop Asset-level identity Show the trip history of one individual box, not a category total Trip count per unit is what decides whether the container pays back Multi-site pool view Show stock at site A that was returned at site B Cross-site drift is the commonest hidden leak in a multi-canteen contract Machine-agnostic intake Show intake from a return machine and from a manual counter in the same ledger The operator picked the hardware before they picked the software Wash-hub reconciliation Show sent versus washed versus received for one cycle, with the mismatch visible This is the handoff nobody instruments and where units disappear Exception ownership Show an overdue queue with names and due dates A variance report nobody owns is a number, not a control Compliance export Produce units circulating and rotations per category, per year VLAREMA’s 90% and AGEC’s targets are reported figures, not dashboard impressions No lock-in Confirm the containers, machines and wash partner stay the operator’s choice Losing control of the loop is a high price for visibility into it That last row is the one worth pressing on. There are two ways to buy a reuse programme. You can join a managed network, where an operator supplies the containers, the app and the washing, and you get their return rate and their system. Or you keep your own containers, your own return machines and your own wash partner, and add a control layer across them. Both are legitimate, but they put ownership of your loop in different hands, so make the choice deliberately. Rotion is built for the second. It is neutral infrastructure with no vendor lock-in. It connects the parties already in a customer’s loop and leaves each of them in place. #### Does this actually work at scale? It does, and the evidence is a loop with six competing retailers in it. Rotion runs REPASYS, Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food: 106,312 packages in circulation across 6 participating retailers, on a 0.30 euro deposit model, over a nine-month pilot, with a sub-ten-second return experience. Six retailers who compete with each other cannot share a spreadsheet. They can share an event record where every movement has one owner and one evidence trail. That is the same shape as a catering group running staff restaurants for forty different clients, or a university with a dozen outlets and two wash lines. The asset moves between parties who do not report to each other, and the loop holds only if the counting does. #### FAQ Do I need a deposit to make a canteen reuse programme work? No. A deposit lifts return rates a few points, but in closed sites like campuses and staff restaurants the return point does most of the work. Deposits also bring refund administration that often costs more than the container. Put the effort into return-point placement and the count instead. What return rate should a campus or canteen programme expect? Operator-reported campus programmes publish rates above 97%, well beyond the roughly 51% seen in open high-street cup trials. Treat any published figure carefully: it depends on how closed the site is and how the operator defines a return. Measure your own baseline before setting a target. Can we track meal boxes and cups in the same system? Yes. The event model is identical: issue, hand over, return, wash, redistribute. Only the vocabulary and the container categories change. Keeping boxes, trays, bowls and cups in one ledger is what produces a single pool number per category for reporting. Does tracking mean replacing our return machines or our packaging supplier? No. Rotion is hardware-agnostic and works with QR codes, RFID and barcodes, and integrates with existing systems including SAP and Odoo. The return machines, the containers and the wash partner stay whoever the operator already chose. What is the first thing to measure? The gap between what the kitchen filled and what the wash hub returned, for one cycle, at one site. If those two numbers cannot be reconciled today, no return-rate figure from the machine is trustworthy, and closing that gap is the fastest control you can gain. See how Rotion tracks reusable takeaway packaging across sites, return machines and wash partners. Book a demo. #### Keep reading. All articles PPWR 28 September 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison Checklist 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reusable-packaging-management-software-comparison Comparisons 17 September 2026 · 6 min read ### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Compare reusable packaging management software with an 8-question scorecard covering asset identity, custody evidence, EU PPWR readiness, US state EPR readiness, and rollout economics. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. If you are selecting reusable packaging software in 2026, the mistake to avoid is buying for visibility alone when you need loop control. A map of where pallets, crates, RPCs, totes, dunnage, or IBC totes are located does not guarantee lower losses, faster disputes, or compliance evidence. This scorecard helps operators judge software on those outcomes. ##### At-a-glance: the 8 checks that decide the purchase - System of record: Does the platform track assets as individual units, or only balances between partners? - Custody proof: Can each transfer be tied to who handled the asset, where, and when? - Exception ownership: Can unresolved losses and dwell events be assigned to a named counterparty and route? - Deposit and fee logic: Can financial rules be attached to specific asset events, not monthly manual spreadsheets? - Regulatory readiness: Can one data model support EU PPWR evidence and US state EPR program reporting? - Capture flexibility: Can the loop run with barcode, QR, RFID, and staged upgrades instead of one forced hardware model? - Commercial fit: Will cost stay predictable as partners, routes, and asset counts grow? - Pilot proof: Can the vendor show measurable control gains within 90 days on one representative lane? #### What problem are you actually buying software to solve? Most teams start with a vague objective like “better tracking,” but procurement quality improves when the target is operational and falsifiable. Define the buying decision as three outcomes: lower avoidable losses, faster dispute closure, and cleaner partner accountability. If the platform cannot move those three outcomes, it is reporting software, not loop control software. A practical setup is to score each candidate against one current pain lane, for example beverage kegs across distributor and venue handovers, or IBC totes between filling and collection. If the vendor demo cannot follow that lane end to end with evidence-grade events, the tool is not yet fit for a live loop. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Which operating model fits your loop: balances, trackers, or asset-level control? Reusable packaging teams usually evaluate three model families: balance administration, tracker-centric visibility, and asset-level control. Balance tools can reconcile quantities between counterparties. Tracker-centric tools can expose location telemetry for tagged units. Asset-level control combines event history, accountability rules, and partner economics on one unit record, which is the model needed for enforceable circulation. Asset-level control matters when one missing unit can trigger a deposit dispute, a replenishment delay, and a compliance reporting gap at the same time. In that setting, buy from the vendor that can produce trustworthy event evidence when two partners disagree about ownership, timing, or liability. #### Which data model is non-negotiable for disputes, deposits, and accountability? A reusable packaging platform should store enough evidence to replay any contested handoff as a sequence of events. Minimum fields are asset identity, event type, timestamp, location, counterparty, and actor or role. Without this structure, losses degrade into balance arguments, and deposit or fee logic drifts back to manual workarounds. A practical contract test is to request a raw event export for one disputed scenario. Ask each vendor to show the exact chain from checkout to return, including who accepted handoff and when SLA thresholds were breached. If they only provide aggregate balances, you are buying a reconciliation aid, not a control layer. #### Can one platform support both EU PPWR and US state EPR obligations? Yes, if your data model is event-first and status-tagged by jurisdiction. In the EU, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation starts applying from mid-2026 and introduces tighter recyclability and reused-content expectations over time. In the US, state EPR programs are converging on producer participation, reporting obligations, and material outcomes by the early 2030s. Use one operating model with two reporting lenses. EU lens: reuse and packaging outcomes linked to PPWR implementation windows. US lens: state program membership and covered-material reporting, with metrics mapped to local requirements. Do not fork your core workflow by geography. Fork only reporting views and legal labels. Current signals to model in procurement requirements today: - EU status: the Commission PPWR page states the regulation applies from mid-2026 and sets packaging circularity direction toward 2030 and 2040 milestones. - Washington status: RCW 70A.208.030 requires producer appointment of a PRO by January 1, 2026, and annual PRO registration by March 1, 2026 onward. - Minnesota status: MPCA states that after January 1, 2032, covered materials must be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. - California status: SB 54 text requires covered materials sold from January 1, 2032 to be recyclable or compostable, with 65% recycling and a 25% source-reduction requirement by 2032. #### How should you evaluate capture technology: barcode, RFID, or IoT tags? Start with process design, then choose capture hardware. Barcode and QR workflows can deliver reliable control when handoff discipline is strong. RFID and IoT tags can reduce friction in high-volume or no-line-of-sight environments, but route economics should justify them. A simple rule is to model scan burden per transfer first. If a lane needs dense automation to stay compliant, quantify that need before committing to hardware-heavy architecture. Many loops gain most of the control benefit from event discipline and exception ownership, then layer additional automation where throughput warrants it. In procurement terms, avoid single-capture lock-in. Require the platform to support mixed capture methods per lane and to preserve one event schema across all methods. This protects rollout sequencing and prevents an all-or-nothing hardware decision from delaying operational control. #### What commercial model keeps costs predictable as partners and assets grow? The wrong pricing model punishes operational growth. In reusable packaging loops, complexity increases when counterparties and handoffs increase, so commercial terms should scale with measurable value and avoid hidden penalties on collaboration. If every new partner or lane causes a step-change in license cost, adoption stalls where control is needed most. A healthy contract also defines data portability and evidence portability. If your team cannot export event history cleanly, you do not control your own operational record. In a regulated environment, that is a governance risk as well as a technical one. #### What should a 90-day pilot prove before full rollout? A good pilot covers one representative loop and proves it gains control faster than your current process, with measurable outcomes and named ownership. Ninety days is usually enough to validate event quality, dispute handling speed, and exception accountability without overcommitting budget. Use one lane with real complexity: multiple counterparties, recurring handoffs, and active exceptions. Define baseline metrics before go-live: unresolved exception age, dispute closure time, and avoidable loss events per cycle. Then require weekly evidence reviews against the same definitions. #### Which score should trigger a buy, a redesign, or a no-go? Use the eight checks above as a weighted scorecard and force a decision threshold in advance. A practical pattern is to pass a vendor only when every control-critical item passes, even if some convenience items lag. This prevents polished demos from hiding structural gaps in accountability or compliance readiness. Suggested rule: - Buy path: all checks pass, or one non-critical check is on a dated remediation plan. - Redesign path: one control-critical check fails, but process and contract changes can fix it inside one pilot cycle. - No-go path: two or more control-critical checks fail, or evidence export remains unavailable. Fixing the threshold in advance keeps the decision disciplined. Software that only digitizes today’s ambiguity should not pass. #### Ready to run this scorecard on your own loop? If you want to pressure-test one lane with this framework, start with one route, one asset family, and one accountability workflow. Keep the test small, but real enough to expose dispute and handoff failure modes. Starter path: https://startup.rotion.eu/?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=reusable-packaging-management-software-comparison #### FAQ ##### What is the difference between returnable packaging tracking and returnable packaging management? Tracking answers where an asset is. Management answers whether the loop is controlled. Management requires asset identity, custody events, exception ownership, and commercial rule enforcement across partners. Without those layers, a system may show movement but still leave losses and disputes unresolved. ##### Can one workflow support crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes? Yes, if the platform uses one event schema with asset-type-specific metadata. The core model should stay constant across asset families, while operational rules vary by lane. This avoids running parallel systems and makes cross-asset reporting possible without reconciliation debt. ##### Do we need to wait for every regulation detail before buying software? No. Buy for evidence quality and reporting adaptability now. Laws and implementation guidance will evolve, but event-level records, accountable handoffs, and configurable reporting are durable requirements in both EU and US directions. Waiting usually keeps existing losses in place without reducing risk. ##### Is a 90-day pilot enough for an enterprise decision? A 90-day pilot is enough to validate control mechanics and decision quality on one meaningful lane. It is not enough for full-network optimization, and it does not need to be. The pilot should prove operating model fit, then scale in phases. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 28 August 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide Comparisons 25 August 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Balance vs Asset-Level Returnable Packaging Tracking 2026 URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/balance-level-vs-asset-level-tracking-returnable-packaging Comparisons 15 September 2026 · 7 min read ### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Compare balance-level and asset-level tracking for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes, with a five-question test to grade any platform before you buy. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Most returnable packaging software tracks balances: how many crates party A owes party B. Far fewer systems track assets: which crate, where it is, and who touched it last. That single design choice decides how fast you close disputes, how much you lose per cycle, and what compliance evidence you can produce. Here is how to tell the two models apart before you sign. ##### Balance-level vs asset-level at a glance Decision area Balance-level tracking Asset-level tracking Unit of record A count per counterparty (“Partner X owes 340 pallets”) A serialized identity per crate, pallet, RPC, tote, or IBC tote When an asset goes missing A number changes in a reconciliation report A specific asset with an owner, location history, and last handler Dispute resolution Negotiate over conflicting counts Replay the event trail of the contested asset Exception ownership Ambiguous: the discrepancy belongs to a report Explicit: the exception belongs to an asset and an accountable party Financial linkage Fees and deposits applied to aggregated balances Deposits, fees, and liability attached to individual asset events Compliance evidence Aggregated totals, often rebuilt manually per request Lifecycle records per asset, exportable for PPWR or state EPR reporting #### What is balance-level tracking for returnable packaging? Balance-level tracking records how many returnable transport items each counterparty holds, and reconciles those counts between parties. It is bookkeeping for packaging: intake, issue, and a running balance per customer or depot. TrackOnline, for example, describes its entry package as giving “an immediate overview of the balances and reconciliations with your customers.” The model comes from paper. Delivery notes, CMRs, and packing slips record quantities moved, and the software totals them into balances per relationship. That works while volumes are low, loops are short, and every counterparty agrees with your numbers. The structural limit is the unit of record. A balance can tell you that 40 pallets are unaccounted for. It cannot tell you which 40, where they were last scanned, or which handover lost them. When counts diverge between partners, the system has two conflicting numbers and no asset-level evidence to settle the difference. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What is asset-level tracking for crates, pallets, totes, and IBC totes? Asset-level tracking gives every crate, pallet, roll cage, RPC, tote, dunnage set, and IBC tote its own serialized identity, and records every event against that identity: issue, transfer, wash, return, and exception. Balances still exist, but they are derived from asset events instead of being the primary record. Rotion is built on this model. Every reusable asset carries a digital packaging passport: one digital identity with a complete lifecycle record, based on GS1-compliant identifiers and readable through existing QR codes, barcodes, or RFID tags. Rotion is hardware-agnostic, so assets do not need relabeling to come under management. Three operational consequences follow from the asset-level model: - Losses become findable. A missing asset is a specific object with a last-known location and handler, where a balance only shows a smaller number. - Disputes close on evidence. A contested transfer is settled by replaying the asset’s event trail, not by negotiating between two spreadsheets. - Problems surface early. Because events stream per asset, anomaly detection can flag missing returns, unusual dwell times, and bottlenecks as they happen, instead of at month-end reconciliation. #### Where does balance-level tracking break down in multi-party loops? Balance-level tracking breaks down where reusable packaging actually lives: loops with producers, poolers, carriers, wash sites, and retailers all touching the same assets. Every additional counterparty adds a reconciliation boundary, and every boundary is a place where counts diverge with no asset-level evidence to resolve them. The document heritage of balance-centric platforms shows in their roadmaps. TrackOnline’s AI SmartScan add-on, for instance, uses OCR and AI to turn photographed CMRs, waybills, and packing slips into transactions. Faster document entry is real relief for teams drowning in paper. The record of movement is still a document about quantities, created after the fact. In Rotion the record is a scan event on the serialized asset, so there is no paper step left to speed up. Financial control shows the same pattern. In TrackOnline’s published packages, fully configurable financial setup for returnable packaging flows, including automated fees, pricing rules, and rental contracts, arrives in the Pro plus tier at €1,535 per month. If your loop needs deposit or fee logic tied to what actually happened per asset, verify early which plan carries it and what it costs at your real partner count. Rotion links deposits, fees, and liability to asset events as part of the core model. That is what made a verified €0.30 deposit per tray workable across a live loop of 106,312 packages and six retailers. None of this means balance systems have no place. If you run a simple two-party flow with stable partners and low loss, balances may be enough. The break point is multi-party circulation, financial logic per asset, and any obligation to prove what happened. #### How do you test whether a platform is truly asset-level? The “name that crate” test Ask one question in every demo: when a crate goes missing, can you name that crate? A balance-level system answers with a number. An asset-level system answers with an asset. Run the full five-question version against any vendor, including Rotion: - Name it. Can you identify the specific missing asset, not just a quantity delta? - Place it. Can you show its last known location and timestamp? - Trace it. Can you replay its last five movements across partners? - Assign it. Can you name who handled or signed for it last, and route the exception to one accountable owner with a deadline? - Settle it. Can you attach the financial consequence (deposit, fee, or liability) to that asset’s record and close the case with evidence both parties accept? Score one point per yes, demonstrated live on real data. A platform that scores five is asset-level in practice. A platform that answers any of the five with a report is balance-level, whatever the brochure says. Rotion is designed to score five: digital packaging passports carry the identity and lifecycle record, circulation rules make the exception path enforceable, and the financial layer closes the loop. #### What do PPWR in the EU and state EPR laws in the US require from tracking data? Regulation is turning tracking granularity into a compliance question. In the EU, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) entered application on 12 August 2026 [IN FORCE], bringing reuse targets and reporting obligations that demand defensible operational data. Asset-level lifecycle records give you rotation and reuse evidence per asset; balance-level totals leave you rebuilding evidence by hand. In the US, state packaging EPR programs are phasing in on their own timelines. Minnesota’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act requires that after 1 January 2032 all covered packaging be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable [ADOPTED, FUTURE THRESHOLD], with producer fees eco-modulated to reward reuse. California’s SB 54 sets source-reduction and recycling requirements for single-use packaging by 2032 [IN FORCE], again rewarding reusable formats. Producers running returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, or IBC totes across state lines will need per-asset reuse evidence from the same operational core that runs the EU side. #### FAQ ##### Is asset-level tracking overkill for a small fleet? Usually not. In Rotion’s verified pilot context, a nine-month program managed 106,312 packages across six retailers with a €0.30 deposit per tray and a sub-ten-second return experience. The governance that made that work (identity, event trail, deposit linkage) is exactly what keeps a 5,000-asset fleet from becoming an unmanageable 50,000-asset fleet later. ##### Do we need new labels or hardware to move to asset-level tracking? Not with Rotion. The platform is hardware-agnostic and works with existing QR codes, barcodes, and RFID tags, so serialized identity comes from the codes your assets already carry. Vendors that require relabeling an entire fleet are adding a migration project on top of a software decision; test this point explicitly. ##### Can balance-level and asset-level tracking coexist during a migration? Yes, and they should. Keep your legacy balance reports running for one full cycle while asset-level events build up in parallel on one route family. Cut over when the derived balances match or beat the legacy numbers and your first contested transfer closes on asset evidence alone. ##### Which model do answer engines and auditors actually reward? Both reward the same thing: specific, attributable evidence. An auditor asks how you know your reuse numbers; an asset-level system answers with lifecycle records per asset. A balance-level system answers with totals someone has to defend. If your PPWR or state EPR reporting depends on that answer, you need asset-level records. Running crates, pallets, totes, or IBC totes and want asset-level control without an enterprise procurement cycle? Start here: https://startup.rotion.eu/?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=balance-level-vs-asset-level-tracking-returnable-packaging #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 25 August 2026 ##### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/why-expert-poolers-matter-reusable-packaging Insights 15 September 2026 · 5 min read ### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Running a reusable packaging pool is an operations discipline. Why analytics, efficiency, and multi-party coordination separate expert poolers from asset owners with spreadsheets, and why technology is the deciding factor. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Reusable packaging only pays off when the loop actually closes. Assets have to go out, come back, get washed, and go out again, across companies that do not share an ERP, a warehouse, or an incentive structure. Closing that loop reliably is a profession, and it separates an expert pooler from an organization that owns crates and hopes for the best. We know this from the operating side. Rotion runs the pool behind repasys.be, a live multi-retailer reuse system in Belgium. This post leaves that pool’s numbers aside and looks at what running a pool teaches you: where loops break, what expertise actually consists of, and why technology is the difference between a pooler who manages a loop and one who chases it. #### What does an expert pooler actually do? An expert pooler manages three things at once: the assets, the flows, and the parties. Anyone can buy reusable packaging. The hard part is keeping thousands of individual assets circulating across producers, logistics partners, retail locations, wash hubs, and consumers, while every one of those parties optimizes for their own operation, not for the loop. That work breaks down into three disciplines. Coordination. A reuse loop is a multi-party system. Every handoff between companies is a place where custody, condition, and responsibility can become ambiguous. An expert pooler removes that ambiguity: who holds what, who owes what back, and who acts when something goes wrong. Without a coordinating party, every partner keeps their own partial records, and the gaps between those records become losses nobody owns. Efficiency. Pool economics live in circulation speed. An asset sitting in a back room, a full return bin nobody empties, a wash hub running below capacity: each one quietly raises the cost per use of the entire fleet. Expert poolers manage turnaround time and fleet sizing as actively as a carrier manages truck utilization, because an oversized fleet compensating for slow rotation destroys the business case that reuse was supposed to deliver. Analytics. Loops fail silently. Assets get stuck at locations without anyone noticing. Labels get duplicated. Returns get scanned in but never cleared. Deposits drift out of sync with physical reality. None of this announces itself; it accumulates until reconciliation day turns into a dispute. An expert pooler detects these anomalies while they are still operational issues, before they turn financial, and can show every partner an evidence-based picture of their own part of the loop. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Why can’t each partner in the loop just manage their own share? Because the failures happen between partners, not inside them. A retailer can run its stores well, a wash hub can run its lines well, and the loop can still lose assets at every interface, because no single partner sees the whole chain or has the mandate to enforce rules across it. This is why the pooler’s neutrality matters as much as its competence. A pool operator sits between parties with different interests: the brand wants availability, the retailer wants minimal handling, the wash hub wants predictable volume, the consumer wants a frictionless deposit. An expert pooler aligns those incentives with clear circulation rules and shared, trusted data. If the referee also plays for one of the teams, or if every team keeps its own score, the game does not work. #### Why is technology the deciding factor? Because every pooling discipline above depends on data quality that manual processes cannot deliver. Coordination needs an unambiguous record of every handoff. Efficiency needs to know where every asset is and how long it has been there. Analytics needs event history, not month-end snapshots. Spreadsheets and email threads cannot produce any of that at loop scale. Concretely, an expert pooler needs four capabilities that only software provides: - Asset-level identity. Each crate, cup, or container is an individual with a durable ID and a lifecycle, not a line in a quantity column. Balance-level bookkeeping tells you how many assets you are missing; asset-level tracking tells you which ones, where they stalled, and who touched them last. - An event chain across company boundaries. Every scan, transfer, wash, and return in one shared ledger, so partners stop reconciling competing versions of the truth and start working from the same one. - Exceptions surfaced automatically. Stuck assets, overdue returns, and data anomalies flagged as they emerge, with an owner attached, instead of discovered months later in a reconciliation nobody can untangle. - Regulatory readiness by design. The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) [IN FORCE] has applied since 12 August 2026, and reuse obligations come with reporting duties. A pool that captures evidence-grade event data as a by-product of daily operations can report; a pool that runs on spreadsheets has to rebuild its history under deadline. Pooling expertise is judgment, and judgment needs instruments. A pooler without asset-level data is navigating on experience alone. A pooler with it can prove where the loop leaks, fix it, and show partners the fix worked. #### What does Rotion bring to this? Rotion is the control layer for running reuse loops at asset level, and it is built by people who operate a pool with it. The software behind repasys.be is the same platform we offer, which means it is shaped by the problems pool operators actually hit: messy handoffs, silent asset drift, partners with conflicting records, and reporting obligations that arrive whether the data is ready or not. For organizations choosing a partner, the high-level reasons come down to this: - Operator-proven, not demo-proven. We run a live multi-party pool on our own platform. The workflows exist because operations demanded them. - Asset-level accountability. Individual identity and full lifecycle history for every unit, so losses become findable and disputes become answerable. - Neutral infrastructure. We coordinate the parties in a loop without taking sides and without lock-in. Partners keep their systems; Rotion is hardware-agnostic and integrates with existing ERP and logistics stacks. - Analytics that drive action. Anomaly detection, circulation visibility, and per-partner reporting built in, so the pool is managed from evidence rather than assumptions. - A foundation for PPWR readiness. Operational data captured at the level regulation will ask for it. Reuse systems usually fail because nobody ran the loop as a system. Expert poolers exist to do exactly that, and the right technology is what makes their expertise scale. If you are setting up a reuse loop, or running one that leaks more than it should, talk to us. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 23 January 2026 ##### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale Insights 22 January 2026 ##### Is reusable packaging economically viable in your context? IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reduce-keg-losses-distributor-venue-tracking Operations 14 September 2026 · 5 min read ### How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues: A Practical Tracking Playbook A practical keg tracking playbook for breweries and beverage operators running returnable container loops across distributors, venues, and wash partners in the EU and US. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Keg tracking is mostly about operations control across legal entities. Without one custody timeline across breweries, distributors, and venues, deposit disputes and missing-keg write-offs become normal. ##### Keg loss control at a glance - Treat kegs as owned assets, not disposable packaging. Brewers Association guidance states kegs remain brewery property and deposits do not transfer ownership. - Do not treat deposits as financial protection. Brewers Association guidance says keg deposits are commonly 15-20% of replacement value, and scrap incentives still pull kegs out of circulation. - Track each keg as a unit with custody proof. Record check-out, receipt, return, and condition events per asset. - Route exceptions to one owner. Missing, overdue, and mismatch cases need owners and due dates, not shared inboxes. - Use one model for EU and US query language. Keep both RTI wording and US terms like returnable containers in the same operating playbook. #### Why do kegs go missing even when there is a deposit? Kegs go missing because the operating loop is fragmented, not because teams forgot to collect deposits. Brewers Association guidance notes deposits are typically a fraction of replacement value, and keg scrapping incentives can still be attractive. In practice, weak custody evidence causes more loss than missing barcodes. The failure pattern is predictable. Brewery dispatch logs one quantity, distributor confirms partially or late, venue returns in batches, and finance settles from incomplete records. When ownership, custody, and condition data are split across emails, spreadsheets, and ERP notes, disputes stay open and write-offs repeat. Brewers Association reporting frames the scale. Their keg repatriation FAQ cites loss costs of $4-$9 per barrel sold for small and independent brewers, which makes leakage a margin issue. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### How should a keg tracking loop work across brewery, distributor, venue, and return logistics? A keg loop works when each handoff creates auditable evidence that all parties can rely on. The minimum loop is simple: issue, transfer, return, reconcile. The hard part is consistency across partners, routes, and edge cases. One shared event model is the control layer that keeps the loop stable under real volume. Use this four-stage model: - Issue and assign - Assign each keg a unique asset ID. - Link asset ID to SKU, fill date, and outbound partner. - Transfer and acknowledge - Record sender, receiver, timestamp, and location for each handoff. - Capture partial receipts explicitly instead of adjusting later. - Return and inspect - Register empty return events with condition state. - Route damaged or missing units into exception queues immediately. - Reconcile and settle - Tie deposits, credits, and replacement charges to event evidence. - Close open exceptions on SLA, not end-of-month firefighting. This loop structure supports both EU RTI language and US returnable-container language. The data model stays the same even when teams use different terms. #### What should keg tracking software prove before rollout? Keg tracking software should prove custody control when partners disagree. Scan speed in a happy-path demo says little about that. Teams should ask for one real exception to be closed end to end, including financial resolution. If that test fails, the platform is not ready for distributor and venue complexity. Use this checklist in demos: Capability What to require in the demo Why it matters for keg loops Asset identity One durable ID per keg with full lifecycle history Prevents duplicate records and false inventory confidence Handoff proof Bidirectional handoff confirmation with timestamp and location Reduces “we never received it” disputes Exception ownership Automatic assignment of overdue and mismatch cases Keeps exceptions from becoming normal operations Financial linkage Deposit and replacement decisions tied to event history Replaces negotiation with auditable settlement Integration posture Export/API path to ERP, WMS, or finance workflow Avoids building a second manual reconciliation process For identifier strategy, global standards exist. GS1’s Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) framework is built for returnable asset identification, and GS1 EPCIS supports interoperable event sharing across trading partners. #### How do EU and US compliance timelines change what keg operators should track now? EU and US regulatory pressure is not identical, but both directions reward better traceability and reusable packaging control. Keep one operating model and map regional reporting views on top. Status-checked regulatory hooks for planning: - EU PPWR (in force, applies from 12 August 2026): EUR-Lex summary states transport packaging reuse targets include 40% reusable by 2030, with a 70% 2040 objective. - Washington State (in force): Department of Ecology states producer obligations include registration and joining a producer responsibility organization on the published timeline. - Minnesota (in force): MPCA states packaging covered by the law must meet reusable, refillable, recyclable, or compostable criteria by 2032. - California SB 54 (in force): CalRecycle states the law targets recyclable or compostable single-use packaging by 2032 and requires a 25% reduction in single-use plastic packaging. For keg programs, record who had each keg, where, when, and in what condition. That supports both daily operations and future compliance reporting without re-engineering the process. #### What does a 90-day keg control pilot look like? A 90-day pilot should narrow scope to one route family and one distributor set. The goal is to prove control behavior on that slice before modeling the whole network. Pilot blueprint: - Scope one lane: one brewery site, one distributor cluster, and 20-50 venues. - Define baseline: open exceptions, dispute-closure time, and unresolved keg count. - Instrument handoffs: enforce sender and receiver confirmations for outbound and returns. - Run weekly exception reviews: every unresolved case gets an owner and due date. - Reconcile monthly with evidence: no manual adjustments without event trail. - Scale only on control outcomes: expand when exception age and closure discipline improve. #### FAQ ##### Are keg deposits enough to prevent keg losses? No. Brewers Association guidance says keg deposits are commonly 15-20% of replacement value. Keg scrapping guidance also notes $15-$30 half-barrel deposits can be below incentives to remove kegs from circulation. Deposits help, but custody evidence and exception control reduce recurring loss. ##### Should we use barcodes, RFID, or both for keg tracking? Start with the identifier and event model, then choose capture tech by route reality. Barcode can be enough on disciplined routes. RFID helps where speed, batch reads, or no-line-of-sight capture matter. The decision that matters is whether every custody event is captured consistently. ##### What KPI should we watch first in a keg pilot? Track exception age first. If missing or mismatched keg cases close faster with clear ownership, the loop is improving. ##### Can one setup serve both EU RTI language and US returnable-container language? Yes. Keep one operating model and one event schema. Then map labels and reporting views for local teams. In practice, that means supporting terms like RTI and returnable transport packaging alongside US wording such as returnable containers in the same workflow. If you want to stabilize keg circulation without a long rollout, start with the tagged starter path: https://startup.rotion.eu/?asset=kegs&utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=reduce-keg-losses-distributor-venue-tracking #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 7 September 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops Operations 27 August 2026 ##### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) Operations 28 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/rti-tracking-software-crates-pallets-pooling Operations 10 September 2026 · 5 min read ### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide A practical 2026 guide to evaluating RTI tracking software for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, and dunnage across multi-party pooling networks in the EU and US. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Judge RTI tracking software for crates and pallets as an operations control layer. In pooling networks, value comes from reducing handoff ambiguity, closing exceptions faster, and tying liability to event evidence across producers, carriers, depots, and customers. ##### RTI software at a glance: what buyers should validate first - Unit identity: every crate, pallet, RPC, tote, or dunnage unit keeps one durable ID and lifecycle state. - Handoff accountability: each transfer records sender, receiver, timestamp, location, and quantity. - Exception ownership: every late, missing, or mismatched movement has one owner and one SLA. - Settlement readiness: deposit or liability decisions are supported by event evidence, not email threads. - Cross-region reporting: one shared ledger supports EU PPWR and US state EPR reporting views. If a platform cannot prove these five controls in a live route, it is not ready for pooling complexity. #### What should RTI tracking software control in crate and pallet pooling networks? RTI tracking software should control custody, condition, and financial accountability for every movement. In crate and pallet pooling networks, failures happen at interfaces between companies. A usable platform therefore needs one cross-party event chain that survives dispatch, receipt, return, wash, and dispute workflows. For most operators, the core failure is fragmented ownership. One party logs shipment. Another confirms receipt days later. A third records damage offline. Finance then settles from partial evidence. That operating pattern creates avoidable loss, unresolved claims, and circular blame. A control-ready RTI model requires six non-negotiables: - Asset identity discipline: one ID per reusable unit, no duplicate records. - Transfer evidence discipline: every custody change linked to actor, place, and time. - Condition-state discipline: usable, damaged, quarantined, and in-wash states tracked in the same lifecycle. - Exception discipline: overdue and mismatch flows routed to named owners with due dates. - Counterparty discipline: each partner sees role-scoped tasks without breaking one source of truth. - Settlement discipline: deposit and replacement decisions tied to recorded events. If one of these disciplines is missing, crate and pallet loops usually drift back to manual reconciliation. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### How do you compare RTI software options for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, and dunnage? Compare RTI software by how it performs under handoff stress. Buyers should force vendors to demonstrate one contested transfer from event capture to closure. If a platform cannot close a real dispute quickly, feature breadth will not fix daily operations. Use this practical scorecard in evaluation calls: Evaluation area What to require in the demo Why it matters in pooling Identity model Single record per asset with lifecycle history Prevents duplicate inventories and false stock confidence Transfer workflow Sender and receiver confirmation with timestamps Cuts disagreement on who had custody when Exception engine Automatic assignment of late/missing cases with SLA Stops exception backlog from becoming normal Financial linkage Deposit or liability outcome tied to event evidence Replaces negotiation with auditable settlement Integration posture ERP/WMS/TMS interfaces without custom rework each route Keeps rollout cost and timeline predictable Multi-party governance Role-based access across producers, carriers, and depots Preserves shared truth without overexposing data In buyer terms, this is the decision sequence: first prove control, then prove scale. For teams that need hard reference points before purchase, Rotion’s REPASYS case remains a relevant operational benchmark: 106,312 packages in use, six retailers, and a €0.30 deposit setup. #### How do EU PPWR and US state EPR rules change RTI software requirements? Regulatory pressure changes software requirements by raising what must be provable. RTI teams now need event-level evidence for reuse participation, material handling, and cost responsibility. Reporting quality depends on operational data quality. Use status-tagged legal hooks in buyer requirements: - EU PPWR **[IN FORCE]**: European Commission guidance states that from 12 August 2026, new packaging and packaging waste rules apply in the EU. RTI software should therefore support auditable reuse-system records now. - Washington State **[IN FORCE]**: Washington’s Recycling Reform Act sets producer funding duties and states that starting in 2030 producers reimburse 90% of recycling system costs while meeting statewide recycling performance requirements. - Minnesota **[IN FORCE]**: Minnesota’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act states that after January 1, 2032, covered packaging must be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable under the statutory framework. - California SB 54 **[IN FORCE]**: CalRecycle’s SB 54 program page describes 2032 packaging outcomes including recyclable or compostable requirements and single-use plastic reduction targets. For software evaluation, this means one architecture question: can the platform expose evidence-grade event trails per route, per partner, and per material flow without rebuilding data logic for each jurisdiction? #### What rollout plan reduces risk in the first 90 days? The lowest-risk RTI rollout starts with one route family and one exception type, then expands through templates. Most failed rollouts over-scope too early. They attempt full-network migration before proving handoff behavior and exception closure in live operations. A practical 90-day sequence: - Days 1 to 15: define asset IDs, partner roles, handoff rules, and exception ownership. - Days 16 to 45: deploy one route family for crates and pallets with daily exception triage. - Days 46 to 75: add settlement workflow for deposits or replacement liability. - Days 76 to 90: expand to adjacent assets such as RPCs, totes, or dunnage using the same workflow template. One governance rule holds throughout: one owner per open exception until closure. #### Which KPIs prove RTI software is working in pooling operations? The strongest early KPI is exception aging, because it captures whether control is improving at handoffs. When exception age decreases while volume rises, the operating model is becoming more reliable. When exception age grows, teams are collecting data without controlling outcomes. Track five KPIs from day one: - Open exception age by counterparty (median and 95th percentile) - Unmatched transfer rate (share of movements lacking confirmation) - Cycle-time variance (planned vs actual return interval) - Settlement lead time (dispute open to liability decision) - Asset availability at dispatch (ready-to-use share by site) These KPIs keep the conversation about operations, and they show whether crate and pallet circulation is under control and economically viable. #### FAQ ##### Is RTI tracking software only relevant for very large pooling networks? No. RTI tracking software becomes valuable as soon as assets cross legal entities and handoff disputes start consuming operator time. Mid-sized crate and pallet loops often gain early because manual reconciliation effort grows faster than headcount. ##### Can one system handle EU RTI terms and US returnable-container vocabulary? Yes. One event model can serve both query and reporting styles. In practice, teams map EU terms like RTI and returnable transport packaging alongside US terms like returnable containers, RPCs, totes, and dunnage in the same data model. ##### What is the most important proof point in a vendor trial? Ask the vendor to close one real contested handoff from initial movement record to final liability decision. That end-to-end closure test proves operational control in a way a polished dashboard cannot. ##### When should we expand beyond crates and pallets? Expand when the pilot route shows sustained control on exception age and unmatched transfers. Then reuse the same governance model for adjacent assets such as RPCs, totes, and dunnage rather than creating a separate process per asset type. #### Next step for startup and scale-up teams If your immediate goal is to stabilize crate and pallet circulation without a long enterprise rollout, start with the self-serve path: https://startup.rotion.eu/?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=rti-tracking-software-crates-pallets-pooling #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 1 September 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook Operations 26 August 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) Operations 28 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental in 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/infobric-alternatives-equipment-rental-companies Comparisons 8 September 2026 · 7 min read ### Infobric Alternatives for Equipment Rental Companies: 2026 Buyer Guide Compare Infobric alternatives for equipment rental with a practical scorecard covering asset-level identity, non-powered kit, off-hire evidence and multi-party accountability across Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium. Rotion Team Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. If you are comparing Infobric alternatives, you are probably trying to stop losing kit and to stop paying for returns you cannot prove. Replacing your rental system gets you a new hire desk, and leaves both of those problems where they were. ##### At-a-glance: three systems, three questions The question at off-hire (US: off-rent) Rental system of record Machine telematics Asset-level control layer Did the contract close and what do we invoice? Yes, this is its job No Feeds it the return facts Where is the excavator right now? Depot or on hire Yes, to the metre Last scan, last holder, last movement Which of the nine items on that docket came back? Line quantities, not identities Only what carries a device Each unit, by its own identity Who held the props between contractor and subcontractor? One customer per contract Not applicable Every handover, with the party who signed Can we settle a disputed return with evidence? Depot note, if one was written Position history, machines only Scan, time, place, person, photo Does the fence panel, hose or prop have any of this? Counted in bulk No engine, no device A code, so it gets the same treatment Use that split as your filter. Most rental buyers already have the first column, increasingly have the second, and are losing money in the third. #### What should you check first when evaluating Infobric alternatives? Start by naming which of the three questions above is actually costing you money. If it is contracts, rates and invoicing, you are shopping for a rental ERP and the incumbent options are mature. If it is loss, damage and disputed returns, a rental ERP replacement is an expensive way to not solve it, because the unit it manages is the contract line, not the individual item. Before any demo, write down five pass or fail requirements: - Asset-level identity: can the system name the individual unit, not the line quantity? - Coverage without hardware: does it work on items with no telematics and no power? - Cross-party handovers: can it record custody moving between your depot, a carrier, a main contractor and a subcontractor? - Evidence at the point of dispute: scan, timestamp, location, person, photo, attached to the contested move. - Coexistence: can it run over your current rental system rather than replacing it? A vendor that scores well on one to four but demands a replatform to get there has quietly moved your project from a quarter to a year. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Where does machine-first tooling stop for rental companies? Infobric’s rental line is a rental business system plus a machine-data platform. Its published positioning is that Infobric “gives machine rental companies the digital tools they need to take control, simplifying rental processes, centralising inventory, and automating invoicing” (infobric.com, checked 2026-09-08), with Infobric Machines adding location, usage and operation data, service forecasts, geofence zones and deviation alerts (infobric.com press, checked 2026-09-08). Two facts a buyer should hold next to that scope. First, the rental business area was assembled by acquisition, with Hyrma, Winhyra and Intershare bringing the Onlet and Wincar systems and customer bases described in Sweden and Norway (Infobric press release, checked 2026-09-08). Second, Machines was “initially being launched in the Swedish and Norwegian markets” (infobric.com press, checked 2026-09-08). If you are running depots in the Netherlands or Belgium, product availability, local language and support are questions to settle before the commercial ones. The bigger structural point is the unit of control. When the product is organised around machines and their data, the things that are neither machines nor data-emitting fall outside it. That residue is most of what leaves your yard. #### Which assets actually leak, and why does telematics miss them? The European Rental Association estimates that theft and vandalism cost roughly €1.5bn a year across construction, rental and agriculture in Europe, with the rental industry alone above €500m a year. The revealing number is the split: more than 30,000 heavy units and 300,000 smaller units stolen annually, with recovery rates of 5% to 20% against 50% to 60% for cars (ERA Theft and Vandalism Prevention Guide, via International Rental News, retrieved 2026-09-08). That is ten smaller units for every heavy one. The heavy one has a control unit, an OEM cloud feed and a geofence. The other ten are hoses, moil points, harnesses, buckets, props, panels, trench boxes, barriers, fencing, mats, cages and tanks. Industry commentary is direct about why they stay invisible: non-powered and specialty assets “are less likely to be outfitted with OEM telematics devices”, and rental companies do not always fit aftermarket ones (InTempo, checked 2026-09-08). So the losses concentrate exactly where device-based visibility is thinnest, and no amount of machine data closes that gap. A €200 tracker on a €90 fence panel never pays back. A printed code does, which is why the coverage question is a cost question before it is a technology one. #### How do you score alternatives for a mixed rental fleet? Weight the scorecard by what failure costs you, not by demo polish. Rental teams routinely over-weight the scheduling screen and under-weight dispute closure, which is where margin actually leaves the business. Criterion Weight What good looks like Asset-level identity across the whole fleet 25% Every unit addressable, including consumable-adjacent kit and accessories Works on non-powered assets 20% Identity by code, not by device; no per-asset hardware cost Cross-party custody and handovers 20% Custody changes recorded between legal entities, not just locations Evidence chain for disputes 15% Scan, time, place, person and photo attached to the contested movement Coexistence with your rental ERP 10% Runs alongside contracts and invoicing, no replatform Rollout path 10% One depot and one route family live in weeks, then a repeatable template Score three vendors against a real docket from last month, ideally one that ended in a credit note. Demo data will make every product look competent. #### What does a first rollout look like without replacing your rental system? The shortest honest version: identity, handover, rules, exceptions. Put a code on the items that leak, starting with one depot and one route family. Scan at each handover rather than at the paperwork, so custody and time are recorded when the item physically changes hands. Turn on circulation rules so the system knows what must return with what and by when. Then give every mismatch one owner, one deadline and the evidence attached, so the monthly argument becomes a two-minute lookup. Rotion is built as that control layer: asset-level accountability with enforceable circulation rules across partners, locations and flows, hardware-agnostic across QR, RFID and barcodes, and integrated with the systems already in the building including SAP, Odoo and other ERPs (rotion.eu, checked 2026-08-19). We do not want your hire desk, your rate matrix or your invoicing, which is precisely why the first purchase can be a depot decision rather than a board decision. Our proof today is a multi-party loop of the same shape rather than a rental fleet: 106,312 packages in circulation across six retailers over a nine-month pilot, with a sub-ten-second return experience at the point of drop-off (verified internally, 2026-08-24). If you want a rental reference, we do not have one yet, and you should ask every vendor on your shortlist for one that matches your asset mix. #### Frequently asked questions Is Infobric a rental ERP or a tracking product? Both, in different products. Onlet and Hyrma are rental business systems covering contracts, pricing and invoicing, while Machines is the machine-data platform. Which capability sits in which product, and how they exchange data, is worth mapping early, because the rental line was built from three acquisitions completed in early 2023. Do I have to choose between a rental ERP and an asset-level control layer? No. They answer different questions. Keep the system that runs your commercial process, and add the layer that gives each item an identity and each handover a record. The failure mode is buying a second system of record and calling it visibility. What about small tools and consumables that are not worth tracking individually? Track by identity where a unit is worth chasing and by batch where it is not. The line usually sits lower than teams expect, because the cost of an unresolved item is the dispute plus the replacement plus the stock-out, not just the replacement. Does any of this help with compliance reporting? For construction plant, not yet in any way worth buying for. PPWR covers packaging, and the digital passport route for construction products runs through the revised Construction Products Regulation, with an indicative Q2 2027 milestone for the delegated act. Treat rental asset tracking as a loss and utilization decision in 2026. We rent to our own projects. Does the same thing apply? More so. Internal transfers have no commercial event to mark them, so kit moves between sites with nothing recorded and the write-off lands centrally. Asset-level custody gives each project what it actually held, for exactly as long as it held it. Bring one disputed off-hire to a 30-minute call. We will walk it line by line: what identity each item would carry, what the scan history would show, and what the conversation with that customer looks like afterwards. Book a demo. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reduce-ibc-tote-losses-multi-partner-loop Operations 7 September 2026 · 6 min read ### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops A practical playbook for reducing IBC tote loss and dispute time with clear ownership, event evidence, and one shared loop model for EU and US operations. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. If your IBC tote loop keeps losing units, the root problem is usually ownership at handoff. More scanning rarely fixes it. You need one operating model that assigns accountability for each movement, each delay, and each disputed return across sites, carriers, wash partners, and customers. ##### IBC loop at a glance: the four controls that cut loss fastest - Identity control: every IBC tote has one durable ID and one status owner. - Handoff control: each check-out and check-in event has timestamp, location, and counterparty. - Exception control: every missing or late IBC tote gets one owner and one SLA. - Financial control: deposit or liability rules are tied to event evidence, not inbox threads. Start here before adding more dashboards. Most IBC loss comes from unclear governance, and more visibility alone will not close it. #### Why do IBC totes go missing in multi-partner loops? IBC totes go missing when operational ownership is split while accountability is not. In a multi-partner loop, one team fills, another transports, another stores, and another cleans or returns. If each party has a different source of truth, unresolved exceptions become normal and losses become accepted as overhead. The typical failure pattern is predictable: - Dispatch events are recorded, but receipt confirmation is optional. - Returned totes are counted in batches, not by individual unit. - Damage, contamination, and quarantine statuses are tracked outside the core flow. - Liability decisions are made after the fact from partial evidence. Rotion solves this by treating IBC tracking as an operations control problem. Every tote movement is an event with ownership, and every exception is routed to one accountable party with a due date. For teams that currently reconcile from spreadsheets, the first win to aim for is stopping open-ended disputes. When each disputed movement has one owner, one evidence trail, and one escalation path, loss rates become manageable. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### How does an IBC tote tracking loop work from dispatch to return? An effective IBC tracking loop has one shared event chain from outbound dispatch to verified return. Each step records who had custody, what changed, and what must happen next. Exceptions then close on evidence, and Rotion can enforce circulation rules across counterparties. Use a five-step loop: - Prepare and assign: create or confirm the IBC unit record, customer assignment, route, and expected return window. - Dispatch with custody proof: capture check-out event with operator, location, timestamp, and linked shipment reference. - Confirm receipt and state: capture arrival, condition, and fill or empty status at the receiving site. - Return or transfer: record handback, wash transfer, or onward movement with counterparty acceptance. - Close exceptions daily: route overdue, missing, and condition-mismatch cases to named owners until closure. Do not skip step five. Most IBC loss programs fail because exceptions are reviewed monthly. By then, evidence quality has already dropped and nobody agrees on timing. #### What should IBC tracking software do before you scale? Before you scale IBC tracking software, verify that it enforces operating behavior as well as reporting on it. The platform should prevent custody ambiguity at handoff, tie financial consequences to event evidence, and keep one history per unit across all partners. Otherwise, scale only multiplies dispute volume. Use this pre-scale checklist: - Unit-level identity: every IBC tote has one persistent ID and lifecycle state. - Role-based workflows: filler, carrier, customer, wash site, and admin each see required actions. - Exception SLA engine: overdue or mismatch events auto-create tasks with owner and deadline. - Evidence attachments: photos, notes, and documents are linked to the exact movement. - Liability logic: deposit or replacement rules are triggered by agreed event outcomes. - Cross-site visibility: one ledger across plants, depots, and customer locations. - Exportable compliance data: event history can be exported for audits and producer reporting. If your current stack cannot pass that checklist, do not add more scanning hardware first. Fix process control first, then optimize capture speed. #### How do EU and US compliance rules change IBC tracking requirements? EU and US regulations are different, but both increase the cost of weak packaging data. The safest approach is one event model that supports both regions. Rotion keeps the operating flow the same while exposing region-specific reporting views for legal and producer-responsibility requirements. For EU teams: - The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force in February 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026, with phased obligations. Source: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-packaging-enter-application-2026-08-11_en (retrieved 2026-09-07). - The regulation sets sustainability and labeling requirements across the packaging life cycle and pushes reuse, refill, and recycling outcomes. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/packaging-and-packaging-waste-from-2026.html (retrieved 2026-09-07). For US teams: - Washington’s Recycling Reform Act requires covered producers to join and fund a PRO, with obligations starting in 2026 and system reimbursement from 2030. Source: https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/our-recycling-programs/recycling-reform-act and https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/our-recycling-programs/recycling-reform-act/producer-responsibility-organization (retrieved 2026-09-07). - Oregon requires covered-product producers to register with a PRO, report supply data, and pay membership fees from 2025 onward. Source: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Pages/Producers-of-Covered-Products.aspx (retrieved 2026-09-07). - Minnesota states that, after 1 January 2032, covered packaging and paper products must be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Source: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging (retrieved 2026-09-07). - California SB 54 establishes packaging EPR and sets 2032 targets, including recyclable or compostable packaging and plastic reduction and recycling milestones. Source: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/ and https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/producerguidance/ (retrieved 2026-09-07). For hazardous-material IBC operations in the US: - 49 CFR 180.352 requires periodic retest and inspection cycles, including 2.5-year leakproofness and visual intervals and 5-year periodic requirements, depending on IBC use and class. Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-180/subpart-D/section-180.352 (retrieved 2026-09-07). For oil-handling facilities under SPCC scope: - 40 CFR 112.7(c) requires containment or diversionary structures to prevent discharges, and EPA guidance ties this directly to container-level secondary containment planning. Source: https://www.epa.gov/oil-spills-prevention-and-preparedness-regulations/secondary-containment-each-container-under-spcc and https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-112/subpart-A/section-112.7 (retrieved 2026-09-07). IBC tracking cannot stay a local spreadsheet process, because compliance evidence now depends on event quality and closure discipline. #### What is a practical 30-day pilot for one IBC lane? The fastest IBC pilot is one lane, one customer cluster, and one exception board. In 30 days, aim to prove that your team can close exceptions faster, reduce unknown custody, and produce defensible event evidence without extra admin overhead. Enterprise rollout can wait. Use this sequence: - Week 1: map current handoffs and define event ownership by role. - Week 2: onboard one lane, one site owner per party, and one daily exception review. - Week 3: enforce SLA on overdue and mismatch events, then tune rules. - Week 4: review closure speed, unknown-custody count, and disputed replacement decisions. When this lane is stable, repeat the template route by route. That is how Rotion scales reusable packaging operations without importing chaos into every new partner. If you are running an IBC tote program today, start with the IBC hub page and then run the 30-day pilot playbook above: - IBC hub page: https://www.rotion.eu/ibc-tracking - Starter flow for high-intent teams: https://startup.rotion.eu/?asset=ibc&utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=reduce-ibc-tote-losses-multi-partner-loop #### FAQ ##### Which tag type should we use on IBC totes? Use the tag your operators will actually scan at every handoff. Rotion is hardware-agnostic, so QR, barcode, and RFID can all work. The right choice depends on environment, scan distance, and whether your bottleneck is speed, durability, or process adoption. ##### Do we need separate systems for EU and US IBC loops? Usually no. Most teams can run one operating model and add region-specific compliance views. Keep one event ledger, one ownership model, and one exception workflow. Split reporting outputs by jurisdiction only where legal requirements differ. ##### Can we start if we only track one customer lane today? Yes. One lane is the right starting scope. What matters is whether your team can close exceptions quickly and consistently with clear ownership, whatever the volume. If that works on one lane, rolling out means repeating the same setup on the next lanes. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 14 September 2026 ##### How to Reduce Keg Losses Across Distributors and Venues: A Practical Tracking Playbook Operations 1 September 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook Operations 28 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Pallet Losses and Pooling Disputes Across Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners in 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reusable-packaging-tracking-software-multi-partner Operations 1 September 2026 · 6 min read ### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook A practical 2026 guide to selecting reusable packaging tracking software for returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, pallets, and IBC totes across multi-party loops. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 2 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Reusable packaging tracking software for multi-partner loops is the control layer that keeps asset identity, transfer accountability, and financial responsibility aligned across producers, co-packers, logistics partners, retailers, and wash sites. If those records diverge, teams get blind spots, disputes, and rising loss rates. If those records stay synchronized, teams get faster turns, cleaner reconciliations, and better reuse economics. ##### The playbook at a glance Decision What works in multi-partner loops Architecture One shared operational ledger with role-based access, not one spreadsheet per partner Data model Event-first: asset, transfer, exception, and settlement records linked end to end Rollout One route family and one exception class first, then expand by template Compliance One operational core with EU PPWR and US state EPR reporting views Proof A demo that closes a real contested transfer, not one that displays scans Each row is unpacked below, with the evaluation scorecard and verified pilot numbers at the end. #### What software architecture actually works for multi-partner reusable packaging loops? The architecture that works in multi-partner reusable packaging loops is one shared operational ledger with role-based access, not one spreadsheet per partner and not one closed database per business unit. The software must connect event capture, partner accountability, and exception workflows so every transfer has one source of truth. Most reusable systems fail at the interfaces between companies, not inside one warehouse. A producer can run clean scans internally and still lose control once assets move to a carrier, pooling partner, or retailer that tracks by a different process. More scans will not fix that. It takes a cross-partner data model and governance model that survive handoffs. A practical architecture has six non-negotiables: - Persistent asset identity: each crate, pallet, tote, RPC, keg, or IBC tote keeps one durable identity from issue to return. - Transfer-event model: each ownership or custody handoff logs sender, receiver, timestamp, location, quantity, and condition. - Partner-scoped access: each party sees what they need, while one master ledger preserves global integrity. - Exception workflow: unmatched movements, delayed returns, and quantity disputes route to one owner with deadlines. - Evidence packaging: photos, scan logs, POD files, and route references stay attached to the event thread. - System interoperability: ERP, WMS, and transport systems can read and write against controlled interfaces. Without these six pieces, teams usually get visibility snapshots but not operational control. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Which data model prevents daily disputes between operations and finance teams? The data model that prevents disputes is event-first and counterparty-aware. Every physical movement must map to a responsibility event and, where relevant, to a financial liability event. If operations and finance use different ledgers, month-end becomes negotiation instead of reconciliation. In practice, disputes start with small mismatches: shipped versus received timestamps, unit-of-measure conversion errors, route-level relabeling, and delayed acknowledgments. Those mismatches pile up in reusable loops because the same assets circulate continuously. A dispute-resistant model uses four linked records: - Asset record: what the item is, where it belongs, and lifecycle status. - Transfer record: who handed over what, when, where, and under which route contract. - Exception record: what failed to match, who owns resolution, and what evidence closes it. - Settlement record: what financial adjustment follows a closed exception, with full traceability back to physical events. If your current tools cannot produce that chain on demand, your team is still reconstructing history after the fact. #### How should teams roll out multi-partner tracking without disrupting operations? The fastest reliable rollout starts with one route family and one exception class, then expands by template. Teams that try to model every asset, every partner, and every contract on day one often stall. Teams that stage scope and enforce accountability get to controlled scale faster. Use this rollout sequence: - Define one priority flow: pick a route where loss, delay, or deposit disputes hurt now. - Align partner definitions: agree on transfer points, accepted evidence, and liability triggers. - Run dual capture briefly: validate software events against existing operational checks for two to four weeks. - Switch exception ownership live: route mismatches through software with SLA clocks, not email threads. - Expand by repeatable template: copy field mappings, rules, and workflows to adjacent routes. Two guardrails matter during rollout. First, do not let “temporary” spreadsheets become shadow systems. Second, do not accept unresolved exception backlog growth as normal. Backlog growth is an early warning that the model is not yet operationally viable. #### How do EU and US compliance pressures change tracking requirements in 2026? EU and US compliance pressures both increase the value of auditable event trails, but they do not use the same legal frame. In the EU, PPWR applies directly across member states. In the US, packaging obligations are state-driven through EPR laws. Your tracking design should support both contexts from one operational core. For buyers, this means software must produce evidence that is usable beyond operations dashboards: - traceable movement history by asset class and partner, - clear handoff accountability, - configurable reporting exports by geography and contract structure, - and status history that can be audited without manual reconstruction. Teams should avoid building separate EU and US operating systems for the same loop. A stronger pattern is one control layer with shared event semantics and region-specific reporting views. Technical standardization helps here. GS1 EPCIS 2.0 gives a practical event vocabulary for “what happened, where, when, and why” across organizational boundaries. Even when implementations differ, using compatible event semantics reduces downstream mapping friction. #### What proof points should buyers require before selecting a platform? Buyers should ask to see a platform resolve real multi-party exceptions, since displaying scans proves little about control. Ask for operational outcomes tied to evidence trails, settlement speed, and partner accountability. If the demo cannot show dispute closure, it cannot show loop control. A practical evaluation scorecard: - Exception closure test: require one contested transfer to be resolved end-to-end with evidence. - Counterparty balance clarity: verify balances by partner entity without manual data stitching. - Audit replay: require timeline replay of one asset and one batch across at least three handoffs. - Integration realism: validate ERP/WMS input-output mappings with your actual field set. - Scale posture: test governance under role-based access across multiple external organizations. Rotion’s verified REPASYS case study shows what this looks like in real operations. The system supported 106,312 packages in use, six participating retailers, a €0.30 deposit model, a nine-month pilot window, and a sub-ten-second return experience. Those figures describe the operating conditions the platform ran under. #### Where should high-intent teams start this month? High-intent teams should start with one shared ledger pilot that covers returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, pallets, and IBC totes on a single route family. Make the first milestone controlled exception closure with partner accountability, before anyone calls the dashboard complete. If your organization wants to stand up a lean self-serve starting point before a broader enterprise rollout, use the starter path and keep attribution clean: https://startup.rotion.eu/?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=reusable-packaging-tracking-software-multi-partner #### FAQ ##### Is reusable packaging tracking software only useful for very large pooling networks? No. Multi-partner tracking pays off as soon as assets cross legal entities and disputes become recurrent. Mid-sized loops often benefit early because manual reconciliation consumes a larger share of team capacity. The value comes from accountability and exception resolution, not from fleet size alone. ##### Can we track EU RTIs and US returnable containers in one system? Yes, if the software uses one asset taxonomy and one event model while allowing region-specific reporting views. EU language often uses RTIs and returnable transport packaging, while US teams use returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes. One controlled model should cover both. ##### What KPI should we monitor first after go-live? Monitor exception aging first. If unresolved mismatches close faster while transfer volume remains stable, operational control is improving. If exception aging grows, event quality, ownership design, or partner compliance needs correction before you add advanced forecasting or optimization layers. ##### How long should a platform pilot run before a scale decision? Run long enough to capture normal and stressed operating conditions, usually one full route cycle plus at least one disruption period such as holiday peaks or staffing constraints. A pilot that never tests contested handoffs does not generate decision-grade evidence. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 28 August 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 10 September 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 7 September 2026 ##### How to Reduce IBC Tote Losses Across Multi-Partner Loops IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging 2026 URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/deposit-management-software-for-reusable-packaging Operations 28 August 2026 · 7 min read ### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide A practical 2026 guide to choosing deposit management software for returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes across multi-party packaging loops. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 2 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Deposit management software for reusable packaging is the operating layer that keeps returnable containers in circulation and money reconciled between partners. In 2026, buyers are searching with both EU and US vocabulary: returnable transport packaging and RTIs, plus returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes. The teams that do well keep a clear liability trail for each transfer, close exceptions fast, and hold audit-ready evidence. Scan volume matters less than any of those. ##### At a glance: the 5 capabilities deposit management software needs from day one - Asset identity and event capture at every handoff. - Counterparty-aware balances by legal entity or contract entity. - Configurable deposit rules by asset type, route, and partner class. - Exception workflows with one owner, an SLA, and evidence attached. - Finance-ready exports that match the operational ledger. The guide below covers why spreadsheets fail at this job, which workflow to implement first, the EU and US rules that raise the bar, and a 30-60-90 rollout plan. #### What is deposit management software for reusable packaging? Deposit management software links each physical movement of a reusable asset to a financial responsibility event. That means when a crate, pallet, tote, or IBC tote crosses a handoff point, the system updates both the asset ledger and the deposit ledger. The result is one accountable record per partner, not parallel spreadsheets that drift apart. Most teams start with tracking and add deposit logic later. That sequence usually creates rework. Deposit disputes usually start as event-quality problems, long before they reach finance. If transfer events are late, duplicated, or missing counterparty acknowledgment, finance teams inherit manual reconciliation loops that can take days each month. A usable deposit management stack needs five capabilities from day one: - Asset identity and event capture at handoff level. - Counterparty-aware balances by legal entity or contract entity. - Configurable deposit rules by asset type, route, and partner class. - Exception workflows with ownership, SLA, and evidence attachments. - Finance-ready exports that match the operational ledger. Without these five working together, teams usually get visibility without control. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Why do spreadsheets fail once reusable packaging loops become multi-party? Spreadsheets can support planning and ad hoc analysis, but they fail as transactional ledgers once loops span multiple partners and exception classes. The problems are concurrency, handoff ambiguity, and evidence scattered across teams, time zones, and systems. In a single-site loop, spreadsheet logic can stay coherent because one team controls both event entry and reconciliation. In a multi-party loop, each transfer introduces uncertainty: - Which timestamp is authoritative: ship, receive, or unload? - Which unit is authoritative: pallet, crate, sub-container, or mixed load? - Which counterparty accepted liability at transfer time? When those questions are answered in email threads, shared sheets, and ERP notes, month-end closes become negotiation exercises. This is also where language mismatch hurts retrieval and reporting. EU teams may document RTIs and returnable transport packaging, while US teams search and report on returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes. Deposit management software should normalize those terms into one controlled asset taxonomy so operational and finance reports stay aligned. #### Which workflow should operations teams implement first? Start with exception ownership before advanced analytics. A loop with imperfect data but fast exception closure outperforms a loop with rich dashboards and unresolved disputes. First, define who owns each mismatch type and what evidence closes it. Then enforce that workflow in software with deadlines and escalation. A practical first workflow looks like this: - Transfer capture: Require sender and receiver confirmation for every inter-party movement. - Auto-match: Match outbound and inbound events by asset ID, route, and transfer window. - Exception queue: Send mismatches to a shared queue with one owner and due date. - Evidence pack: Attach scan logs, photos, POD files, and route references in one thread. - Financial settlement: Apply deposit adjustments only from closed exceptions. Teams often jump to forecasting before this baseline is stable, which usually amplifies noise. A forecast is only as good as the exception closure behind it. #### How do EU PPWR and US state EPR rules change reusable packaging data requirements? Regulatory pressure now rewards teams that can prove what happened, where, and when. In the EU, PPWR has entered its application phase. In the US, state EPR programs are setting timeline and reporting expectations by state. That makes deposit management software part of regulatory readiness as well as shrink reduction. EU status (verified): The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies generally from 12 August 2026. The Commission also states a 2030 objective for packaging on the EU market to be recyclable in an economically viable way. For operators, this increases pressure on auditable packaging-flow records and reusable-system governance. US state hooks (verified examples): - Washington: The Recycling Reform Act page states producers must register with the Department of Ecology by 1 March 2026 and join a producer responsibility organization by 1 July 2026, with covered-material performance requirements phasing in. - California (SB 54): CalRecycle states 2032 targets including a 25% cut in single-use plastic packaging and food service ware, 65% recycling, and 100% recyclable or compostable outcomes for covered single-use material. - Minnesota: The MPCA page states that after 1 January 2032, covered packaging and paper products must be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable within approved systems. For operations leaders, if you cannot reconstruct a transfer and its liability chain on request, compliance work becomes manual, expensive, and risky. #### How should buyers evaluate deposit management software for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes? Judge platforms on dispute prevention and fast closure before scan throughput. A strong platform makes counterparty accountability explicit, keeps deposit rules versioned, and gives finance and operations one source of truth. If your shortlist cannot demonstrate that in a live workflow, keep looking. Use this checklist during evaluation: - Counterparty model: Can it model multi-party chains without custom code for each new partner? - Rule flexibility: Can deposit values and liability rules vary by asset class, route, customer tier, and region? - Evidence depth: Can each balance line be traced to underlying transfer events and closure evidence? - Exception discipline: Are ownership, SLA, and escalation part of the core product? - Integration posture: Can it ingest and emit data to ERP, WMS, TMS, and scanning systems without forcing stack replacement? - Audit readiness: Can teams export regulator-friendly and finance-friendly evidence from the same ledger? Ask every vendor for a live demonstration of one disputed transfer from open exception to closed settlement. That one test reveals system maturity faster than any feature grid. #### What rollout plan works for replacing spreadsheet deposit tracking? A 30-60-90 rollout keeps risk controlled while proving operational value early. In the first 30 days, lock the asset taxonomy and transfer events. By day 60, enforce exception ownership and weekly balance reviews. By day 90, move deposit settlement and compliance evidence onto the same governed ledger. A proven structure: ##### Days 1-30: Control the event model - Finalize asset classes and identifier rules. - Define canonical transfer events and mandatory fields. - Map current spreadsheets to target data structures. - Pilot with one route family and two to three counterparties. ##### Days 31-60: Stabilize exceptions and balances - Launch shared exception queues with role-based ownership. - Set weekly partner-balance review cadence. - Freeze unmanaged side-channel edits. - Track exception aging and closure quality. ##### Days 61-90: Operationalize settlement and compliance evidence - Connect settlement outputs to finance workflows. - Implement monthly dispute postmortems. - Publish regulator-facing evidence packs by route and partner. - Expand route coverage after closure KPIs hold. Rotion follows this operational pattern in practice. In the REPASYS case study, the program operated with 106,312 packages across 6 retailers over a nine-month pilot, with a €0.30 deposit model. What carries over is that reusable systems scale when event discipline, partner accountability, and financial logic stay on one control layer. #### Frequently asked questions ##### Is deposit management software only for beverage deposit return schemes? No. Beverage DRS is one use case. The same deposit and liability mechanics apply to B2B reusable packaging loops for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes where assets move across multiple legal entities. ##### Can we keep spreadsheets for finance while using software for operations? You can during transition, but long term it creates reconciliation drag. The better pattern is one governed operational ledger feeding finance outputs, with spreadsheet use limited to analysis and scenario planning. ##### What KPI should we track first after go-live? Track exception aging first. If unresolved mismatches are closing faster while transfer volume holds, you are improving loop control. If exception aging grows, event quality or ownership design needs correction. ##### What is the fastest way to de-risk a platform selection? Run a controlled pilot on one route family with real counterparties and real disputes. Require each vendor to process one contested transfer end to end, from event evidence to final balance adjustment. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 1 September 2026 ##### Software to Track Reusable Packaging Across Multiple Partners: 2026 Buyer Playbook Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Operations 21 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/reduce-crate-pallet-loss-rates-returnable-container-tracking Operations 27 August 2026 · 6 min read ### How to Reduce Crate and Pallet Loss Rates with Returnable Container Tracking Software (2026 Guide) A practical EU and US guide to reducing crate and pallet loss rates with event-level tracking for returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 2 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Crate and pallet loss is usually framed as an inventory problem. Most of it starts in circulation. As returnable assets move across partners, depots, wash sites, stores, and carriers, losses grow whenever accountability lags behind the asset. This guide shows what operations teams can do now to reduce loss rates in EU and US loops, using returnable container tracking software designed for multi-party control. ##### At a glance: the 5 levers that cut crate and pallet loss rates - Shared circulation ledger: one event history across all partners. - Balance accountability: live responsibility by partner, site, and asset type. - Exception workflow: an owner, a due date, and an escalation path for every mismatch. - Aging controls: alerts for unresolved exceptions and abnormal dwell time. - Audit export: an evidence package for finance, compliance, and customer disputes. The first KPI to watch is exception aging: when unresolved mismatches close faster, loss rates usually follow. The guide below covers the data to capture, the rollout sequence, and the EU and US regulatory stakes. #### Why do crate and pallet loss rates rise in multi-partner returnable loops? Loss rates rise because responsibility is fragmented across handoffs while evidence quality is uneven. When one partner logs scans, another logs only totals, and a third updates records at day end, teams spend month-end arguing about balances instead of correcting exceptions in flow. Most loss builds up through these delays. In most networks, the same five patterns repeat: - No shared event chronology for each returnable asset or batch - Delayed exception detection, often only at reconciliation cutoffs - Disputes about custody at transfer points - Weak ownership for unresolved mismatches - Inconsistent labeling and scan discipline across sites The fastest way to lower loss is to move from periodic reconciliation to event-level accountability. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### Which data points actually reduce losses for returnable containers, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes? Reducing losses takes a small operational dataset that every partner captures the same way, every time. Crates, pallets, reusable plastic containers (RPCs), totes, dunnage racks, and IBC totes all benefit from the same event schema and ownership model. Use this minimum event schema at every handoff: Field Why it reduces loss Asset ID or batch ID Links every movement to one circulation object Event type (dispatch, receipt, return, wash, repair) Defines expected next state and owner Timestamp Enables dwell-time and late-return alerts From partner and to partner Makes custody explicit and auditable Site/location Identifies recurrent loss hotspots Quantity and unit type Protects against conversion and counting errors Source (scan, API, manual exception) Preserves evidence quality by event Exception reason code Makes corrective action measurable If one partner cannot provide this dataset consistently, scale will increase reconciliation debt before it increases control. #### What should returnable container tracking software do to cut loss rates, not just show locations? Location visibility is useful, but loss reduction requires accountable circulation logic. Software should assign ownership at each transfer, surface unresolved exceptions quickly, and make partner balances transparent. Teams reduce losses when they know who is responsible right now, as well as where assets were last seen. Prioritize capabilities in this order: - Shared circulation ledger: one event history across all partners. - Balance accountability: live responsibility by partner, site, and asset type. - Exception workflow: owner, due date, and escalation path for every mismatch. - Aging controls: alerts for unresolved exceptions and abnormal dwell time. - Audit export: evidence package for finance, compliance, and customer disputes. A map answers “where.” A circulation ledger answers what happened, who owns the next action, and which risk is growing, and those are the answers that reduce loss. #### How should operations teams roll this out in 30-60-90 days without disrupting flow? A phased rollout works when the first month focuses on event discipline, the second on partner balance governance, and the third on exception performance. This sequence avoids big-bang replacements and gives teams measurable wins before full network adoption. A practical rollout sequence: ##### Days 1-30: Stabilize event capture - Standardize label rules for crates, pallets, RPCs, totes, dunnage, and IBC totes. - Define mandatory event fields and exception reason codes. - Start with one high-volume lane, not the whole network. - Review scan quality daily with site owners. ##### Days 31-60: Turn on shared balances - Publish partner balance views and weekly reconciliation cadence. - Assign named owners for unresolved exceptions. - Track exception aging and top mismatch causes by lane. - Remove duplicate local trackers once confidence is stable. ##### Days 61-90: Operate to loss KPIs - Set service levels for exception closure by cause type. - Add dwell-time thresholds and auto-escalation paths. - Use weekly variance reviews to fix the process as well as the data. - Expand to additional lanes after closure discipline is proven. The first KPI to watch is exception aging. When unresolved mismatches close faster, loss rates usually follow. #### How do EU PPWR and US packaging EPR rules change the business case for loss reduction? Loss reduction is now a regulatory-readiness issue as much as an operations issue. In the EU, PPWR is already applicable and requires functioning reuse systems. In the US, state packaging EPR programs are forcing producer-funded end-of-life accountability. Better circulation data reduces both operational leakage and compliance friction. For EU teams, PPWR is live now. The regulation became generally applicable on 12 August 2026, and operators using reusable packaging must participate in reuse systems with defined operational requirements under Article 27 and Annex VI Part A (European Commission, 2026-08-11, European Commission, 2026-08-12, EUR-Lex 2025/40). For US teams, packaging EPR obligations are state-led and accelerating. Washington’s Recycling Reform Act creates producer responsibility requirements and implementation timelines through Ecology and the producer responsibility process (Washington Department of Ecology). Minnesota’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act requires producers to join a PRO and states that after 1 January 2032 covered packaging must be refillable, reusable, recyclable, or compostable (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency). California’s SB 54 implementation targets include all packaging in California being recyclable or compostable by 2032, with a 25% reduction in plastic packaging, and a 65% recycling rate for single-use plastic packaging and foodware (State of California). If your loop cannot prove who held what, where, and for how long, you carry higher loss and weaker evidence at the same time. #### What does a real reusable-packaging pilot show about loss control at scale? A credible pilot shows whether event discipline works under real partner complexity. Rotion’s REPASYS case study reports 106,312 packages in circulation across 6 retailers, a €0.30 deposit model, and a nine-month pilot window. Reaching that scale took shared circulation discipline that larger spreadsheets could not provide. Rotion’s published REPASYS evidence includes a sub-ten-second return experience and frames the pilot as Belgium’s first large-scale pilot in this category (REPASYS case study). For operators evaluating software, the practical question is whether the platform helps partners resolve exceptions faster and keep balances trustworthy as network complexity grows. #### Frequently asked questions ##### What is the difference between asset visibility and loss control? Asset visibility tells teams where items are. Loss control adds accountability, exception ownership, and closure discipline. Many networks can see inventory but still lose control because unresolved mismatches stay open too long and custody evidence remains incomplete. ##### Can barcode scanning alone reduce pallet loss rates? Barcode scanning helps only when events are captured consistently at every handoff and connected to partner balances. Scanning without ownership logic usually gives cleaner logs while loss stays the same. Combine scan events with exception workflows and aging targets. ##### Do I need separate systems for EU and US returnable packaging operations? Usually no. One English operating model can serve EU and US loops if the data model supports both PPWR-style reuse evidence and state EPR reporting needs. Keep one circulation ledger, then apply region-specific reporting views and deadlines. ##### Which packaging assets should I onboard first? Start with the lane and asset type that produce the highest unresolved exception volume today. That is often pallets or RPCs in a multi-partner lane. Early reduction in exception aging creates the strongest operational proof for wider rollout. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 10 September 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 26 August 2026 ##### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) Operations 21 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/manage-returnable-crates-pallets-without-spreadsheets Operations 26 August 2026 · 6 min read ### How to Manage Returnable Crates and Pallets Without Spreadsheets (2026 Playbook) A practical 2026 playbook to replace spreadsheet tracking for returnable crates and pallets with asset-level circulation control, partner balances, and audit-ready reporting. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 2 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. If your returnable crate and pallet operation still runs in spreadsheets, you are not alone. Many teams start there because it is fast to launch and cheap. The problem appears when loops span multiple partners, locations, and return conditions. At that point the sheet has become your system of record, and that is where control usually breaks. ##### Your options at a glance Approach What it answers Where it breaks Spreadsheets Planning and ad hoc analysis Every multi-partner handoff becomes a version dispute Balance administration tools How many assets each partner holds Totals only, no asset-level identity Real-time location (RTLS) Where an asset is inside your own facility Installed hardware per site, and it ends at your own walls Circulation control (Rotion) Who has each asset, who owes what, and whether the loop runs by the rules Built for the multi-party loop end to end This guide gives a practical operating model to move from spreadsheet tracking to auditable circulation control, without pausing day-to-day operations. #### Why do spreadsheets fail once crate and pallet loops become multi-partner? Spreadsheets fail in multi-partner loops because every handoff becomes a reconciliation between versions of the file. Once crates and pallets move across transporters, depots, wash sites, and stores, teams spend more time disputing balances than improving circulation speed, return rates, or losses. Under the EU PPWR the pressure compounds, because undocumented circulation is now a compliance gap as well as an operations cost. In practice, the failure modes are consistent: - No single event timeline per asset or batch - Partner A and Partner B keep different “truths” - Exceptions are discovered late, often at month-end - Compliance evidence is assembled manually after the fact A spreadsheet is good for planning and ad hoc analysis. It is weak as a transactional ledger for physical circulation. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What operating model replaces spreadsheet tracking for returnables? The replacement model is an event-based circulation ledger with partner balances and exception workflows. Every movement is captured once, attributed to a party, and reflected in shared balances. Teams stop debating numbers and start resolving exceptions, cycle-time bottlenecks, and leakage at the point they occur. Use a four-layer model: - Event capture: scans or confirmations at outbound, inbound, transfer, wash, and return points. - Circulation ledger: immutable event history by asset ID or batch ID. - Balance engine: current ownership or responsibility by partner, location, and asset type. - Exception queue: unresolved mismatches, late returns, and missing events with owner and due date. This is the shift from “where is my spreadsheet file” to “what is the latest event and who owns the next action”. #### What data should you capture at every crate or pallet handoff? You only need a compact dataset to control circulation, but every field must be captured consistently. If one partner logs asset IDs and another logs only totals, reconciliation debt appears immediately. Standardise a minimum handoff schema before scaling hardware or automation. Start with this minimum event schema: Field Why it matters Asset or batch ID Connects events to one circulation object Event type (dispatch, receipt, wash, return) Defines state transition Timestamp Enables dwell-time and cycle-time calculations From partner and to partner Makes responsibility explicit Location Identifies where delays or losses happen Quantity and unit type Supports balance and reconciliation Operator or system source Provides audit trail Evidence reference (scan log, document ID) Supports dispute and compliance checks If a field is optional in operations, it becomes mandatory in disputes. #### Which software patterns are practical alternatives to spreadsheets? The best alternative depends on the operating question you need to answer first. Balance administration tools reconcile totals between parties, but they stop at the balance: they cannot name the specific crate that went missing or who owes the deposit on it. Real-time location systems (RTLS) give precise coordinates inside your own facility, but they need installed anchors and per-asset hardware. They also end at your own walls, and returnables spend most of their life at partner sites. Three patterns in the current market: Pattern What it answers Where it stops Balance administration How many assets each partner holds Totals, not asset-level identity; disputes still end in manual reconciliation Real-time location (RTLS) Where an asset is inside an instrumented facility Installed infrastructure per site; nothing across partner locations Circulation control (Rotion) Who has each asset, who owes what, and whether the loop runs by the rules Built for the multi-party loop end to end For pooling operators, producers, and retailers the deciding requirement is the third one: enforceable circulation rules and shared accountability across parties. That is the control-layer problem Rotion is built for, where event capture, partner balances, deposits and PPWR reporting connect to one operating workflow. #### How do you migrate from spreadsheets in 90 days without disruption? A low-risk migration runs in parallel first, then switches ownership by lane. Do not attempt a single big-bang replacement. A 90-day path works when each 30-day phase has a narrow goal: trustworthy events first, then trustworthy balances, then trustworthy exception handling and reporting. A practical 30-60-90 rollout: - Days 1-30: event discipline before automation - Freeze field definitions for the minimum schema - Select one lane with recurring volume - Capture events in both old and new workflows - Measure missing or late events daily - Days 31-60: partner balance confidence - Reconcile balances weekly with each pilot partner - Introduce an exception queue with owners - Set service-level expectations for dispute closure - Train operators on scan and confirmation standards - Days 61-90: controlled cutover - Move lane ownership to the new ledger - Keep spreadsheet as read-only fallback - Expand to next lane only after two stable cycles - Lock reporting definitions for month-end and audits Aim for predictable control and a shrinking exception queue. #### How do you keep crate and pallet circulation audit-ready under PPWR? PPWR now applies across the EU, and operators need reliable records for reuse-system obligations and later reporting phases. The Commission implementation timeline still includes pending implementing acts for parts of reuse reporting calculations, so evidence discipline cannot wait for every detail to be finalised (EC PPWR implementation). Teams that cannot evidence circulation events and responsibilities will struggle to defend reported outcomes in audits. The European Commission states PPWR applies from 12 August 2026, and that further measures such as reuse targets and additional packaging waste measures apply from 2030 (EC Environment, 11 Aug 2026, EC, 12 Aug 2026). For operations teams, audit-ready means: - Event-level traceability for each relevant packaging flow - Clear partner accountability at each handoff - Reproducible balance logic and exception closure logs - Evidence links that survive staff turnover and system changes One concrete benchmark from Rotion’s verified case material: the REPASYS pilot operated with 106,312 packages across 6 retailers, with a €0.30 deposit model over a nine-month pilot window (Rotion case study). The lesson is operational: at that scale, control depends on event discipline and partner coordination. #### Frequently asked questions ##### Can I keep spreadsheets for a small returnable packaging loop? Yes, for a single-site loop with low volume and few partners. Once multiple partners, transfers, and exceptions become routine, spreadsheets usually become a reporting bottleneck. Keep sheets for planning and analysis, but move transactional circulation events into a dedicated ledger. ##### Is RTLS enough to replace spreadsheet tracking? RTLS solves live location visibility very well, especially inside facilities. It does not automatically solve partner balance accountability, exception ownership, or regulatory evidence workflows. Most multi-party loops need both location visibility and circulation governance. ##### What is the first KPI to track after migration? Track exception aging first: how long unresolved mismatches remain open. If exception aging drops while cycle times hold or improve, control is improving. If exception aging grows, data capture discipline or partner handoff design needs correction. ##### How quickly can teams see value after leaving spreadsheets? Most teams see value as soon as month-end reconciliation shortens and dispute volume drops. In rollout terms, that often appears during the second phase of a 30-60-90 migration, once partner balances are reviewed on a fixed weekly cadence. #### Keep reading. All articles Operations 10 September 2026 ##### RTI Tracking Software for Crates and Pallets in Pooling Networks: 2026 Buyer Guide Operations 21 September 2026 ##### How to Stop Returnable Crate Losses and Deposit Disputes in Multi-Partner Networks Operations 28 August 2026 ##### Deposit Management Software for Reusable Packaging: 2026 Buyer Guide IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Tools 2026 | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/best-returnable-packaging-tracking-software Comparisons 25 August 2026 · 11 min read ### The 9 Best Returnable Packaging Tracking Software Tools in 2026 Compare the 9 best returnable packaging tracking tools of 2026 and why Rotion leads for multi-party loops: TrackOnline, Loopario, PackControl, Sensolus, Pozyx and more. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 29 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Short answer: Rotion fits loops where reusable packaging circulates between companies and you must know per-asset who has what, settle deposits, and prove reuse rates under PPWR. It is not built for tracking coordinates inside a single building. It sells no hardware and runs on the QR, barcode or RFID labels your assets already carry. Book a 20 minute walkthrough on your own loop. Returnable packaging tracking software keeps count of reusable assets, crates, pallets, totes, kegs and roll containers, as they circulate between partners, and turns those movements into balances, loss rates and return times. This comparison covers nine tools in 2026. One of them, Rotion, is built for the full job: multi-party circulation with enforceable rules, deposits and PPWR-ready reporting. The other eight each cover a slice of it, and we say precisely which slice and where each one stops. Full transparency: we build Rotion. Every description below is factual and sourced from the vendor’s own published material, and we state Rotion’s limits in the same table. #### Comparison at a glance Tool Built for Where it stops Rotion Full circulation control: asset-level tracking, rules, deposits, PPWR reporting across partners Software control layer, not an RTLS or a TMS: no live indoor positioning and no hardware of its own; it runs on the labels your assets already carry TrackOnline Balance administration between parties Balances and documents, not asset-level identity; seat-based pricing grows with every partner you add Loopario Load carrier balance accounts, German logistics networks Account-level administration; no asset identity, per-asset deposits or reuse evidence; references are German PackControl Dutch counterparty and pool-rule administration Reconciled counts in one market; published capabilities stop before asset-level identity and PPWR reporting Sensolus Hardware trackers on high-value carriers A tracker, battery and subscription per asset; economics invert on high-volume crate fleets; location, not loop administration Pozyx Real-time location inside your own facility Stops at your own walls; needs installed anchors and per-asset hardware Surgere Enterprise IoT programs in US automotive Tied to proprietary tags and readers; no published EU or PPWR posture Alpega RPM Packaging accounts inside the Alpega TMS Assumes the transport suite; packaging is the add-on, not the product ORBIS SmartTrak Tracking ORBIS’s own packaging Built around one vendor’s assets, not a mixed fleet Want to score your own operation against these criteria before you talk to any vendor? Work through the 8-question buyer scorecard: it turns this table into questions you can answer from your own loop. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What does returnable packaging tracking software do? Returnable packaging tracking software registers every movement of reusable transport items (RTIs) such as crates, pallets and containers, and maintains per-partner balances from those movements. Beyond counting, a complete platform enforces circulation rules, settles deposits, forecasts stock, and reports reuse metrics for EU PPWR compliance. Most tools in the category stop at one layer, administrative balances or location data. Only the control layer, all of it together, tells you whether the loop actually works. #### 1. Rotion: circulation control and PPWR reporting for reuse systems Rotion tracks reusable packaging at asset level and adds the operational layer the rest of this list lacks: enforceable circulation rules, deposit management, partner onboarding and PPWR-ready reuse reporting. It is hardware-agnostic (QR, RFID, barcodes), works with the labels your assets already carry, and is built as neutral infrastructure for multi-party chains with no vendor lock-in. Rotion runs REPASYS, Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food, with 106,312 packages circulating across 6 participating retailers (case study). When packaging loops span multiple organisations, you also need to know whether the loop runs by the rules and whether you can prove reuse rates to a regulator. Rotion is built to answer that; none of the tools below is. #### 2. TrackOnline: balance administration, not asset-level control TrackOnline registers and manages reusable packaging such as crates, carts, pallets and roll containers, maintaining balances per customer and sharing them through portals (TrackOnline). Its heritage is administrative, reconciling document-and-balance totals between parties, and that sets its ceiling. Balance-level systems answer “how many” per partner; they do not by default answer which specific crate is missing, who last held it, and who owes the deposit on it. Pricing is seat-metered, so a growing multi-party network means growing cost exactly at the partner edge where reuse loops live, and portal and financial features sit in higher tiers. For a loop that needs asset-level accountability and reuse evidence, balance administration sits one layer below what the job requires. #### 3. Loopario: balance accounts for load carriers, not asset-level control Loopario, known as Logistikbude until its rebrand, administers load carrier accounts for pallets, containers and racks: partner balances, shared account links and automated monthly reconciliation (loopario.com). Everything is organised around the account, and that sets the limit. A balance says a partner is short 60 pallets; it does not name which assets, hold their deposits, or produce per-asset reuse evidence for PPWR reporting. Its published references are German logistics networks, and for a Benelux or multi-country loop there is no published deployment to point to. Rotion works at asset level across every partner in the loop, which is the layer a reuse system has to prove. #### 4. PackControl: pool-rule administration for Dutch counterparties PackControl automates returnable packaging administration for Dutch operations: balances per counterparty, flagged deviations, and pooling rules for EPS, CHEP, IPP, IFCO and Royal FloraHolland items (packcontrol.com). It is an administrative layer, and its published capabilities stop there: counts reconciled per counterparty, in one market. When the question moves from “do our counts match” to “where is this crate, who last held it, and what do we report under PPWR”, an administrative layer has no answer. Rotion answers it at asset level, across markets and partners. #### 5. Sensolus: a tracker on every asset, and the economics that follow Sensolus sells non-powered asset tracking: a BLE or GPS tracker fitted to each asset, feeding a cloud platform with geofencing and utilization analytics (sensolus.com). Its published flagship deployment is 8,000 roll containers for Ampère and Bol (case study). The constraint ships with the hardware: a tracker, a battery and a subscription per asset works for thousands of high-value carriers and inverts for a crate fleet counted in the hundreds of thousands. A location on a map does not settle balances, deposits or PPWR reuse evidence. Rotion tracks the same assets through the QR, barcode or RFID labels they already carry, with no hardware line at all. #### 6. Pozyx: location inside your own four walls only Pozyx is a real-time location system (RTLS) combining ultra-wideband, Bluetooth Low Energy and GPS to track pallets, work-in-progress and equipment inside manufacturing plants and warehouses (Pozyx). The constraint is structural: UWB needs anchors installed per site, and you cannot install anchors in a partner’s depot, a wash hub, or a retailer’s back room, which is where returnable packaging spends most of its life and where it gets lost. Add per-asset tag hardware across a high-volume crate fleet and the economics invert: cheap assets in high volume are the worst case for installed RTLS. It answers “where exactly, inside my facility”; it has no answer for “who has it, who owes it” across a loop. #### 7. Surgere: US enterprise IoT, silent on the EU Surgere combines RFID, UWB, GPS and BLE with analytics for supply chain asset management, with a customer base centered on US automotive and large manufacturing (Surgere). Its accuracy claims are inseparable from proprietary coded tags and certified reader infrastructure: a tagging and installation project, capex per asset, and lock-in to their consumables. For a European reusable packaging operation there is a harder problem: no European office and no published PPWR positioning, with the regulation applying since 12 August 2026. A sensor program that cannot speak to EU reuse reporting leaves the compliance question unanswered, and that question now decides budgets. #### 8. Alpega RPM: a packaging module that assumes you buy the TMS Alpega’s Reusable Packaging Management module handles packaging stock, scheduling, serialized packaging, fee settlement and demand planning inside Alpega’s transport management system (Alpega). The module’s value assumes the suite: packaging is an add-on to a TMS purchase, and its public references are automotive. For a company whose actual problem is crates, that means buying an enterprise transport suite to get a packaging feature, on enterprise deployment timelines, with no public evidence the model fits food retail, horticulture or deposit-driven pooling. A packaging loop is an operation in its own right. #### 9. ORBIS SmartTrak: tracking that ends at one vendor’s packaging SmartTrak is ORBIS Corporation’s asset management software, using RFID and QR codes to monitor inventories of ORBIS totes, pallets and bulk containers through an online portal (ORBIS via Reusable Packaging Association). It exists to support ORBIS’s packaging and pooling business, and that is the limitation: it is built to track ORBIS assets. Real fleets are mixed, several manufacturers, a pooler’s crates, legacy stock, and a tracking layer owned by your packaging supplier means switching suppliers costs you your visibility and your history. ORBIS’s business is packaging. Tracking that is neutral across vendors has to come from a vendor with no packaging to sell. #### How do you choose between them? Start from the question your operation actually asks. Eight of the nine tools answer a narrower question: reconciled balances (TrackOnline, Loopario, PackControl), indoor coordinates (Pozyx), a tracker per asset (Sensolus), a US sensor program (Surgere), a TMS add-on (Alpega RPM), or one vendor’s fleet (ORBIS SmartTrak). The moment a loop crosses company boundaries, and almost every returnable packaging loop does, the job becomes circulation control: asset-level identity, enforceable rules, deposits, and reuse evidence a regulator will accept. That is the job Rotion is built for. Three questions settle it: - How many organisations touch the loop? More than one, and balance snapshots or in-facility coordinates stop short; you need enforceable rules and neutral infrastructure across all of them. - What must you prove? PPWR reuse reporting and deposit settlement need asset-level records. Estimates and month-end reconciliations do not survive an audit. - What hardware constraint do you have? Installed RTLS and proprietary tags are a capex project per site and per asset. Rotion works with the QR, barcode or RFID labels your assets already carry. #### Proof: what this looks like in production REPASYS is Belgium’s first large-scale reusable packaging pilot for fresh food, and Rotion is the platform that runs it: 106,312 packages circulating across 6 participating retailers, live for nine months, with a sub-ten-second return experience at the counter. The loop crosses producers, retailers, wash hubs and logistics partners, exactly the multi-party shape this article is about. Read how REPASYS became a world premier in reusable packaging for fresh foods. The approval queue on a demo tenant: the platform drafts each deposit and dispute decision per partner, scores its own confidence, and holds anything below your threshold for human review. #### What working with Rotion looks like The practical questions buyers ask before a demo, answered up front: - Pricing. Plans are priced by fleet size, not by seats: adding partners, locations or scanners does not add licence cost. The Launch plan for fleets under 100,000 assets starts at 399 EUR per month billed annually (499 EUR billed monthly). Details on the pricing page. - Hardware. None to buy. Rotion reads the QR codes, barcodes and RFID labels your assets already carry. - Integrations. Works alongside the systems you already run, including SAP, Odoo and other ERPs. - Your data. Rotion is neutral infrastructure: no vendor lock-in, and the circulation history stays yours. - Onboarding. New partners and locations join the loop without per-seat licences or a training project; the scan flows are built for the least-trained hands in the loop. #### Frequently asked questions ##### What is the difference between asset tracking and returnable packaging management? Asset tracking answers where an asset is; returnable packaging management answers whether the reuse loop works. Management platforms add per-partner balances, circulation rules, deposit settlement and reuse reporting on top of location or scan events. Most operations need the management layer once assets cross company boundaries. ##### Do I need RFID to track returnable packaging? No. RFID speeds up bulk reads but QR codes and barcodes on assets, scanned at loop touchpoints, are enough for asset-level tracking. Rotion is hardware-agnostic and works with the labels your assets already carry; RTLS systems by contrast require installed readers or anchors at every site. ##### What does the EU PPWR mean for reusable packaging tracking? The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation 2025/40) applies across all Member States since 12 August 2026, including the requirement that operators using reusable packaging participate in reuse systems that meet Annex VI standards for collection, reconditioning and redistribution. The reuse targets follow: at least 40% reusable transport packaging by 2030, with the calculation rules for evidencing reuse rates applying from 30 June 2027. Documenting reuse in practice is difficult without asset-level records of circulation. ##### Can spreadsheets handle returnable packaging tracking? Spreadsheets work for a single site with one partner and stable volumes. They break when loops involve multiple partners, deposits or compliance reporting, because reconciliation errors compound and nobody trusts a balance they cannot audit. That failure point is usually what triggers a software purchase. #### How we evaluated Every vendor description on this page is sourced from that vendor’s own published pages, linked inline, retrieved on 25 August 2026 and rechecked when vendors were added on 16 September 2026. The criteria are the columns of the table above: what the tool is built for, and where its published capabilities stop. Rotion’s own figures come from the REPASYS deployment and rotion.eu’s published pages, and Rotion’s limits are stated in the same table. Regulatory statements follow the official text of Regulation 2025/40, linked in the FAQ. Corrections are welcome: if a vendor’s published capabilities change, tell us and we will update the page. About the author. Jonas Janssen is CTO and co-founder of Rotion. He builds the platform described on this page: the asset-level data model, the circulation rules engine and the PPWR reporting layer. Based in Leuven, Belgium. Reviewed by the Rotion team, 29 September 2026. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 15 September 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Reuse Reporting: Rules, Deadlines and Tools | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/ppwr-reuse-reporting-requirements-tools PPWR 25 August 2026 · 6 min read ### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) What the EU Packaging Regulation (2025/40) requires for reusable packaging now, the 2030 reuse targets, and the data you need to report reuse rates. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 2 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, became generally applicable across all 27 Member States on 12 August 2026. For companies that ship goods in reusable crates, pallets or containers, it creates two distinct kinds of obligation: reuse system requirements that apply now, and reuse targets with reporting that arrive by 2030. This guide separates the two, gives the exact deadlines, and explains what data and tooling reuse reporting actually needs. ##### PPWR reuse deadlines at a glance Date Obligation Status 12 Aug 2026 Reuse system requirements apply (Article 27, Annex VI Part A) In force 12 Feb 2027 Member States report to the Commission, driving national data requests (Article 56(7)) Adopted 30 Jun 2027 Calculation rules for reuse targets apply (Article 30(4)) Implementing act pending 1 Jan 2030 40% reuse target for transport and sales packaging, 100% for internal flows Adopted 2040 Reuse target rises to 70% Adopted #### What does the PPWR require for reusable packaging right now? Since 12 August 2026, any operator using reusable packaging in the EU must participate in one or more reuse systems, and those systems must meet the requirements of Article 27 and Annex VI Part A of Regulation (EU) 2025/40: reverse logistics, collection, reconditioning and cleaning, inspection, redistribution, consumer instructions and drop-off points (EUR-Lex 2025/40, European Commission, 12 Aug 2026). This is the part many operators miss: the reuse system duty is in force today, even though the reuse targets are dated 2030. A company can be non-compliant right now on how its reuse loop is organised while its target deadline is still years away. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### What are the PPWR reuse targets for 2030 and 2040? From 1 January 2030, at least 40% of transport and sales packaging must be reusable, rising to 70% by 2040 (Article 30, EUR-Lex 2025/40). Both targets are adopted law, not proposals. Two details matter for logistics operators: - 100% reuse for internal flows. Transport packaging used within the same company, between linked or partner companies, or for deliveries within the same Member State must be 100% reusable from 2030 (Article 30). - Pallet wrappings and straps are exempt from the 100% rule. A Commission Delegated Decision of 25 February 2026 (C(2026) 511) exempts these formats from the 100% requirement for internal and same-Member-State flows, because a Commission study found exclusive reuse could cause disproportionate adaptation costs. They still count toward the overall 40% target (European Commission, 25 Feb 2026). #### When does reuse reporting start, and what must be reported? The reporting machinery arrives in stages: Date What happens Status 12 Feb 2027 Member States report to the Commission (Article 56(7)), which drives national data requests to operators Adopted 30 Jun 2027 Calculation rules for the reuse targets apply (Article 30(4)): how reuse rates are computed and evidenced Implementing act still pending 1 Jan 2030 The 40% and 100% reuse targets apply Adopted Source for all three: EC PPWR implementation page. The exact calculation method is not final until the Article 30(4) act lands. What is already clear from the structure of the targets: a reuse rate is a ratio over packaging actually placed on the market and actually circulating. Evidencing it requires knowing, per packaging category, how many units you use, which of them are reusable, and that they genuinely circulate through a compliant system rather than being used once. #### What data do you need to prove a reuse rate? A defensible reuse rate is built from asset-level records, not estimates. In practice that means: - An asset register. Which reusable units exist, in which packaging category, identified individually (QR, barcode or RFID) or at batch level. - Circulation events. Dispatches, returns, wash and repair cycles per asset, so a rotation count exists per unit rather than an assumed average. - Per-partner balances. Who holds what, so units that leave the loop (lost, damaged, retained) are visible instead of silently inflating the reusable share. - An audit trail. Timestamped movement records that a competent authority or auditor can check, per Member State where you operate. Spreadsheets can hold an asset register. They cannot reliably hold circulation events across multiple partners, which is where most reuse operations lose the evidence chain. That gap is operational long before it is regulatory: the same missing data that breaks a compliance report also hides loss rates and shrinking pool sizes. #### What tooling helps with PPWR reuse reporting? Any tool that gives you asset-level circulation records can feed a reuse report. The main categories: - Returnable packaging management platforms track balances and circulation between partners. We build one: Rotion records circulation at asset level, enforces the loop rules Annex VI Part A expects (return, reconditioning, inspection, redistribution), and is built to produce PPWR-ready reuse reporting on top of those records. It is hardware-agnostic (QR, RFID, barcode) and works across multi-party chains. For a comparison of tracking tools in this category, see our comparison of returnable packaging tracking software. - ERP and TMS modules can hold packaging accounts where transport execution already lives, though asset-level rotation evidence is usually not their focus. - RTLS and IoT platforms give precise location data inside facilities; useful operationally, but a reuse rate needs circulation counts more than positions. Whatever the tool, the test is the same: can it show, per packaging category and per year, how many units circulated, how often, and through which system. If the answer relies on averages typed into a spreadsheet, the evidence chain will not survive the Article 30(4) calculation rules. For deadline-by-deadline detail on which packaging transitions affect you, the PPWR Navigator maps 28 single-use to reusable transitions with their dates. #### Common PPWR misconceptions Vendor and consultancy content gets several PPWR points wrong. The record, per the Commission’s own publications: - The 40% empty-space limit is not a 2026 obligation. Packaging minimisation and empty-space limits sit in the 2030 tranche, not the 12 August 2026 application date. - Harmonised labelling is not live yet. Base labelling duties apply now, but the harmonised EU label format awaits an implementing act; compliance lands 12 August 2028 at the earliest. - Reuse targets are 2030, the reuse system duty is now. The most consequential mix-up, in both directions: some operators believe nothing applies until 2030; others panic about targets that are years away while ignoring the system requirements already in force. #### Frequently asked questions ##### Is the PPWR already in force? Yes. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 entered into force on 11 February 2025 and became generally applicable in all 27 Member States on 12 August 2026. It is a Regulation, so it applies directly without national transposition. The reuse system requirements (Article 27, Annex VI Part A) apply now; the reuse targets apply from 1 January 2030. ##### What is the difference between the reuse system requirement and the reuse targets? The reuse system requirement (Article 27) governs how reusable packaging must circulate: through a system with reverse logistics, cleaning, inspection and redistribution. It applies since 12 August 2026. The reuse targets (Article 30) set what share of packaging must be reusable: 40% of transport and sales packaging by 2030, 70% by 2040. A company needs the system today and the share by 2030. ##### Do pallet wrapping and straps count toward the reuse targets? They are exempt from the 100% reuse requirement for internal and same-Member-State transport, per the Commission Delegated Decision of 25 February 2026. They still count toward the general 40% reuse target for transport and sales packaging. ##### Can I do PPWR reuse reporting from spreadsheets? For a single site with one packaging category, possibly. The reporting rests on circulation evidence per asset category: rotation counts, returns and losses across every partner that touches the packaging. Multi-party loops soon break spreadsheet reconciliation, and the pending Article 30(4) calculation rules will define how reuse rates must be evidenced, which favours auditable, asset-level records. #### Keep reading. All articles PPWR 28 September 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 PPWR 11 March 2026 ##### The PPWR guide for manufacturers, retailers and distributors PPWR 26 January 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## PPWR Guide: What Regulation (EU) 2025/40 Requires | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/ppwr-ultimate PPWR 11 March 2026 · 11 min read ### The PPWR guide for manufacturers, retailers and distributors What the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation asks of manufacturers, retailers and distributors, mandate by mandate. Osama Shahid Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. For decades, the European supply chain operated on a simple, deeply ingrained premise: take, make, ship, and dispose. Packaging was a vessel, engineered for a single trip from the factory floor to the end consumer. Its lifecycle ended in a recycling bin, if it was lucky, or a landfill. From 2026, the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) ends that model. It turns packaging from a disposable commodity into a tracked, highly regulated physical asset. If your company operates within the EU, or imports goods into the single market, ignoring the PPWR puts your ability to legally do business there at risk. #### 1. The end of linear packaging: understanding the shift The PPWR replaces the outdated 1994 Packaging Waste Directive. While the old directive relied on member states setting their own loose goals, the PPWR is a Regulation. In EU law, this means it is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States simultaneously. There is no room for local interpretation. The core philosophy of the PPWR is moving the economy from a linear model to a circular one. The regulation accepts that recycling alone cannot solve the packaging problem, so the focus moves from recycling to prevention and reuse. This shift makes logistics far more complex. A cardboard box has a data lifecycle of perhaps a few weeks. A reusable, rigid plastic transit crate (RTP) must be tracked across hundreds of shipments, returns, cleanings, and repairs over a span of five to ten years. Managing that takes a different kind of supply chain data. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### 2. The core mandates: what you actually have to do Before looking at specific players in the supply chain, here are the overall targets. The regulation sets strict timelines in two main waves: 2030 and 2040. ##### The minimization mandate By 2030, all packaging must be scaled down to its minimum necessary weight and volume. Empty space, often used to make products look larger on retail shelves or resulting from inefficient e-commerce boxing, is strictly regulated. The “empty space ratio” in e-commerce, grouped transport, and secondary packaging is capped at a maximum of 40%. ##### The reuse and refill quotas Companies are now legally required to ensure that a specific percentage of their packaging is reusable within a system of reuse. By 2030: - Transport Packaging: Pallets, plastic crates, foldable boxes, and IBCs used in B2B transport must meet reuse targets (often 40% or more by 2030, depending on the asset class). - E-commerce: E-commerce operators must deliver at least 10% of their products in reusable packaging by 2030. - Beverages: Large quotas apply to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to use refillable containers. Buying durable crates is not enough. Under the PPWR, packaging only counts as reusable if it is part of an active, verifiable “system for reuse.” You must be able to prove, with data, that the asset is actually returning and circulating. #### 3. Deep dive: impact on manufacturers and producers For producers of goods, compliance starts at the design stage, before a product reaches the market. ###### Design for Recycling (DfR) and material restrictions All packaging must be recyclable by design. This means complex, multi-layered materials (like certain foil-lined plastics or mixed paper-plastic composites) that cannot be easily separated at standard sorting facilities will be banned from the market. Manufacturers must conduct comprehensive audits of their primary and secondary packaging to ensure they meet the new DfR grades. “Forever chemicals” (PFAS) in food contact packaging are prohibited. ###### Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees EPR is not new, but the PPWR introduces “eco-modulation.” This means the fees you pay to national waste management bodies will be heavily modulated based on the recyclability and the amount of recycled content in your packaging. If a manufacturer produces a highly optimized, fully reusable secondary packaging unit, their EPR fees will drop significantly. If they cling to difficult-to-recycle virgin plastics, the fees rise steeply and eat into product margins. Tracking this to calculate accurate EPR fees requires granular data on exact packaging weights, material compositions, and lifecycle statuses. ###### The manufacturer’s compliance burden 1 ###### Design overhaul Eliminate mixed materials and PFAS. Enforce Design for Recycling standards. 2 ###### Recycled content Source and verify PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) plastic percentages. 3 ###### Data publishing Generate Digital Product Passports for every packaging SKU deployed. #### 4. Deep dive: impact on retailers and distributors Retailers, both physical supermarkets and e-commerce giants, act as the choke point between the supply chain and the consumer. The PPWR puts pressure on them to facilitate the “return” part of the circular economy. ###### Take-back infrastructure and reverse logistics If a retailer sells goods in reusable packaging, they are mandated to establish a system allowing the end-user to return that packaging. That changes how retail space is used. Supermarkets must allocate square footage for reverse vending machines or manual take-back points for everything from beverage bottles to transport crates. Once the packaging is collected, the retailer becomes the origin point for a complex reverse logistics operation. This requires tracking empty, non-revenue-generating assets as they flow backward to sorting centers and washing facilities. If a retailer loses track of these assets, they face the dual penalty of replacing the physical asset and failing their mandated reuse quotas. ###### E-commerce reusability quotas E-commerce platforms face a large task. Shipping 10% of goods in reusable packaging requires specialized mailing bags or boxes (like durable polypropylene containers) that consumers must fold down and mail back via postal networks or drop-off points. Managing the deposit/reward systems required to incentivize consumers to return these packages requires close integration between the retailer’s checkout systems, the logistics carrier, and their asset tracking platform. #### 5. Deep dive: impact on logistics and 3PLs (the execution layer) Logistics providers, 3PLs, and pooling companies are arguably hit the hardest, and have the most to gain, from the PPWR. They are the physical execution layer of the circular economy. ###### The B2B transport mandate The PPWR dictates that a significant portion of all transport packaging (pallets, crates, IBCs) moving between business sites must be reusable. For a 3PL, this means managing vast “pools” of assets. In a linear model, a 3PL drops off a pallet of goods and leaves. The pallet is the receiver’s problem. In a circular model, the 3PL drops off the goods, and the pallet remains on the 3PL’s balance sheet. They must schedule a collection, transport it to a depot, inspect it for damage, wash it to hygiene standards, and re-inject it into the network. ###### The anomaly detection imperative With millions of reusable assets flowing in reverse, anomalies are inevitable. Crates are hoarded by store managers; pallets are diverted to gray-market sellers; RFID tags are damaged. Traditional logistics systems rely on manual cycle counts performed periodically. Under PPWR regulations, this is insufficient. Logistics providers need real-time anomaly detection to pinpoint exactly where an asset fell out of the loop, holding specific partners accountable with hard data. #### 6. Industry case studies: theory meets reality Here is how these rules apply to real-world supply chains. The move from linear to circular creates very different challenges depending on your industry and product type. ##### Case study A: a European beverage brand (B2C refillables) The Scenario: A major European producer of soft drinks and sparkling water currently ships 80% of its volume in single-use PET bottles. By 2030, under PPWR beverage mandates, a significant percentage of this volume must shift to reusable/refillable containers. The Challenge: Moving to refillable glass or durable PET requires setting up a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) if one doesn’t exist, or integrating deeply with national DRS networks. The producer must now track the “float”, the millions of bottles currently sitting in consumer homes, retail backrooms, and transport trucks. - Logistical Bottleneck: The producer’s trucks cannot return empty. Reverse logistics must be optimized so that delivery trucks pick up empty crates and bottles from retailers. This requires dynamic routing software, as pickup volumes will fluctuate wildly day by day. - Condition Assessment: Every returned bottle must be inspected for micro-fractures, contamination, and scuffing. If a bottle fails the optical scan, it must be recycled, and the manufacturer must log this “end of life” event in the asset’s Digital Product Passport to calculate the true average reuse rate. - Financial Impact: If the brand cannot prove their bottles are achieving the required number of rotations, they will fail their quota and face market restrictions or fines. ##### Case study B: a tier-1 automotive parts supplier (B2B transport packaging) The Scenario: A manufacturer in Germany produces heavy transmission components, shipping them to assembly plants in France and Spain using specialized metal stillages and rigid plastic Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP). The Challenge: While they already use reusable packaging, their current tracking system is rudimentary, relying on manual counting and basic ERP inventory modules. They lose roughly 8% of their RTPs annually due to hoarding, misplacement, and gray-market theft. - The Hoarding Problem: Assembly plants often hoard empty stillages during peak production times to ensure they don’t run out. This forces the Tier-1 supplier to inject new, expensive stillages into the pool, inflating capital expenditure. - PPWR Mandate: The PPWR strictly regulates empty space and mandates proof of reuse. The supplier must now serialize every stillage (via RFID or QR) and generate a DPP to prove compliance. - The Solution: By deploying a system like Rotion, the supplier can use RFID choke points at loading docks. They gain real-time visibility into the exact dwell time of a stillage at the assembly plant in Spain. If dwell time exceeds 14 days, automated alerts are triggered, resolving the hoarding issue and eliminating the 8% annual loss. #### 7. The Digital Product Passport (DPP): a data crisis You cannot regulate what you cannot measure. The enforcement mechanism of the PPWR relies entirely on data, culminating in the requirement for Digital Product Passports (DPPs). A DPP is a digital twin of a physical asset, accessible via a QR code or RFID tag. It contains comprehensive data about the product’s origin, material composition, recycled content percentage, repair history, and end-of-life recycling instructions. Why ERPs fail here: A standard ERP (like SAP or Oracle) is built for transactional master data. It knows you have 10,000 “Crate Type A” in Warehouse B. It does not know that Crate #4582 was manufactured in 2024 using 30% recycled ocean plastic, was washed 42 times, repaired once in Munich, and is currently sitting on a truck heading to Brussels. Managing DPPs requires an event-driven database that records every individual scan and state change, at millions per hour. Building that into a legacy ERP bloats the system and slows its queries. #### 8. PPWR FAQ Supply chain teams keep asking the same technical and legal questions about the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Here are the most common ones. ###### Q: Does the PPWR apply to imported goods from outside the EU? A: Yes. The PPWR applies to all packaging placed on the EU market, regardless of where it was manufactured. If an American or Asian company ships goods into France, the packaging must comply with the minimization, recyclability, and labeling mandates. The importer of record will be held responsible for EPR fees and compliance proofs. ###### Q: What is the difference between DfR and PCR? A: They are two separate requirements. DfR (Design for Recycling) refers to how the packaging is built: can standard European recycling facilities sort and process it? PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) content refers to the mandatory minimum percentage of recycled material that must be used in the manufacturing of new packaging (e.g., a plastic bottle must contain at least 30% recycled plastic). ###### Q: Are there any exemptions to the PPWR mandates? A: Yes, but they are extremely narrow. The primary exemptions apply to highly regulated sectors where health and safety override circularity goals. For example, immediate packaging for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and certain hazardous materials may be exempt from the strictest reuse or PCR quotas. However, secondary and tertiary transport packaging in these sectors is generally still targeted. ###### Q: How granular does the Digital Product Passport tracking need to be? A: It depends on the asset class, but serialized tracking is the safest choice. For high-value reusable transport packaging (RTPs, pallets, IBCs), tracking at the individual serial level (via unique RFID or serialized QR) is practically required to prove the asset has met its cycle loop quotas. For single-use consumer goods, batch-level tracking linked to material composition databases may suffice. ###### Q: Can I just pay the fines instead of overhauling my supply chain? A: No. Under some previous directives, non-compliance meant a small fine. The PPWR lets member states halt market access entirely. Eco-modulated EPR fees are designed to make non-compliant packaging economically ruinous over time. #### 9. How Rotion automates circular compliance In practice, the PPWR is as much a data regulation as an environmental one. Companies need a data layer built for circular flows, and that is what Rotion provides. Rotion works alongside your ERP, as the circular intelligence layer between your physical logistics network and your corporate IT infrastructure. ##### 1. Native Digital Product Passport (DPP) generation Rotion automatically generates and hosts compliant Digital Product Passports for your reusable assets. As assets move through your supply chain and are scanned via RFID, QR, or BLE, Rotion updates the DPP with lifecycle events, repair histories, and cycle counts. When auditors or customers scan the asset, they see a real-time record of its circulation, ensuring 100% PPWR compliance without manual data entry. ##### 2. Real-time reverse logistics and anomaly detection While your ERP manages the forward flow of sales, Rotion handles the chaotic reverse flow of assets. Our platform ingests millions of data points to create a live map of your reusable packaging pool. Our anomaly detection algorithms instantly flag if a batch of crates has spent too long at a retailer location, or if assets are being diverted to unauthorized facilities. This stops “the invisible leak” and reduces the capital expenditure needed to replace lost packaging. ##### 3. EPR and regulatory reporting engine Because Rotion tracks the exact material composition and cycle life of every asset, generating compliance reports takes seconds, not weeks. We calculate exact tonnages, reuse percentages, and empty-space ratios, so your compliance team can submit accurate data to national EPR bodies, keep eco-modulated fees down and avoid regulatory fines. ##### 4. ERP integration Rotion resolves the complexity of circular movements in its own isolated environment. Once an asset’s status is reconciled (e.g., returned, washed, and ready for dispatch), Rotion pushes a clean, structured update via API directly back to your SAP, Odoo, or Microsoft Dynamics system. Your financial ledgers stay clean, and Rotion handles the circular movements. ##### Compliance is a technical problem we can solve. The 2026 PPWR deadlines are fixed. Instead of customizing your legacy ERP to handle circular logic, use Rotion to automate reverse logistics, track every asset, and guarantee DPP compliance in weeks. #### Keep reading. All articles PPWR 28 September 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 PPWR 25 August 2026 ##### PPWR Reuse Reporting: Requirements, Deadlines and Tools (2026 Guide) PPWR 26 January 2026 ##### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Rotion vs Legacy ERP for Circular Systems | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/rotion-vs-legacy-erp-systems Comparisons 1 March 2026 · 3 min read ### Rotion vs Legacy ERP Systems: Why Circular Systems Need a Dedicated Layer Read why Legacy ERP systems are unable to handle modern logistical requirements of circular assets, and how Rotion steps in to help manage your entire inventory whilst plugging on top of existing ERP systems. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. “When you try to force a traditional ERP to manage the chaos of a circular supply chain, things don’t just bend, they break. You end up with invisible leaks, ghost inventory, and inflated operational costs.” As we approach the August 12, 2026 “hard implementation” date for the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), many supply chain directors across Europe are realizing that their legacy ERP systems were not built for this. For decades, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and Odoo have been the backbone of global commerce. They are very good at financial consolidation, procurement, and forward-moving inventory management. But the global economy is shifting from a linear model (“make, ship, forget”) to a circular one. Logistics networks are now expected to handle reverse flows, track reusable packaging across multiple stakeholders, and maintain granular Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for the entire lifecycle of an asset. This article covers the architectural limits of legacy ERPs in the circular economy, the hidden costs of trying to customize them, and where an API-first circular logistics engine like Rotion fits in your tech stack. #### 1. The Core Architectural Flaw: Linear vs. Circular Data Models To understand why ERPs struggle with circularity, you have to look at how they were built. Traditional ERP logic is fundamentally linear. A product is manufactured, stored, sold, and shipped. Once the status hits “Delivered,” the ERP’s job is largely done. The financial transaction clears, and the inventory count drops. Circular logistics breaks this fundamental data model. ###### Data Model Architecture Comparison In a circular system involving reusable packaging (like pallets, IBCs, or specialized totes), “Delivered” is only the halfway point. The asset must be: - Used by the customer (often sitting idle for unpredictable periods). - Emptied and aggregated. - Collected from a third-party location. - Transported back to a depot. - Inspected for quality and damage (condition assessment). - Cleaned or refurbished. - Reintroduced into the available inventory pool. Traditional ERPs lack the native schemas to track a single asset through dozens of continuous lifecycles, dynamically adjusting its valuation based on wear-and-tear, or managing the complex deposit and credit systems tied to multi-party pooling networks. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. #### 2. The Chaos of Reverse Logistics and Agile Routing Forward logistics are generally predictable. You know what you are making, where it is stored, and where it needs to go. Reverse logistics, however, are inherently chaotic. Returns happen in variable volumes. Assets are dropped off at unplanned nodes in the network. A batch of reusable crates might return heavily contaminated, requiring a diversion to a specialized cleaning facility rather than the standard warehouse. This requires Agile Logistics, the ability to dynamically re-route assets and adjust inventory statuses on the fly. Most ERPs rely on rigid, pre-defined workflows. When an anomaly occurs in the reverse flow, such as a batch of RFID-tagged pallets showing up at the wrong partner facility, a legacy ERP usually requires manual intervention to reconcile the data. At the scale of hundreds of thousands of reusable assets, this manual reconciliation leads to “the invisible leak”: massive asset loss and inflated operational costs. #### 3. Digital Product Passports (DPP) & The PPWR Mandate Perhaps the greatest vulnerability of a legacy ERP in 2026 is regulatory compliance. The EU’s PPWR mandates the use of Digital Product Passports (DPP). Every reusable asset must carry a digital twin that tracks its material composition, lifecycle history, repair history, and recycling instructions. ERPs are excellent at storing static Master Data (SKUs, weights, dimensions). They are notoriously bad at storing dynamic, hyper-granular lifecycle event data for millions of individual serialized items. To make an ERP compliant with DPP requirements, enterprise IT teams are forced into one of two terrible options: - Option A: Bloat the ERP database with millions of custom rows, severely impacting the performance of financial and core operational queries. - Option B: Build an expensive, custom middleware layer from scratch that will cost hundreds of thousands of Euros to maintain. #### 4. The Solution: Enhancing, Not Replacing, Your ERP You do not need to rip and replace SAP, Oracle, or Odoo, because these systems do what they were designed to do. Add an execution layer built for the loop on top of them. #### The Bottom Line If you are trying to customize your legacy ERP to handle the 2026 PPWR mandates and manage reusable packaging, you are fighting an uphill battle against the software’s fundamental architecture. Connect a dedicated layer to your ERP instead of customizing it further. ##### Ready to optimize your circular supply chain? See how Rotion integrates with your existing ERP to automate reverse logistics, eliminate asset loss, and guarantee PPWR compliance in weeks, not years. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 24 January 2026 ##### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Assets Disappear | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/the-invisible-leak-identifying-the-5-points-where-your-assets-disappear Insights 28 January 2026 · 4 min read ### The Invisible Leak: 5 Points Where Your Assets Disappear If you don't flag the invisible leaks in your circular asset's management, you could potentially be losing tens of thousands every single year. Find out where these leaks are, and how Rotion can make your life a lot easier. Jasper Dancecourt Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. “In a linear system, losing a box is an expense. In a circular system, losing an asset is a capital hemorrhage. You aren’t just losing plastic; you are losing the future turns that justify the investment.” Most companies running reusable packaging fleets (RTI/RTP) operate under a cloud of uncertainty. They know their loss rate is roughly 15-20%, but they don’t know where or why. They treat breakage and leakage as “inevitable.” Leakage is a symptom of unmeasured handovers, and handovers can be measured. ##### The 5 Failure Points of Reuse Through the analysis of millions of asset movements within the Rotion ecosystem, we have identified five specific nodes where the “Invisible Leak” is most aggressive. Plugging these leaks requires shifting from retrospective auditing to real-time Anomaly Detection. ##### 01. Retail Purgatory (Dwell Time Decay) The single largest point of failure is the backroom of the retail store. When assets move from a distribution center to a retailer, they often enter a “Data Black Hole.” The asset sits empty in a loading dock, a basement, or a parking lot. The Leak: While the asset is “idle,” its ROI is flatlining. Worse, the longer an asset sits idle, the higher the probability of it being “off-gridded”, taken by employees for personal use or discarded during a cleanup. Rotion Solution: AI Anomaly Detection flags any asset that exceeds its “Expected Dwell Time.” If a crate sits at Store #402 for 12 days instead of the average 3, an automated alert is triggered before the asset disappears. ##### 02. The 3PL “Trust Gap” (Untracked Handovers) Circular loops require multiple partners: brands, 3PLs, retailers, and washing facilities. Leakage occurs in the “silence” between these partners. If a 3PL claims they shipped 500 pallets but the washing partner only logs 480, who owns the 20-unit loss? The Leak: Without a neutral system of record, these discrepancies lead to legal friction and “shrugged shoulders.” Partners lose accountability when the data is fragmented across different ERPs. Rotion Solution: Multi-Party Governance. Every partner scans into a single operational truth. Rotion creates a persistent digital handover receipt that is legally and operationally binding, closing the trust gap. ##### 03. The “Scanning Tax” (Data Decay) In high-volume distribution centers, the priority is throughput. If tracking a reusable crate adds 10 seconds to a worker’s workflow, they will skip the scan to hit their KPIs. The Leak: Once a single scan is skipped, the “Digital Twin” is broken. The system still thinks the crate is in the warehouse, but it’s actually on a truck. You’ve lost visibility, and once visibility is gone, leakage follows. Rotion Solution: SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) Batching. Operators scan a single pallet label (the parent) to update hundreds of individual crates (the children). We remove the “Scanning Tax” so workers don’t have to choose between speed and data. ##### 04. The Washing Bottle-Neck (Quality Leakage) An asset that returns but is broken or dirty is effectively “lost” until it is repaired or cleaned. Many systems fail to track the “Health State” of the asset during the washing cycle. The Leak: Assets get stuck in “QC Purgatory.” If a washing partner doesn’t log a rejection (cracked, stained), that asset might be re-deployed only to be rejected at the production line, causing a double-logistics cost and a production stoppage. Rotion Solution: Inclusive QC Workflows. We provide washing partners with a fast-scan interface to log rejections and reasons in under 2 seconds. This data flows back to the fleet manager to optimize asset lifespan. ##### 05. Unauthorized Loop Deviations (The Gray Market) Reusable assets are useful to everyone who handles them. In unmanaged systems, it is common for logistics partners to use “Company A’s” crates to fulfill “Company B’s” orders because they are conveniently available in the warehouse. The Leak: This is a theft of capital. You are paying for the asset, but your competitor or partner is reaping the operational benefit of its use. This “Gray Market” usage is invisible without real-time traceability. Rotion Solution: Persistent Digital Identity. Every Rotion asset is GS1-compliant. If an asset is scanned at an unauthorized node or out of sequence, the Anomaly Detection engine flags it as a “Route Deviation,” allowing you to reclaim your capital. ##### From Retrospective to Proactive Most companies calculate their asset loss at the end of the quarter. They look at what they bought vs. what they have, and they write off the difference. This is Retrospective Accounting. It identifies the loss, but it doesn’t stop it. Rotion enables Proactive Governance. Our Digital Twin architecture records history and also predicts future failure. By identifying the five points of leakage in real-time, Rotion users reduce their annual loss rates from 20% to under 2%. ##### Plugging the leak is a data problem. If you manage your assets with the same precision that you manage your cash flow, circularity becomes your most profitable decision. Track your capital instead of writing it off. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Insights 26 January 2026 ##### Why Linear Packaging Systems Need to Go Circular Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## How PPWR Is Changing the Packaging Industry | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/how-the-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr-is-changing-the-packaging-industry PPWR 26 January 2026 · 3 min read ### How the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is Changing the Packaging Industry. We explain how the PPWR is going to change the way packaging companies go about their business model, and how Rotion can help along the way. Kevin Verborgh Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. “PPWR is a series of hard deadlines that turn packaging from a disposable byproduct into a regulated digital asset.” The European Union is redefining the packaging industry. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has moved past the negotiation phase and into the implementation horizon. For any company manufacturing, using, or distributing packaging in the EU market, the transition from “voluntary sustainability” to “mandatory compliance” has officially begun. ##### What is PPWR? The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is European legislation that harmonizes the fragmented packaging laws across the EU. Unlike a ‘Directive’ which allows for varying national interpretations, this Regulation is a binding legal act that applies directly and uniformly to all 27 Member States. Its main objective is to decouple economic growth from packaging waste generation. ##### How it affects the industry The PPWR restructures how the packaging industry operates. For packaging manufacturers and brands, it brings these operational shifts: - Mandated Minimization: Packaging must be reduced to the absolute minimum necessary weight and volume to ensure functionality. Over-packaging is now a legal liability punishable by heavy fines. - Restriction of Formats: Many single-use plastic formats, such as those used for fresh produce or hospitality condiments, will be banned entirely, forcing a move to alternative materials or reusable systems. - Recycled Content Minimums: Any plastic packaging placed on the market must contain a specific percentage of post-consumer recycled waste, which changes how packaging is procured. - Reuse at Scale: Large-scale reuse becomes mandatory for transport and e-commerce logistics. Companies must hit hard volume targets or face market exclusion. The PPWR shifts the industry’s focus from disposable volume to asset performance. This is where the gap between current logistics and regulatory requirements is widest. ##### The compliance roadmap: 2026 to 2040 To navigate the PPWR, companies must understand the timeline. It rolls out in tiers, and the operational pressure rises at each step. ###### August 2026: the application deadline This is 18 months after the regulation’s entry into force. Most provisions of the PPWR become legally applicable. - Mandatory Packaging Minimization - Recyclability Design Criteria Phase 1 - Substance Restrictions (PFAS bans in food contact) - Labeling Requirements & Unified Sorting Instructions ###### 2027: the data protocols The European Commission will finalize the Delegated Acts regarding the methodology for reporting. This is the year where the “Digital Product Passport” (DPP) technical standards are finalized. How Rotion Bridges the Gap: Rotion is already built on GS1 standards, so when the 2027 data protocols land, your data already follows the standard they build on. ###### 2030: the scale jump ###### 2040: the circular horizon By 2040, the industry must achieve 90% reuse in transport packaging and 50% in e-commerce. At this volume, manual tracking stops working. Full digital tracking with Rotion becomes a baseline requirement. ##### The data mandate: why DPP is mandatory Under PPWR, you cannot claim what you cannot prove. The introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) means that every piece of reusable packaging must carry a digital thread. Regulators require granular data on: - Lifecycle Verification: Verified logs of every trip taken by the asset. - Material Integrity: Accurate records of recycled content and recyclability performance. - Turn Performance: Proof that the reuse targets are being met across the entire fleet, not just in isolated pilots. Without a system like Rotion, the administrative burden of DPP compliance will consume the financial margins of the circular model. Rotion bridges this gap by automating the data capture at every node of the supply chain. ##### How Rotion bridges the gap Rotion was built for this regulation. We provide the system of record that turns compliance into a competitive edge. ###### Automated audit trails for 2026 Rotion’s Digital Twins automatically log every turn, wash, and repair. When the August 2026 deadline arrives, your data is already being recorded, so you export your performance figures instead of estimating them. ###### SSCC batching for the 2030 jump To hit a 40% transport reuse target in 2030, you need high-volume scanning. Rotion’s SSCC batching lets you scan one pallet and update 100 crates at once, so scanning does not slow down a compliant circular system. ###### AI governance for the 2040 horizon When 90% of your fleet is circular, loss prevention is a survival metric. Rotion’s AI Anomaly Detection identifies leakage in real time, so the high-value assets needed for 2040 compliance stay in the loop. ##### The compliance bridge ##### The future belongs to the digitalized loop. PPWR ends business as usual, and August 2026 is the starting line. The companies that build the digital infrastructure for reuse today will lead the market in 2040. #### Keep reading. All articles PPWR 28 September 2026 ##### PPWR Takeaway Rules: What Restaurants, Caterers and Reuse Operators Must Do by 2027, 2028 and 2030 Comparisons 17 September 2026 ##### Reusable Packaging Management Software Comparison: An 8-Question Buyer Scorecard for 2026 Comparisons 15 September 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Why Linear Packaging Needs to Go Circular | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/why-linear-packaging-systems-need-to-go-circular Insights 26 January 2026 · 4 min read ### Why Linear Packaging Systems Need to Go Circular See why linear packaging systems are a sunk-cost liability, and why businesses should opt for circular assets instead. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. “For fifty years, success in packaging was measured by volume of disposal. Tomorrow, success will be measured by the velocity of reuse. Linear manufacturers who fail to own the data will eventually have nothing to sell.” If you are a manufacturer of single-use cardboard or plastic packaging, your business model is under pressure from several directions at once. The traditional “Linear Model”, produce, sell once, and externalize the waste, is hitting a wall of regulatory, financial, and material constraints. The core logic of your business has always been volume. To grow, you must sell more units. To sell more units, more waste must be generated. This structural link between growth and environmental degradation is no longer just a reputation risk; it is a financial one. From the PPWR in Europe to rising carbon taxes and material scarcity, the “Linear Mirage” is dissipating. ##### 01. The Death of the “Unit” Sale In the linear model, every unit sold is a sunk cost for your customer. They pay you $0.60 for a box that will be destroyed within 72 hours. This creates a transactional relationship where your only competitive levers are price and proximity. ##### 02. The Circular Pivot: From Sunk Cost to Dividend When a linear manufacturer goes circular, they stop selling boxes and start selling trips. Imagine providing your customer with a high-performance, reusable crate. You don’t sell it once for $0.60; you lease its performance for 50 cycles. In the circular model, your revenue is decoupled from material consumption. You produce 20,000 durable assets instead of 1,000,000 disposable ones. Your capital remains within the loop. The $8.00 you spend to manufacture a reusable asset stays in use after it ships. It is deployed capital that generates a “Circular Dividend” with every turn. This shift turns your packaging into a high-margin service. Alongside the container, you sell the data, the security, and the carbon reduction that come with a managed loop. That only works if you can see the assets. ##### 03. Why Linear Manufacturers Fail at Reuse Most linear manufacturers attempt reuse by making their products “thicker” and hoping for the best. This is the Efficiency Trap. Without digitalization, the “Thousand-Dollar Leak” begins: ###### The Visibility Gap Once your crate leaves the factory, it enters a “Black Hole.” You have no idea if it’s at a retailer, a warehouse, or in a landfill. Loss rates in unmanaged systems often exceed 20%, destroying the ROI of the asset. ###### The Trust Deficit When an asset disappears, who pays for it? Without a single system of record, your customers and logistics partners will argue over missing inventory. Disputes kill partnerships and scale. ##### 04. Rotion: The System of Record Rotion provides the digital infrastructure that allows linear manufacturers to transition with certainty. We give your assets the “Digital Brain” they need in complex supply chains, starting with a Digital Package Passport (DPP). ###### Transition Pillar 01 // From Volume to Velocity For a linear manufacturer, Rotion changes the KPI from how many boxes you sell to how fast your fleet returns. By using Rotion’s AI Anomaly Detection, you can identify bottlenecks at washing facilities or retail back-rooms in real-time. If an asset sits idle for 10 days, the system flags it. Higher velocity equals more revenue from the same pool of assets. ###### Transition Pillar 02 // Interoperable Governance Your customers use SAP; your washing partners use Odoo. You need a neutral layer. Rotion uses GS1-compliant identifiers to ensure your “Digital Twin” works in any environment. This prevents vendor lock-in and allows you to offer a “Packaging-as-a-Service” model that fits into your customer’s existing logistics stack. ###### Transition Pillar 03 // Removing the Scan Workload The biggest hurdle to circularity is that it “slows down the line.” Rotion’s SSCC Batching solves this. You can group individual assets into temporary digital batches. A single scan of a pallet updates 50 assets. This removes the labor penalty of reuse, making your circular offering as fast as your old linear one. ##### 05. The PPWR Clock: Compliance as a Competitive Edge The window for voluntary circularity is closing. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is transforming the industry from a “best efforts” environment to one of binding mandates. For manufacturers of transport packaging, e-commerce shippers, and industrial carriers, the targets are clear: a significant percentage of all packaging must be reusable by 2030, with even steeper requirements by 2040. Central to this regulation is the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Compliance will require granular data on material composition, origin, and above all the number of successful reuse turns. Rotion also works as a Compliance Engine. Our Digital Twins automatically generate the audit trails required by PPWR. While your competitors struggle with manual reporting and estimated data, Rotion users will provide verified, real-time proof of system performance. In a PPWR-regulated market, data integrity becomes your license to operate. By 2030, the ability to track “Turns per Asset” will distinguish market leaders from those facing heavy regulatory penalties. ##### The Circular ROI for Manufacturers ##### Own the Loop. Own the Data. The linear era is ending. Manufacturers who continue to sell “blind units” will be taxed out of existence. Manufacturers who pivot to managed circular loops will own the future of supply chain intelligence. ###### Put your inventory to work. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 21 January 2026 ##### How reusable packaging systems actually work Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## The Scale Gap: Why Reuse Systems Fail to Scale | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/why-reusable-packaging-systems-fail-to-scale Insights 26 January 2026 · 4 min read ### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Why reusable packaging systems break at volume and how to build for industrial scale, with a holistic software solution like Rotion. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. Across the global supply chain, thousands of “Circular Packaging” pilots are currently underway. Most are technically successful: the materials hold up, the consumers participate, and the assets return. Yet less than 5% of these pilots transition to full-scale industrial operations. This is what we call Pilot Purgatory. It is the result of a fundamental misunderstanding: the belief that a system that manages 1,000 crates can be linearly expanded to manage 1,000,000. The complexity of a reusable system grows exponentially as it scales. ##### 01. The Illusion of Manual Control At the pilot stage (typically 500 to 5,000 assets), control is an illusion. You can track assets using a shared spreadsheet, manual emails, and a few dedicated staff members who “manually reconcile” missing inventory at the end of each month. When you move to 1,000,000 assets, the job becomes managing a multi-party data ecosystem. Every handover between a brand, a logistics provider, a retailer, and a washing facility is a potential point of data failure. Without a digital system of record, the “manual reconciliation” that worked for 1,000 units becomes a full-time nightmare for 100 people. ##### 02. The Complexity Explosion The system breaks because of the Interconnectivity Gap. In a linear model, a box moves from A to B and disappears. In a circular model, an asset moves from A to B to C to D and back to A. As you scale, the number of possible paths an asset can take increases. If you have 10 retail locations and 1 washing partner, you have 10 loops. If you have 500 retail locations and 5 washing partners, you have thousands of potential loops. If the status of an asset is not updated in real-time at every node, you lose the ability to predict availability. ##### 03. The Three Scale-Killers Through our work at Rotion, we have identified three specific bottlenecks that kill large-scale reuse projects: ###### The “Scanning Tax” In high-volume warehouses, every second counts. If a reusable system requires an operator to stop their workflow and scan 50 individual crates on a pallet, that system will be ignored. Workers will skip the scan to hit their throughput targets, leading to a “Data Black Hole” where you know how many crates you bought, but not where they are. ###### The Trust Deficit Multi-party systems require shared accountability. If a Brand claims they shipped 100 crates to a Retailer, but the Retailer claims they only received 80, who is responsible for the loss? Without a neutral, digital system of record, these disputes lead to legal friction and project abandonment. ###### Static Decision Making At scale, you cannot make decisions based on last month’s inventory report. You need to know today’s dwell times. If assets are sitting at a washing facility for 5 days instead of 1, you are losing money every hour. Scaled systems require real-time exception management, not retrospective reporting. ##### 04. How Rotion Bridges the Gap Rotion was built specifically to solve the Scale Gap. We move beyond “blind shipping” by providing a digital infrastructure that treats every crate as a high-performance data node. We bridge the gap through four foundational technologies designed for the billion-unit future: ###### I. SSCC Batching (The Throughput Engine) The “Scanning Tax” is the #1 reason data fails at scale. Rotion’s primary solution is SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) Batching. We use parent-child logic: an operator creates a temporary digital batch (a pallet) containing hundreds of unique children (crates). A single scan of the pallet label moves the entire inventory through the supply chain. This maintains the high-speed throughput required by 3PLs while preserving the individual lifecycle integrity of every single crate in the Rotion cloud. ###### II. Interoperable Digital Passports Circular systems are multi-party by nature. Rotion ensures that an asset’s digital identity follows it across different ERP and WMS environments (from Odoo to SAP and beyond). By utilizing GS1-compliant identifiers, we create a “Digital Packaging Passport.” This persistent record logs every lifecycle event, shipment, receipt, wash, and repair, ensuring a “Single Operational Truth” that prevents the “Trust Deficit” and eliminates disputes over missing inventory. ###### III. AI Anomaly Detection (Proactive Governance) Management at scale must be automated. Rotion shows you where things are and also tells you when something is wrong. Our AI constantly monitors the fleet for: - Abnormal Dwell Times (Assets sitting idle too long) - Missing Returns (Detecting leakage before it becomes a write-off) - Route Deviations (Unauthorized movement outside the loop) This “Management by Exception” approach allows a small team to manage a fleet of millions, focusing only on the high-impact bottlenecks that actually cost money. ###### IV. Inclusive QC & Washing Workflows Circular scale depends on high-quality assets. Rotion integrates washing partners directly into the loop with a Fast Inclusive QC workflow. Designed for diverse work environments, including social economy partners, operators use simple QR codes for rejected states. A two-scan process (Asset + Reason) ensures that quality control is captured without slowing down the line. This data flows back to the brand, giving insight into asset health and partner performance. ##### Scale is a test of infrastructure, not material. If your reuse pilot is succeeding, you have proven the container. The next step is proving the system. Build the digital foundation before you ship the millionth crate. ###### Scale with Certainty. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 23 January 2026 ##### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale Insights 21 January 2026 ##### How reusable packaging systems actually work Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Rotion vs Tracking Tools and DPP Platforms | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/how-rotion-differs-from-tracking-tools-and-dpp-platforms Comparisons 24 January 2026 · 2 min read ### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms Why most software categories fail reusable packaging systems. Jasper Dancecourt Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. ##### How Rotion differs from tracking tools and DPP platforms Why most software categories fail reusable packaging systems. The reusable packaging software market is crowded and confusing. Many tools claim to support reuse, traceability, or compliance. In practice, they are optimized for very different problems. This article sets out the main software categories in this space, what each is good at, and where Rotion deliberately sits. The current software market ###### Tracking tools These tools focus on answering a narrow question: Where is the asset? They typically provide: - IDs or tags on assets - Location or scan history - Basic dashboards They are useful for visibility, especially in pilots. They are not designed to: - Manage asset responsibility - Handle operational exceptions - Coordinate multiple partners - Support regulatory reporting at asset level ###### Reporting and DPP platforms These tools are optimized for: - Compliance reporting - Sustainability disclosures - Digital product or packaging passports They work well when: - Data is already available - Flows are stable - Reporting happens after the fact They struggle when: - Data must be generated operationally - Multiple parties contribute events - Assets circulate dynamically They describe systems. They do not run them. ###### Pilot and experimentation tooling Some platforms are built to support innovation teams running trials. They prioritize: - Speed of setup - Flexibility - Lightweight tracking They often rely on: - Manual processes - Limited governance - Temporary integrations These tools are not intended to survive scaling. Where Rotion sits Rotion fits none of these three categories. It operates reusable packaging systems. That means it is designed to: - Maintain asset-level identity across organizations - Capture and govern operational events - Assign and transition responsibility - Support operators in day-to-day decisions - Produce compliance-ready data as a byproduct of operation The goal is control and operability at scale, with visibility as one part of it. What Rotion deliberately does not do Rotion does not: - Replace logistics providers - Eliminate physical operations - Automate away operational ownership - Act as a generic data lake - Offer a self-serve “sign up and go” experience Reusable packaging is too context-specific for that. When Rotion makes sense Rotion is designed for: - Manufacturers launching reusable packaging as a service - Operators managing circulation across partners - Brands moving from pilots to scaled systems - Organizations that need operational control and accountability If reuse is core to your business model, infrastructure matters. ##### The takeaway Reusable packaging fails when software is chosen for visibility or reporting instead of operation. Tracking tools show where assets have been. Reporting tools explain what happened. Infrastructure software keeps the system running. Rotion is built for the last category. ##### What to do next If you are comparing solutions or questioning fit: See if Rotion fits your situation A short conversation focused on your context. #### Keep reading. All articles Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best IBC and Tote Tracking Software Tools for Chemical and Ingredient Producers in 2026 Comparisons 29 September 2026 ##### The 9 Best Pallet Tracking Software Tools for Multi-Location Recovery in 2026 Comparisons 15 September 2026 ##### Balance-Level vs Asset-Level Tracking for Returnable Packaging: Which Do You Need in 2026? IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Running a Reusable Packaging Operation at Scale | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/what-it-takes-to-run-a-reusable-packaging-operation-at-scale Insights 23 January 2026 · 3 min read ### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale Why pilots succeed and operations struggle. Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. ##### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale Why pilots succeed and operations struggle. When reusable packaging fails, the cause is usually operational. Running reuse at scale is an operations job before it is a sustainability initiative. Once you move beyond pilots, reusable packaging behaves less like a product choice and more like a distributed operation that must perform every day, across partners, under real-world constraints. This article explains what actually changes when reuse scales, and what must be in place to keep it operable. Reuse becomes operations the moment it leaves the pilot phase In pilots: - Volumes are low - Partners are cooperative - Exceptions are handled manually - Data gaps are tolerated At scale: - Assets circulate continuously - Partners optimize for their own KPIs - Exceptions become the norm - Small inefficiencies compound quickly At this point, reuse depends on operational discipline. What changes when you scale reuse ###### More partners Pilots often involve one or two trusted parties. Scaling introduces multiple manufacturers, logistics providers, customers, cleaning facilities, and service partners. Each additional actor increases coordination complexity and dilutes accountability. ###### More asset states Assets are no longer simply “in use” or “returned”. They are: - In transit - Delayed - Damaged - Awaiting inspection - Non-compliant - Temporarily out of circulation If these states are not visible and managed, assets silently fall out of the system. ###### More exceptions Late returns, wrong locations, missing identifiers and quality failures make up daily operations at scale. Systems that assume linear flows collapse under exception volume. The non-negotiables of operating reuse at scale ###### Asset-level visibility You must know which assets exist, where they are, and what condition they are in. Aggregate numbers are insufficient. Decisions happen at asset level. Clear responsibility At every point in the flow, it must be clear who is responsible for the asset, its condition, and its next action. Ambiguity creates loss and conflict. Partner governance Not every actor should see or control the same data. Operating reuse requires shared visibility with controlled permissions, not open spreadsheets. Exception handling Systems must detect deviations early and route them to resolution. Manual exception handling does not scale. Regulatory readiness Reuse systems increasingly need to produce auditable data. Compliance cannot be an afterthought layered on top of operations. Why spreadsheets and tracking tools break Spreadsheets fail because: - They assume static ownership - They cannot model asset state transitions - They do not handle concurrency - They break under partner access Basic tracking tools fail because: - They track location, not responsibility - They visualize history, not operations - They do not enforce governance - They do not integrate compliance needs These tools can support pilots. They cannot run systems. What infrastructure software actually does Infrastructure software for reuse has a plain job. It exists to: - Maintain a shared source of truth across organizations - Encode operational rules - Capture events as assets move - Surface problems before they become losses - Support operators, not replace them This is closer to logistics infrastructure than to traditional SaaS. The takeaway Running reusable packaging at scale means keeping control while assets, partners, and regulations multiply. If your system cannot handle: - Growth in partners - Growth in assets - Growth in exceptions It will fail quietly, expensively, and late. What to do next If you are already operating reuse, or planning to move beyond pilots: See how an operator uses Rotion in practice A concrete example of the day-to-day operation. Talk us through your operational setup A focused discussion on flows, responsibilities, and failure points. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Insights 22 January 2026 ##### Is reusable packaging economically viable in your context? IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Is Reusable Packaging Economically Viable? | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/is-reusable-packaging-economically-viable-in-your-context Insights 22 January 2026 · 3 min read ### Is reusable packaging economically viable in your context? Why most calculations are wrong before they start. Kevin Verborgh Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. ##### Is reusable packaging economically viable in your context? Why most calculations are wrong before they start Reusable packaging is often dismissed for one of two reasons. Either it looks obviously more expensive than single-use, or it looks attractive on paper but fails once deployed. Both outcomes usually stem from the same issue: the economics are evaluated per unit, when they should be evaluated for the whole system. This article explains how to think about the economics of reuse in a way that matches operational reality. ##### Why reuse often looks expensive on paper Most first-pass calculations compare: - The cost of one reusable package versus - The cost of one single-use package This comparison is misleading, because a reusable package is operated over many cycles, long after it is bought. The relevant question is what it costs to move value through the system per cycle. When reuse looks expensive, it is often because: - Asset lifetime is underestimated - Turn cycles are slower than assumed - Loss rates are ignored or guessed - Operational overhead is not modeled These errors compound. The four economic drivers that actually matter Across reuse systems, four variables dominate the business case. ###### 1. Asset lifetime How many usable cycles does an asset realistically achieve before it is retired? This is affected by: - Material durability - Handling behavior across partners - Inspection and maintenance discipline Lifetime assumptions that are too optimistic break the model later. Conservative assumptions are safer. ###### 2. Turn cycles How long does it take for an asset to complete one full loop and become available again? Turn time determines: - How many assets you need in circulation - How much capital is tied up - Whether demand peaks can be absorbed Delays of days matter. Delays of weeks are fatal to ROI. ###### 3. Loss and leakage Assets will be lost. The only question is how many, how often, and whether you see it early. Loss impacts: - Replacement cost - System stability - Partner behavior Loss that is invisible is always more expensive than loss that is measured. ###### 4. Operational friction Cleaning, transport, sorting, exception handling, partner coordination. These costs rarely scale linearly. They often increase faster than volume if the system is not designed for it. ##### Where software actually influences economics Software influences the economics indirectly, by improving how the system behaves. In practice, software affects: - Loss reduction through accountability and visibility - Faster turn cycles through operational insight - Lower coordination cost across partners - Reduced compliance and reporting overhead - Earlier detection of systemic issues What software does not do: - Eliminate logistics cost - Replace physical infrastructure - Fix a fundamentally unviable flow Any vendor claiming otherwise should be questioned carefully. When reuse does not make economic sense Reuse is not always the right answer. It often fails economically when: - Transport distances are too long - Return behavior cannot be influenced - Asset value is too low relative to handling cost - Volumes are too volatile - Operational ownership is unclear Recognizing these limits early saves time and credibility. The hidden cost of “successful” pilots Many pilots appear economically viable because: - Manual work absorbs inefficiencies - Losses are tolerated - Scale effects are ignored - Compliance is deferred When these pilots fail later, it is usually because the system was never designed to operate at scale. The takeaway Reusable packaging economics come down to: - Capital efficiency - Predictability - Operational control - Accountability across the value chain If your economic model does not explicitly account for these, it is incomplete. What to do next If you are evaluating reuse and need to understand whether it can work in your context: Discuss your economics with us A focused conversation to stress-test assumptions and identify real cost drivers. See a real reusable packaging system in operation A concrete example showing how economics and operations connect in practice. #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 23 January 2026 ##### What it takes to run a reusable packaging operation at scale IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## How Reusable Packaging Systems Actually Work | Rotion URL: https://www.rotion.eu/blog/how-reusable-packaging-systems-actually-work Insights 21 January 2026 · 3 min read ### How reusable packaging systems actually work How reusable packaging systems actually work, and why most initiatives fail before they scale. Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder, Rotion · Updated 28 September 2026 See it on your loop A 30-minute demo, mapped to your assets and partners. ##### How reusable packaging systems actually work And why most initiatives fail before they scale Reusable packaging is often presented as a simple substitution problem. Replace single-use packaging with a reusable alternative and sustainability follows. That framing misses most of the work. Choosing reuse is a systems decision: you are building a distributed operational system that spans assets, partners, logistics flows, incentives, and regulations. If you do not design and operate that system explicitly, reuse breaks down, slowly at first and then suddenly. This article explains how reusable packaging systems actually work in practice, and where they typically fail. ##### The core misconception Most reuse initiatives start with packaging design. They should start with system design. A reusable package is only valuable if it: - Comes back - Comes back in time - Comes back in usable condition - Comes back at a predictable cost None of those outcomes are guaranteed by the packaging itself. They are the result of how the system around the asset is designed and operated. ##### What a reusable packaging system really is A reusable packaging system consists of four elements: ###### 1. Assets Physical packaging units with an expected lifetime, usage cycles, and end-of-life. These assets move, degrade, get lost, and cross organizational boundaries. ###### 2. Actors Manufacturers, brands, retailers, logistics partners, pooling operators, service providers. Each actor touches the asset for a different reason and with different incentives. ###### 3. Flows Assets circulate through production, filling, transport, use, return, inspection, cleaning, reuse, and eventually retirement. These flows are rarely linear. They branch, stall, and reverse. ###### 4. Responsibility At any moment, someone is responsible for: - The asset - Its condition - Its compliance status - Its next movement In single-use systems, responsibility is simple. In reuse systems, it is fragmented. A reusable packaging initiative succeeds or fails based on how well these four elements are aligned. ##### Where reuse systems break in practice Most failures are quiet and cumulative. ###### Asset loss Packages disappear into customer sites, reverse logistics gaps, or operational blind spots. Loss rates are underestimated until replacement costs erase the business case. ###### Operational friction Returns take longer than planned. Cleaning capacity becomes a bottleneck. Exception handling consumes human time that was never budgeted. ###### Partner misalignment Each party optimizes locally and no one optimizes for the system as a whole. Accountability is unclear, so problems persist. ###### Data fragmentation Each actor tracks what they need, in their own tools. No shared source of truth exists at asset level. Decisions are made on partial information. ###### Compliance gaps Regulatory requirements change. Reporting is retrofitted instead of designed in. Data needed for proof does not exist at the right granularity. None of these problems are solved by better packaging design. ##### What software must do in a reusable system In a reuse system, software has to support daily operation, while assets are moving. That means enabling capabilities such as: - Asset-level identity that persists across partners - Event capture as assets move and change state - Shared visibility without shared ownership of systems - Governance rules around who can do what, when - Operational feedback loops to detect loss, delay, and degradation early Software that only reports, tracks or visualizes leaves the system to drift and fragment. Rotion Reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. Track every crate, pallet, keg and IBC across partners and recover what goes missing. ##### Why pilots often lie Many reuse pilots appear successful because: - Volumes are low - Partners are highly motivated - Manual intervention fills system gaps - Loss and delay are absorbed quietly Scaling removes all of these buffers, so what worked at 1,000 assets fails at 50,000 if the system is not designed for it. That is why reuse has to be treated as infrastructure from the start. ##### The takeaway Reusable packaging is hard because the system must remain coherent while assets move across organizations, incentives, and regulations. If you are evaluating reuse, start by asking how the system will stay operable, accountable, and economically viable once it scales. Which packaging to choose comes after that. ##### What to do next If this matches what you are seeing or anticipating, you have two sensible next steps: See how this works in a real reusable packaging project A concrete example of assets, partners, and flows in practice. Talk to us about your reuse idea #### Keep reading. All articles Insights 26 January 2026 ##### The Scale Gap: Why Reusable Packaging Systems Fail to Scale Insights 15 September 2026 ##### Why Expert Poolers Matter in Reusable Packaging (and Why Technology Decides Who Can Be One) Insights 26 January 2026 ##### Why Linear Packaging Systems Need to Go Circular IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See your loop in Rotion. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## About Rotion | Reusable Packaging Software Company in Belgium URL: https://www.rotion.eu/about About Rotion ### Reuse works when the loop is visible. Rotion is reusable packaging management software with an AI agent built in. A small team in Antwerp and Brussels builds it for loops that run between many partners. Founder 01 ##### Maarten Tak CEO and co-founder Leads the company and the work with customers, from the first pilot to the full fleet. Founder 02 ##### Jonas Janssen CTO and co-founder Builds the platform and Autopilot, and keeps every figure traceable to its scans. Founded 2021 Causa Sui BV, Antwerp Tracked 575,310 assets tracked Losses 28% fewer assets lost Fleet 9% smaller fleet needed 01Vendor profile #### Rotion on record. Rotion gives every asset an identity and a record. This is ours, in the form a procurement or security review asks for. Copy any line, or print the sheet for your vendor file. Legal entity · Causa Sui BV BE 0774.580.929 Registered in Belgium KBO and VAT Since 2021 A · Company 04 fields Legal entity Causa Sui BV Company number BE 0774.580.929 KBO number, also the VAT number Founded 2021 Investor imec.istart B · Locations and team 03 fields Registered office Krugerstraat 232 2660 Antwerp, Belgium Office Square Victoria Regina 1 1210 Brussels, Belgium Team A small team in Antwerp and Brussels Maarten Tak, CEO. Jonas Janssen, CTO. C · Security and data 04 fields Hosting Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, both in EU regions Private cloud and on-premise on the Custom plan Sign-in SSO through SAML or OpenID Connect Data access CSV export, REST API and webhooks in every plan Audit Auditors get a read-only login D · Contacts 04 fields Sales and general hello@rotion.eu Support support@rotion.eu Press info@rotion.eu LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/rotion-technology Source · rotion.eu Causa Sui BV · BE 0774.580.929 02Timeline #### Where Rotion comes from. From a company in Antwerp to the platform behind Belgium's first large-scale reusable packaging pilot. - 2021 Founded in Antwerp. Causa Sui BV is registered. - 2023 Start-it @KBC. Selected for the program. - 2025 Potential Unicorn at imec. Nominated. FutureForward company. Selected by NOA. - Now Repasys runs on Rotion. Belgium's first large-scale reusable packaging pilot. 106,312 packages · 6 retailers · €0.30 deposit 575,310 assets tracked. Across the loops on the platform. 03Principles #### How we build. Three rules that shape the product, from the data model to the screens partners use. P.01 Identity ##### Identity first. Every asset is a managed entity with a persistent digital identity and a record of its own. P.02 Visibility ##### Shared visibility. Every partner sees the same record as it updates, so nobody has to rebuild the history after a problem appears. P.03 Reality ##### Built for real loops. Rotion is designed for many partners, mixed codes, missed scans and peak weeks. With a circular approach, we can use raw materials more intelligently and reduce waste and emissions. IMG 051 · Cross-dock, Antwerp · morning 04Customers and partners #### Teams and partners on Rotion. Retailers, brands, cities and public services that work with Rotion. 05Next #### Keep exploring. Careers ##### Work on Rotion. Open roles in Brussels and remote. View open roles Case study ##### Repasys. 106,312 packages across 6 retailers. Read the case study Product ##### The platform. One record per asset, shared by every partner. See the platform Contact ##### Talk to us. Sales, support and press. Contact Rotion IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### See what Rotion does for your loop. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. ## Contact Rotion | Sales, Support and Demos URL: https://www.rotion.eu/contact Contact ### How can we help? Book a demo, ask the sales team about pricing and rollout, or get help with your workspace. The team answers from Antwerp and Brussels. 01Who to ask #### Pick the right door. ##### Book a demo. Thirty minutes to see Rotion run a loop like yours. Pick a time in the calendar. Pick a time ##### Talk to us about your case. One hour on your own fleet: partners, integrations, rollout and price. Pick a time in the calendar. Pick a time ##### Get support. Questions about your workspace, scans or integrations. Write to support@rotion.eu or use the form. Open the support form 02Also #### Other questions. ##### Starting a reuse business. Rotion Starter and startup terms for new reusable packaging operations. Ask about Starter ##### Working at Rotion. Open roles and open applications. See open roles ##### Monthly updates. One email a month on reuse, PPWR and product news. Subscribe 03Offices #### Antwerp and Brussels. Antwerp Krugerstraat 232 2660 Antwerp, Belgium Brussels Square Victoria Regina 1 1210 Brussels, Belgium - General hello@rotion.eu - Support support@rotion.eu - Press info@rotion.eu #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 What types of assets does Rotion support? Rotion supports reusable packaging and load carriers such as crates, trays, pallets, kegs, IBCs, roll cages, totes and protective packaging, in closed loops and in multi-party pools. Q.02 Do we need to replace our labels or hardware? No. Rotion works with QR codes, barcodes, RFID or a mix. Existing codes can usually stay, so relabeling and new hardware are not needed. Q.03 How does Rotion connect to our systems? Rotion connects to ERP, WMS and transport systems such as SAP and Odoo, so data is not entered twice. See integrations. Q.04 How long does it take to get started? Most teams go live in weeks. Rotion is web-based and scan-first, and partners join with a phone and a link. ## Book a Demo of Rotion | Reusable Packaging Software URL: https://www.rotion.eu/contact/demo Book a demo ### See your loop in 30 minutes. Pick a time that suits you. The team walks through Rotion with your assets, partners and handovers in mind. - 01 Your loop, mapped. Bring your asset types and partners. The demo follows one asset through your handovers. - 02 Autopilot at work. See how the agent flags overdue assets, proposes the fix and logs every action. - 03 A clear next step. Leave knowing which plan fits. For pricing on your own fleet, book the one-hour case call. Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet. Field results from operators running Rotion across pools, retail and industry. 28% S.01 fewer assets lost 9% S.02 smaller fleet needed 575,310 S.03 assets tracked #### Straight answers. What operations and supply chain teams ask before they book a demo. Q.01 How long is the demo? Thirty minutes, by video call. Longer sessions with your operations or IT team can follow. Q.02 Who should join? Whoever owns the loop: operations, logistics or packaging. Bring IT if integrations matter early, and finance if deposits are part of the question. Q.03 Do we need to prepare anything? No. It helps to know your asset types, rough fleet size and the partners that handle your assets. IMG 052 · DC Zellik · 50.8889N 4.2725E Start [ SCAN 0x3F2B ] #### Prefer to write first? Most teams go live in weeks, on the codes already on their fleet.