Pall-Ex achieves excellence together with what3words
UK delivery environments are complex, with rural locations, new-build estates and multi-entrance sites adding nuance to everyday operations. Pall-Ex, one of the UK’s largest freight distribution networks, has strengthened its service by adopting what3words across its network. 90% of Pall-Ex’s members have used what3words, consignments using a what3words address have doubled, and stakeholders across the country have shared positive reviews.
Why delivery accuracy is still a challenge in the UK
Street addresses weren’t built for the 21st century. There are a number of issues where a street address isn’t accurate enough, which can cause challenges in the last mile for delivery operations. For example:
- Large buildings where the delivery entrance is separate from the main entrance
- Road names that are duplicated or easy to confuse
- Rural properties where a single postcode spans a wide area
- New homes or commercial units that take time to appear in national address databases
- Retail parks or complexes where one address covers multiple buildings
- Construction sites or commercial areas with several distinct delivery locations
Recent Ofcom research shows the depth of the challenge. More than 68% of UK consumers have experienced delivery problems in the last six months. When you combine that with the record 4.2 billion parcels sent and received last year, a 7% increase year-on-year, the operational need for a slick, resilient delivery network intensifies.
How Pall-Ex is achieving excellence with what3words
Pall-Ex, one of Britain’s largest pallet networks, has made what3words a daily operational standard across its sites and teams. what3words has given every 3m square in the world a unique address made of 3 random words: a what3words address.
Drivers in Pall-Ex’s network use the what3words locations to navigate to precise drop-off sites, whether it’s a remote barn in the Dales or a newbuild development on the edge of Birmingham.
This adoption has been welcomed by Pall-Ex customers who appreciate the benefits of using what3words:
- 90% of members have now used what3words, representing significant utilisation.
- Consignments tagged with what3words doubled over the past 12 months. Monthly usage shows the same strong trend (103% increase MoM), proving sustainable operational reliance.
For a pallet network operating at a national scale, this level of adoption signals real operational gain.
Dave Dunhill, Group Chief Technology Officer at Pall-Ex shares:
“what3words fits seamlessly into our core operating system, Nexus, to deliver a market-leading solution. By combining the simplicity and accuracy of what3words with the real-time capabilities of our latest innovation, NexusETA, we are providing our customers and members with a new level of visibility, accuracy and control over their consignments from start to finish.”
I’m excited to see how our partnership with what3words will further enhance our service offering in the year ahead.”
How has Pall-Ex integrated what3words?
Pall-Ex integrated what3words into their core operating system, Nexus, so customers and drivers could quickly benefit from precise addressing:
- Pall-Ex customers add a what3words address (such as ///filled.count.soap ) to the consignment entry screen of Nexus or pass on via API.
- Recipients can view their delivery location in the MyNexus tracking module.
- Drivers are routed to the exact drop-off point derived from the what3words address.
The operational impact is even more efficient deliveries
Pall-Ex’s rollout of what3words is driving excellence not just for individual drivers, but for managers, service teams, and customers across the network.
Jamie Baptie, Managing Director of Wynwood Logistics, highlights the company-wide gains:
“Since implementing what3words… we’ve had fantastic feedback from drivers and customers. On building sites or areas with poor postcode accuracy, consignments with what3words attached make it easier for our drivers to deliver directly to where they’re needed, helping us provide a more efficient and accurate service. I’d recommend it to everyone.”
Matt, Delivery Driver at Synergix Logistics Solutions, confirms the frontline advantage:
“what3words makes completing deliveries straightforward and stress-free, as every consignment that has a what3words location attached to it is easier to locate. Particularly for deliveries to bigger sites, there is no confusion trying to find out where to go. The location is always accurate and I wish that every delivery came with a what3words tag, as it would make my job much simpler.”
Across all roles and regions, the theme is consistent: better delivery location accuracy, fewer wrong turns, smoother site access and reduced chances of failed deliveries. That’s valuable time returned to the network every single day.
What Pall-Ex customers should do next
If you’re sending a pallet through the Pall-Ex network, add a what3words address every time. It speeds up drops, improves first-time delivery rates and reduces back-and-forth between drivers and customers.
The standard is shifting in the logistics industry – are you ready?
UK delivery infrastructure is modernising fast. Pall-Ex is a great example of a business that recognises and leverages the value of what3words throughout its network, with proven results.
Networks, hauliers and local operators across the UK who adopt precise location tools now will secure advantage in:
- reducing failed deliveries caused
- cutting wasted driver time
- strengthening customer experience
- protecting margin in a rising-cost environment
Ready to speak with the what3words team or start integration? Visit what3words.com/business/ecommerce and adopt the new delivery standard.
