Case Study
CargoVIS in the warehouse
at pfenning Group
Case Study
CargoVIS in the warehouse
at pfenning Group
"Since implementing the solution, we’ve seen a clear learning effect: incidents of damage and theft have been reduced because processes are more transparent and people are exercising greater caution"
| David de VegaHead of Industrial Engineering, Processes, and Innovation at pfenning Group |
|---|
8 August 2026
Future-Ready in Challenging Times
Smart Video Solution Ensures Greater Transparency and Efficiency
Rising demands for security, traceability, and quality are reshaping everyday logistics operations. Customers today expect not just reliable handling of their shipments, but growing transparency across every step of the process. At the same time, logistics providers face the challenge of reducing losses, resolving damage claims faster, and giving employees the best possible support in their daily work.
The pfenning Group was also seeking a modern solution for its Heddesheim and Mecklar locations that goes beyond traditional video surveillance replacing its existing infrastructure with an intelligent, future-ready video solution.
Greater security for goods, buildings, and processes
Several objectives were important to the pfenning Group when making this decision: optimizing operational processes, investigating damage, reducing losses, and preventing theft. At the same time, the solution needed to meet growing customer demands, as video surveillance, both indoors and outdoors, is increasingly expected for security reasons.
With CargoVIS from DIVIS, pfenning now relies on a smart video management system that brings transparency to logistics processes and significantly simplifies the tracking of shipments, damage, and incidents. Video-based tracking makes it possible to trace relevant events in the warehouse and outdoor areas more quickly, providing greater security for the company, its customers, and the carriers involved. A key benefit lies in the verifiable documentation of liability transfers: if, for example, a guardrail or gate is damaged, video recordings can quickly reveal when the damage occurred and who is likely responsible, allowing damage to be investigated more effectively and, if appropriate, claimed against the responsible party.
CargoVIS and the License Plate+ add-on module in use at two locations
In collaboration with DIVIS, state-of-the-art video solutions were implemented at the Heddesheim and Mecklar sites. DIVIS’s CargoVIS software is used at both locations. At the Heddesheim site, 91 indoor cameras and 94 outdoor cameras were installed. At the Mecklar site, the solution comprises 99 indoor cameras and 53 outdoor cameras, enabling comprehensive coverage of key process, security, and cargo handling areas.
At both sites, CargoVIS is enhanced by the License Plate+ license plate recognition system, which also ensures more efficient control and greater security during entry and exit on the premises. Vehicles can be identified by their license plates, eliminating the need for a separate pass upon entry. The automatic barrier control is fully automated and particularly secure thanks to defined access permissions, which also allow the validity duration for license plates to be limited. This simplifies processes, saves time, and simultaneously supports security-related documentation.
How CargoVIS supports shipment tracking
In day-to-day operations, the search for a single pallet or a specific package is time-consuming in large logistics facilities. Especially in facilities exceeding 100,000 square meters, manual research can tie up significant personnel resources. This is exactly where CargoVIS comes in.
By linking scan, shipment, and video data, the software creates a traceable movement path as the shipment moves through the warehouse. Each shipment leaves its own unique digital “fingerprint” when scanned, enabling seamless tracking of goods. By entering a shipment number into the search interface, authorized users receive relevant image information in a matter of seconds and can track the locations a shipment has passed through.
At the pfenning Group, the search function is used primarily by operations managers and the internal security department. The user base is intentionally limited to comply with data protection and works council requirements. The implementation quickly proved the real value of switching from a traditional video surveillance system to a modern software-based solution.
Less effort, more transparency
The benefits of the solution are evident across multiple areas. In addition to reduced time and personnel costs, as well as comprehensive documentation and traceability, the solution also has a preventive effect: when processes are more transparent and events can be clearly reconstructed, there is greater attention paid to the daily handling of goods, vehicles, and infrastructure. According to pfenning, this has already yielded positive results, as those involved in incidents now report them more quickly. From the outset, the workforce was made aware of the importance of using the system responsibly and is likewise benefiting from the new system.
"We were looking for a future-oriented, state-of-the-art video solution that could be flexibly scaled and that we could rely on for the long term. With the CargoVIS video solution from DIVIS, we can clearly document liability transfers and investigate claims in a targeted manner. Since implementing the solution, we’ve seen a clear learning effect: incidents of damage and theft have been reduced because processes are more transparent and people are exercising greater caution."
"We were looking for a future-oriented, state-of-the-art video solution that could be flexibly scaled and that we could rely on for the long term. With the CargoVIS video solution from DIVIS, we can clearly document liability transfers and investigate claims in a targeted manner."
David de Vega
Head of Industrial Engineering, Processes, and Innovation
at pfenning Group
"The collaboration has been very cooperative from the very beginning. We were particularly impressed by the high level of flexibility during the project phase and the willingness to continue developing new features together."
David de Vega
Head of Industrial Engineering, Processes, and Innovation
at pfenning Group
Support for the security department
In addition to shipment tracking and damage investigation, the DIVIS solution also supports the internal security organization. Thanks to comprehensive camera coverage and live views, outdoor guard tours — for example, at night — can be monitored via the software, reducing the need for physical guard tours. The system can also be connected to a control center. This makes CargoVIS not only a tool for operational logistics processes but also a key component of the pfenning Group’s security strategy. The solution helps to assess critical incidents more quickly, inspect relevant areas in a targeted manner, and deploy resources more efficiently.
Collaborative partnership with DIVIS
pfenning also gave the project implementation a positive review, describing the collaboration with DIVIS as solution-oriented and flexible. The support provided by sales and project management, as well as the openness to further software developments, were particularly impressive. For the pfenning Group, it was crucial not only to implement a technical solution but also to gain a long-term partner for jointly developing new functions and requirements.
Conclusion
With CargoVIS and License Plate+, the pfenning Group has implemented a state-of-the-art video solution that enhances transparency, security and efficiency at its Heddesheim and Mecklar locations. The solution supports shipment tracking, assists in investigating damage claims, enforces theft prevention, and streamlines operational and security-related processes. The implementation of DIVIS technology thus represents another clear step toward the future for the logistics specialist. Traditional surveillance is transformed into an intelligent system that links data, images, and events, thereby creating tangible added value in day-to-day logistics operations.
BACKGROUND
pfenning-Gruppe
The pfenning Group, headquartered in Heddesheim, Hesse, is a long-established full-service provider of logistics and supply chain solutions. The family-owned company employs approximately 7,000 people at 110 locations in Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Sweden.
With approximately 1,000,000 square meters of warehouse space and a fleet of 1,000 trucks, the group offers extensive capacity for both retail and industry, making it one of Germany’s leading retail logistics providers. The pfenning Group is now in its third generation of leadership under the Pfenning family.
