How Bale Index works
Every authorised participant works through the same three phases. We review your organisation first. Then you register consignments and follow them through agreed checkpoints. And whatever comes back from downstream gets linked to the consignment it belongs to. One record, kept straight.
The process
The three phase journey
- OnboardSet up your organisation profile, tell us your role and send over the documents we need for review. What we ask for depends on what you do.
- TrackRegister a consignment and it gets a Bale Index ID. From there you follow it through the agreed checkpoints, handover by handover.
- Verify and reportCapture approved evidence, record what happened downstream and pull the reports your role gives you access to.
On the move
Registered before it moves. Followed the whole way.
Step by step
What happens in practice
- Organisation reviewWe look at your organisation profile and supporting records before access is approved. Nobody registers a consignment before we’ve looked at who’s registering it.
- Consignment registrationApproved users enter the essentials: where it’s from, what’s in it, how much there is and where it’s going.
- One ID per consignmentA Bale Index ID ties the consignment to its authorised records and evidence. One consignment, one ID, one place to look.
- Movement trackingStatus updates build the record of key handovers and locations. By the time the container lands, the journey reads back in order.
- Evidence captureApproved evidence attaches to the record. That can include inspection records, images, laboratory findings and what’s observed further down the chain.
- Outcome reportingRecovery outcomes are recorded against the consignment they belong to and reported by role. You see what your role is approved to see.
Who it’s for
Who the process is built for
- ExportersRegister consignments, keep your declarations accurate and share approved records with your trading partners.
- ImportersReview what’s on the shipment, confirm receipt at your end and see the evidence behind a supplier’s performance.
- RegulatorsAuthorised data that can support oversight, standards and market safeguards. We show the workings. The judgement stays yours.
- Market associationsHelp your members take part and see the market picture that’s been agreed: aggregated insight, not anyone’s private records.
- Recovery partnersRecord what happened to the material: handling, recovery and residual, with the evidence to back each one.
- Brands and fundersReview authorised programme evidence and the impact reporting built on it.
Trust
Verification and trust
- Document reviewEverything you submit is checked for completeness and relevance before it counts.
- Profile approvalAccess switches on once your organisation meets the requirements that apply to it. Not before.
- Evidence reviewDownstream evidence is checked for accuracy, relevance and connection to the right consignment. A photo proves little unless it’s the right bale.
- Audit historyAuthorised actions and changes are recorded, so review rests on the record, not on anyone’s recollection.
Live Bale Labs
When a declaration isn’t enough
Some records need more than what’s written on the paperwork. Where stronger evidence is needed, Live Bale Labs adds material observation and assessment, and the findings are linked to the relevant Bale Index record. Who sees them follows your permissions.
Start with the workflow that fits your organisation
The requirements aren’t the same for everyone. Tell us your role and we’ll walk you through the onboarding, the information we’ll ask for and the evidence you’ll be expected to hold. And if you’d rather see it working before you decide anything, book a demo. No strings.