Pallet solves CAPTCHA
Sushanth Raman, CEO and founder 
Pallet Agents can now handle CAPTCHAs
Pallet Agents can now solve CAPTCHAs on carrier and other third-party portals, removing a common obstacle to end-to-end browser automation.
Building on our Browser Automation capabilities, agents can navigate security challenges and continue executing workflows without requiring a person to step in.
What Pallet Agents can do now
We've added support for several CAPTCHA types encountered on ocean carrier portals, including:
- Distorted text (for example, Yang Ming's portal)
- Image-based challenges (for example, Wan Hai's portal)
- Cloudflare challenges (for example, CMA CGM's portal)
CAPTCHAs vary across portals, and we're continuing to expand coverage.
Consider a customer requesting proof of delivery (POD):
- A customer emails requesting proof of delivery.
- The agent logs into the carrier's portal.
- When a CAPTCHA appears, the agent solves it and continues.
- The agent locates the shipment and retrieves its status and POD.
- The agent updates the TMS and responds to the customer.
Previously, a CAPTCHA could interrupt this workflow and require human assistance. With CAPTCHA handling, agents can complete the process without interruption.
Why CAPTCHAs are difficult for AI agents
CAPTCHAs are designed to distinguish humans from automated software, making them particularly challenging for browser-based agents.
There are two primary challenges.
- Visual complexity. CAPTCHAs use distorted text, image recognition puzzles, and other visual challenges designed to be difficult for automated systems to interpret.
- Behavioral detection. Many CAPTCHA systems evaluate more than the answer itself. They also examine signals such as mouse movements, cookies, IP addresses, and browser session behavior. Even a correct answer can fail if the session is flagged as automated.
Agents must not only interpret what's on the screen but also operate within browser sessions that meet the portal's security requirements.
Four levels of browser automation
Much of supply chain work still depends on operators navigating browser-based applications. Automating these workflows typically progresses through four levels:
Level 1: Manual operations. Operators log into portals and complete workflows by hand.
Level 2: Scripted automation. Software executes predetermined browser actions but can break when page layouts change or unexpected challenges appear.
Level 3: Browser agents. AI agents interpret browser interfaces, determine the next action, and navigate workflows dynamically.
Level 4: End-to-end agents. Agents handle complex browser interactions and exceptions well enough that a person doesn't have to babysit the workflow.
CAPTCHA belongs in Level 4. A scripted tool can't read a distorted image or look like a legitimate user, and an agent that can only navigate normal pages stalls at the first challenge. Handling CAPTCHAs is part of what lets Pallet Agents finish the work without a person standing by.
Where CAPTCHAs appear in supply chain workflows
CAPTCHAs appear on carrier and ocean carrier portals, LTL and parcel portals, customs and government portals, warehouse appointment portals, supplier and customer portals, and login pages. We've seen them on ocean carrier portals including but not limited to Yang Ming, Wan Hai, and CMA CGM.
How it works
Pallet Agents use visual understanding to interpret and respond to image-based challenges. Their instructions are refined through repeated testing to improve reliability.
For security checks that evaluate browser behavior and session characteristics, Pallet uses Kernel, our browser infrastructure partner, to support browser sessions that meet applicable portal requirements.
When an agent encounters a challenge it cannot confidently resolve, it escalates to an operator rather than guessing.
Using it responsibly
Some websites restrict automated access under their terms of service. Pallet works on behalf of customers with authorized access to the portals they use, and we encourage teams to review the terms of the portals as they plan automation.
Get started
Browser workflows shouldn't stop at a CAPTCHA.
Book a demo to see how Pallet Agents automate workflows across carrier and third-party portals, from login to TMS updates.