7 Packaging Tips for Shipping Your Goods Efficiently

Depending on the nature of your business, there’s a good chance that you rely on shipping goods to customers to achieve sales. However, the process of packaging goods can be time-consuming and it’s important to avoid mistakes, which is often easier said than done.

The good news is that any business can take steps to ensure their products are shipped safely and on time, resulting in happy customers. Here’s a brief look at a few packaging tips for efficient and effective shipping. 

1. Choose The Right Packaging

There’s no way around it – choosing the right packaging for your product is essential. For example, the packaging should be strong enough to help protect the product inside, while it can also offer other benefits.

For example, package design can make a considerable difference to the desirability of your product, helping to boost sales and marketing. When done right, your packaging can be an integral part of your overall marketing machine.

On the flip side, choosing cheap materials for your packaging can make your product also feel cheap – and in most cases, you want your product to feel premium.

It’s also a good idea to use sustainable packaging materials where possible. Today’s consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about our environment. As such, it’s a good idea to pay attention and focus on eco-friendly packaging where possible.

2. Use Padding And Inserts

Your orders will inevitably experience the occasional bumpy ride when in transport. And if your products are not sufficiently protected then damage is likely to occur in transit.

An effective and affordable way to help protect products during transit is to use padding and inserts. Padding like bubble wrap and Styrofoam help offer affordable and effective protection, while inserts will help ensure your products are held firmly in place. 

Adding additional protection for your products can also help enhance your brand image and promote sales when done right. For example, a little imagination can help you enhance the unboxing experience, which will encourage new customers and recommendations.

3. Organize For Efficiency

If you have to walk to the other end of the warehouse to collect the right product then the process is going to take longer overall. One way to overcome this is to try and organize your warehouse or stock room so the products you need are closer to the packaging area. That way, you can package your products faster, letting your team move on to the next task. 

Another packaging tip is to store your products pre-packed and ready to go. This approach will help you send orders quickly and accurately, keeping your customers happy. It’s also a good idea to keep your best sellers close to the packaging area and try to keep products close to each other if they’re often purchased together.

At SFI, we follow all the best practices for optimal flow in our warehouses and during our e-commerce fulfillment process.

4. Create Workflows

Creating a proper workflow will help your packaging process go much more smoothly and with fewer errors. This is because workflows help let everybody know what their responsibilities are and help the group work together as a team for more efficiency.

To create efficient workflows, it’s best to analyze your processes to understand every step involved. You can then assign individuals or teams to these specific roles, ensuring each step of the process is being handled. You can also recruit the help of a professional logistics company, like SFI, to ensure a positive customer experience.  

But don’t forget that creating the workflow is just one step toward making your packaging process more efficient and accurate. You should also continue to monitor the progress of your packaging tasks, helping you identify bottlenecks and other issues that could be slowing you down. 

5. Label Clearly

On average, the picking error rate is between 1% and 3%. And while this doesn’t sound much, it can equate to a considerable loss of income over the years.

An impactful packaging tip that will help reduce such errors is to ensure you label clearly and honestly tell people what is in the packaging. You can achieve this in numerous ways, such as having details printed on the box, while you can also use branded stickers. 

Some business owners might be tempted to use catchy slogans to help make their products more appealing, but this can backfire if the messaging is confusing. While creativity is always welcome in marketing, it should never come at the expense of clarity. After all, inaccurate descriptions are one of the leading causes of customs delays. 

A good way to help ensure your labels are clear is to ask others for their opinion. This approach will help ensure an honest, unbiased opinion while you might also get recommendations on how to improve it.

6. Prepare For Seasonal Trends

Demand for particular products ebbs and flows due as seasons change and other factors affect consumer behavior. In many cases, you will already know what to expect during certain times of the year, like increases in summer wear as the hotter months approach. 

Some trends are not so obvious and will require research to recognize. For example, tools like Google Trends help you see what people are talking about online, helping you anticipate trends. 

Regardless, preparing for trends typically involves stocking up well beforehand. However, you should also be mindful of potentially ending up with stock that’s no longer in demand. 

7. Use The Right Software

Managing many orders can become complex and the more complicated your process is, the more prone it is to human error and other issues. One of the best packaging tips for alleviating this issue is to use software that has tools that will help make the process easier. 

Modern software can automate many processes, helping to prevent human error. Such tools can also give you useful reports providing valuable insights into your overall processes.

Summary

Packaging is often time-consuming and error-prone, but you can take steps to help make the process easier and more reliable for you. And not only can this mean products arrive intact and on time, but the right packaging can even help you make more sales. If you would like any more information on shipping your goods effectively then get in touch and we will be happy to help. The team at SFI has deep experience with the packaging and logistics industry and will be happy to lend packaging tips that will help your business flourish. You can also count on us for excellent customer service, making us a valuable business ally.