How Warehousing Impacts Product Packaging

When choosing a type of packaging for your goods, you’re probably considering things like how it would look on a retail shelf, how well it showcases your product, how well it will hold up when shipped, and how much it will add to the cost of your product.

But did you know you should also consider warehousing and distribution factors? That’s because changes in the warehousing and logistics industry could very well impact your product packaging. Here’s how:

Automation

Third party logistics providers (3PLs), like Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution and Services, are tapping into sophisticated automated technology to respond to growing demands for more effective and efficient services. The end customer is demanding goods faster and distribution centers are responding by utilizing advances in technology.

This automation goes beyond bar codes and looks to enhance logistics in both inbound and outbound operations. When selecting packaging for your goods, it’s important to know whether it will be compatible with automated operations. Otherwise, manual handling of your product could hinder your company’s ability to get your goods out quickly and accurately to your end customers.

In addition, complete automation of the warehousing and distribution functions means you can track your goods at every stage of the supply chain. This allows you to better respond to product demands, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction.

Picking and Filling Logistics

The growth of e-commerce and mobile commerce means a change in order fulfillment from mass processing to customization and personalization. Order fulfillment and processing has become more complex, with a greater number of orders requiring custom packing, special labeling, compiling of special materials, or bundling.

While automation will certainly help in streamlining the process, simplifying the manner in which your goods are individually packaged will add to the savings, both in costs and order processing time.

To keep your pick and pack costs down, choose product packaging that can adapt to the varied and unique requests of customizations from your customers.

Packing Containers

New equipment in the logistics area is making it possible for public warehouses to offer packing approaches that promote sustainability while reducing shipping costs. This is already being realized with filling materials and the focus is now on packing, such as crates, cases, and shipping boxes.

One method is customizing packing dimensions to the near exact size of the goods being shipped. In fact, specialized equipment automatically creates a shipping box to the actual dimension of goods being shipped.

Another method under development features containers that can be used for both raw materials and finished goods that are reconfigurable and reusable. These types of containers will work with automation and allow for shipping of goods in many different shapes, sizes, and quantities. These shipping containers can be made in standard, customized, or modular dimensions and be embedded with tracking technology for traceability.

When deciding on your product packaging, be sure to involve your warehousing partner because its team can contribute information on the latest in packing materials that will benefit your business.

Shipping Operations

Over the years, there have been significant shifts in distribution, in particular shipping operations.

It used to be that warehousing and distribution handled mainly full pallets. But now, public warehouses are seeing more demand for personalization, such as shipping of multiple shipment sizes, whether it’s an individual case or a full mixed pallet.

With this flexibility, the size and type of your product packaging can contribute to reduced shipping costs as well.

Consult with Brendamour on Your Product Packaging

At Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution and Services, we offer a complete line of logistics services that can help you save money in order fulfillment, order processing, packing, and distribution.

What’s more, we believe in partnering with the businesses we serve to help them achieve their goals. If you’re debuting a new product, or thinking about repackaging your existing goods, get in touch with us first and tap into the knowledge we have about the warehousing, distribution and logistics industries.

With our expertise and awareness of future trends, we can save you money, improve logistics, and enhance your customer satisfaction levels.