eCommerce Packaging and Shipping
This is Chapter 7 of 13 in our eBook on eCommerce Fulfillment for 3PL Warehouses. See the link below to download the full ebook
Packaging and Shipping is often the most critical step of an eCommerce Fulfillment operation. Any inefficiencies in ordering, batching, picking, pick aisle design, or replenishments will have a ripple effect that slows packaging. The packers are the last line of defense when ensuring the correct products make it to the client on-time and accurately, so it is recommended to design a packing station that allows for checking and verifying the accuracy of orders while organizing products into shipping containers and printing labels.
If there is low variability within an order batch, a packing station may just be a simple area where packages are organized and labels are affixed, while a visual inspection is done on an entire batch to confirm the products look correct for the batch. However, if each order can have different types and quantities of items, a software-driven packing station may be recommended.
At a software-driven packing station, a user will be interacting with a packaging screen in their WMS software. The user will scan a barcode that identifies the order to see what needs to be placed in the shipping container. The items may be scanned as they are packed to ensure accuracy. The packaging screen can record details about this interaction for auditors to check later. As the boxes are complete, the system can generate packing lists, retailer compliant labels, and carrier shipping labels.
Considering that the packers are one of the few resources in the process that will be required to touch each item of every order, software-driven packing stations need to be optimized to synchronize with the exact details of the packers’ movements. Those movements are unique for each client, product type, and warehouse, which means that the software will often have to be configured or possibly programmatically customized for the operation.
If inefficiencies are found during packaging, it is recommended to not only review the packaging procedure, but also look upstream at batching, picking, and all earlier processes as possible areas for improvement.
For example, if a packing station finds that they are having difficulty matching the products to the orders because each subsequent packaging
request seems to be for a different SKU, reworking the batching and prioritization rules to keep similar items together would improve
packaging efficiency. Or changing from a batch replenishment to a pick aisle with more optimized slotting would be more appropriate due to the variability of the orders.
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