If you follow the news closely you will be aware that our shopping habits are changing rapidly with the advance of technology, and online shopping is quickly overtaking the high street as our shopping venue of choice. Although this is great news for e-commerce businesses in general, it also highlights the importance of packaging as nobody wants to receive a damaged package in the post. This is where a box sealer machine comes in.

If you look at online shopping from a customer’s point of view, all they want is to receive the correct products quickly in undamaged packaging.  From an online retailer’s point of view, this means that they need to not select the right packaging that not only appeals to their customers but will also survive the journey to the customer as well. Receiving a parcel with damaged outer packaging is a real disappointment for many customers, and can have a damaging effect on how the customer feels about the products received and the company who sent them as well.

Recent statistics show that parcel deliveries within the UK are predicted to grow to about 1.35 billion deliveries this year, and this figure keeps on moving up and up. This means that it is now, more than ever, really important for retailers (and all businesses) to ensure that their products are well-protected and wrapped correctly.  PakPrint can help with this as we offer a wide range of siat box taping machines to aid you in successful delivery, whether you are a B2C or a B2B retailer.

In this article, we will take a look at the average shipping process, so that you can identify possible areas of improvement.

Stage 1 – Effective Packing

On average there are 50 touchpoints between a parcel being packed for delivery and reaching the customer – and that is a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong! In order to protect your products in transit, you should ensure that the products are packed centrally in the right box, a void is used to protect the products by filling the gaps, and appropriate labelling (such as fragile tape) is used.

There are lots of different types of packaging out there, such as mug boxes and wine bottle packaging, so getting the right box for the job should be pretty straightforward, and this will ensure your product is well protected.  Printed tape, such as ‘Fragile and ‘This Way Up’ is also available, and this is a good way to ensure that everyone who handles the parcel during its journey is aware of any special instructions.

Stage 2 – Quality Packaging

The rise of social media and the popularity of videos showing people unboxing their orders means that nowadays quality packaging is part of the customer service process and one way of gaining a competitive advantage in your market. Not only do they offer the customer less risk of receiving a damaged package, they also offer you the option of getting exactly the right package for your product in order to protect any specific areas more carefully. Quality packaging will also have been designed specifically to be durable and strong as well.

Stage 3 – In-House Testing

There will need to be a little bit of testing done in-house to make sure you get the balance right. After all, you don’t want to spend a large amount of high-quality packaging that protects your product but is too large for the products you are shipping and is therefore uneconomical. Undertaking some drop tests in-house should help you identify the ideal product and packaging ratio to ensure your products survive their journey while reducing your packaging and wastage costs.

Stage 4 – Chosen Courier

The courier you choose to ship your products is a really important decision, as they are representing your company to your end customer.  Therefore, you need to keep an eye on customer complaints, for your company and the courier company in general, in order to ensure that issues are resolved quickly and that poor customer service reviews are kept to a minimum.  Having regular meetings with your chosen courier service is also a good idea, as it helps you to build up a good relationship with them.

Stage 5 – Packaging Options

Reviewing the packaging you use on a regular basis means that you will keep on top of any inappropriate packaging use and handling problems. Proven ways to reduce packaging issues include investing in a box sealer machine and trying new types of packaging, for example. As tempting as it is to go for the cheapest packaging option, you should weigh up this cost-saving at the beginning of the product’s journey with the potential costs of damage in transit and an unhappy customer at the end. It is often wiser to spend a little more on the packaging and save yourself the hassle in the long run.

Stage 6 – Customer Feedback Monitoring

Having a customer feedback process in place means that you should be able to quickly identify any weak points in your delivery system, and enable you to keep your customers happy while avoiding rising costs relating to damaged parcel replacements and refunds.

If you are thinking about upgrading your packaging process by investing in a 3m case sealer or similar then give our friendly team a call today, they will be happy to share their experiences with you. Contact us on 01924 483000 or send us an email to enquiries@pakprint.co.uk