In the dynamic world of eCommerce fulfillment, pick and pack services play a pivotal role in ensuring that products move seamlessly from the warehouse to a customer’s mailbox. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of picking and packing, exploring their significance and the fulfillment processes behind them.
Understanding Pick and Pack Services
The Basics
Pick and pack services encompass the order fulfillment process from the selection (picking) of items from the warehouse to the packing and shipping of those items. is the right process should optimize efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Picking: The First Step
The picking phase involves selecting items from the warehouse shelves to fulfill customer orders. There are many picking strategies – single-order picking, batch picking, zone picking, cluster picking, wave picking. The most efficient strategy will depend on your operation. Ideally, your warehouse management system or your 3PL’s WMS will help manage the most efficient picking process. Picking can be largely manual and it can involve the use of technology such as barcode scanners and automated systems such as robots. The goal is to ensure accuracy and speed in gathering the necessary products for each order.
Sorting and Packing: Precision Matters
Once items are picked, the next step is sorting and packing. This stage involves organizing the selected items, carefully packaging them according to set packaging guidelines, doing a quality check to ensure that the items packed exactly match the order, and then readying the box or bag for shipment. Attention to detail is crucial during this packout stage to avoid damage during transit and to provide a positive unboxing experience for the customer.
Shipping: The Final Mile
After packing, the products are labeled and dispatched for shipping. Timely and accurate shipping is critical in meeting customer expectations. Pick and pack operations for direct-to-consumer fulfillment generally rely on major parcel carriers for the final mile. Parcel costs can account for as much as 70% of your total fulfillment costs, so it pays to manage your parcel costs closely.
Why Lean on a 3PL for Pick and Pack Fulfillment
There are several advantages to partnering with a 3PL fulfillment provider instead of doing it yourself.
Technology Integration
Your 3PL provider will likely have invested in technology that boosts the efficiency of pick and pack services. Warehouse management systems (WMS) and inventory management software contribute to a seamless operation –improving accuracy and also allowing for real-time tracking of inventory levels.
Cost-Efficiency and Scalability
Outsourcing pick and pack services can be a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. By relying on the expertise of a fulfillment provider, companies can focus on their core business while leaving the intricacies of order fulfillment to specialists. Additionally, outsourced pick and pack services tend to be very scalable, accommodating fluctuations in demand with ease and then ratcheting back manpower as volume dissipate. This helps your fulfillment costs parallel your revenue stream.
Speed and Accuracy
A well-executed pick and pack process can be a competitive advantage as it directly influences the overall customer experience. A 3PL’s technology and staffing capabilities are crucial components here, helping to foster customer satisfaction and reduce returns.
Lean on Kanban Logistics for East Coast Pick and Pack Services
If you’re looking to fulfill orders on the East Coast, you can’t do much better than Eastern North Carolina – home of Kanban Logistics’ logistics campuses. Kanban’s NC warehousing operation provides over one-million square feet of space exactly halfway between Boston and Miami. This allows you to reach 70% of the U.S. population in just one day.
Our pick and pack fulfillment operations at a glance:
- Process design. We’ll work with you to design an efficient pick and pack process to minimize your labor and per-order fulfillment costs.
- Value-Added Services – In addition to standard pick and pack functions, Kanban offers value-added solutions such as kitting, packaging, and product rework services. Whatever your requirement, we can customize our process to deliver exactly what you need.
- Quality checks. As an ISO-certified company, Kanban makes sure that what was ordered is what goes out, avoiding returns and unhappy customers.
To learn more about our supply chain services and start a conversation, contact us today.
