Packaging is an area that business leaders often overlook when looking for ways to reduce operating costs. From reducing warehouse space to investing in automated case-packing solutions, businesses have many opportunities to cut packaging costs. Choosing the suitable materials for your product will save you money on shipping rates, warehousing, and storage. But how do you know what the best options are?
Look for Special Offers
What you pack your product in has the most significant impact on packaging costs. It includes the box, void fillers, and inserts such as business cards or user manuals. Minimizing packaging sizes and using more universal types of packaging can reduce your packaging cost per unit by cutting down on production times, material costs, and transportation costs.
When purchasing packaging products, consider buying in bulk to get better prices. However, if your company has limited storage space or needs to negotiate shipping rates for larger volumes of products, it may be better to buy smaller quantities.
Another hidden cost of packaging is transit damage. Items damaged during shipment incur additional costs through returns, replacements, and written-off stock. Quality, durable commercial packaging Minneapolis invests in your company’s reputation and customer satisfaction. Use padded envelopes for small, lightweight shipments to minimize damage and protect your customer experience. It can also save you money on dimensional fees.
Invest in Better Packaging
The packaging does a lot more than carry branding or protect products. It can convey your business’s values, build brand loyalty, and more. Investing in better packaging that suits your company’s needs can reduce overall costs and save you money on shipping expenses through reduced weight and space. A complete analysis of your packaging materials, assembly, and shipping practices can highlight areas for cost savings without sacrificing product quality. For instance, reducing your packaging size to fit more in a box can cut warehouse space and shipping costs. Eliminating void fill or unnecessary inserts can also cut costs. Using durable, high-quality materials is a wise investment that will pay off in the long run. It will reduce transit damage, bad customer reviews, and lost sales. For example, durable corrugated boxes protect fragile products, and compact, lightweight packaging decreases dimensional pricing costs. In addition, automated packing machines can speed up production and reduce labour costs.
Invest in Storage
Investing in storage helps businesses minimize material waste and other associated costs, including transportation and labour. It’s important for e-commerce retailers and businesses that utilize outsourced fulfilment companies. Packaging optimization can save your company thousands if not millions, each year. Choosing suitable materials, reducing dimensions, and eliminating unnecessary void fill can significantly save shipping, warehousing, and inventory costs. The right kind of storage also helps reduce the amount of lost or damaged products in transit. It can be costly to ship broken goods back to customers, and the resulting bad reviews and poor customer experiences can hurt your brand reputation and sales.
Using warehouse management software can help reduce warehouse and packing costs by optimizing routes, consolidating orders, and streamlining processes. It enables your company to get the most out of your existing inventory and avoid additional purchasing costs, such as storage fees. In addition, this solution can ensure that your employees always have the packaging they need to process orders.
Invest in Packaging Technology
Packaging technology can save your business money on materials, labour, storage, and transportation costs. Redesigning packaging, selecting suitable materials, and maximizing sizes can result in yearly savings of thousands or even millions of dollars. Durable corrugated boxes prevent transit damage, while compact and lightweight packaging reduces dimensional weight expenses. Using intelligent, automated machines means less human error and more precision, meaning better packaging for the exact cost. Proper packaging can help your company build brand loyalty and attract repeat customers. Customers love to share unboxing videos and photos of their products, which can boost social media engagement, increasing your company’s visibility. Having one supplier for all your packaging materials also ensures lower unit prices as they can be ordered in bulk. Moreover, automation reduces the time employees spend on packaging and increases productivity.
