Efficient product protection in B2B shipping
4min read
13/02/2019
What typically goes into a parcel when your postal or courier service collects it from you?
Cardboard, filling and cushioning material, goods, flyers, accompanying documents (cover letter, invoice, warranty certificate…), adhesive tape, document bag? Congratulations: Then your parcel looks like the other 3.16 billion parcels that are sent every year. From business to consumer (47%), from business to business (48%) and from private household to private household (5%).
In good company, then?
B2B shipping is about efficiency, product protection and cost
In many cases it actually plays a minor role whether your shipment stands out from the crowd or not. If, for example, B2B shipments are being sent, i.e. from one company to another – the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors are the frontrunners here – then it is actually less about conjuring up a “warm feeling” in the recipient’s stomach as soon as they receive the parcel. It’s more about efficiency, product protection and costs.
A short digression: shipping to the end customer
The case is completely different for the other half of the more than 10 million items sent daily. If you ship to the end consumer, you can achieve valuable customer loyalty and even a reduced returns rate by personalising your shipping packaging.
Reducing shipping costs: possible approaches
So you won’t be able to do without the components mentioned above. But we will show you how you can possibly reduce your transport costs by optimising one or more components for your shipping.
Optimise the box size
Because: Transport is cost factor number one in logistics. To reduce transport costs, the weight and volume of the packaging must be reduced. Determine recurring order sizes (single product or multiple product) to determine the more suitable carton sizes. After all, the closer the carton is to the products, the lower the volume and weight of your packaging. And without any negative consequences for product protection! On the contrary: the best protection is a suitable carton! We offer you a very convenient way to find the ideal carton size on our webshop: Thanks to our specialised search engine, the carton finder.
Check alternatives: The use of mailing bags
Shipping costs are largely determined by weight and volume. An easy way to reduce both: Replace the shipping box with shipping bags. Especially for products that are not sensitive to impact (such as clothing), shipping bags are a cheaper alternative for postage. Environmentally friendly shipping.
Compared to the “rigid” cardboard box, the shipping bag requires less filling and padding material – it adapts to the size and shape of the packaged products. A plus not only for postage but also for the environment.
Optimise your product protection
Maybe there are cheaper materials that protect your products at least as well during shipping as the ones you currently use? Test a lighter alternative to your cushioning material with the help of a RAJAPACK expert. In the field of electronics, cosmetics, parapharmaceuticals or even spirits, some customers have chosen packaging with integrated film – and had good experiences with it. Or check with us whether the purchase of a cushioning machine is profitable!
Check alternatives, for example document pockets
We offer these indispensable helpers in the classic 60µ or 70µ quality made of LDPE. Depending on the transport route of your parcel, whether it is a domestic shipment or a shipment to non-EU countries, this extremely durable and weather-resistant variant is the best choice.
However, it is not uncommon for the more cost-effective, 25µ thick CPP document bag to meet all requirements.
Talk to our experts about the advantages and disadvantages of this option.
By the way: You can also have the document pouches personalised. Company colours, logo printing, contact details or individual text: Talk to us!
In 2018, our supplier Anton Debatin produced 1.2 billion document pouches. 60% of these were personalised, i.e. designed according to specific customer wishes.
Tip:
The document bags can also be used for other purposes in the company: Attached to doors, shelves or open fronted storage bins, for example, important documents can be kept accessible to everyone – without long searches and safe from gusts of wind, tidying mania and the like
Check alternatives, for example with adhesive tape
When it comes to adhesive tape, it is also worth checking: What do I expect from my adhesive tape in terms of adhesive strength, durability, resistance to cold or heat? The following diagram gives a good overview of the different materials and their respective advantages. Printed parcel tape also makes your boxes an attractive advertising medium.
