10 packaging tips for e-commerce

Time is money – and within the e-commerce sector this is probably even more true. We want every order to get from point A to point B at lightning speed. But not only speed is important. You also want your products to get to the end customer protected and in an efficient way. A damaged product is no use to anyone… Speed, efficiency and customer satisfaction are therefore three indispensable factors in e-commerce. These 10 packaging tips will help you on your way to making your e-commerce packaging a success.

Our ten packaging tips for e-commerce

► Tip 1: Save time thanks to automatic bottom boxes

The first from our list of packaging tips revolves around auto-bottom boxes. As the name suggests, this type of box folds very quickly, much faster than a regular box. The box sets up automatically when you press the sides. So your packers don’t lose precious seconds. A box with an automatic bottom is set up in 9 seconds. With a standard box, it takes an average of 22 seconds. A big difference at the end of the working day! A packer who processes 250 packages per day saves as much as 1 hour of work!

► Tip 2: save costs thanks to customised boxes

Transport can be fierce at times. If you want to get your products safely to the customer, you will need to protect your products firmly with shock-resistant material. But that material often represents a big cost for an e-commerce business – a cost you’d rather keep to a minimum. So opt for a box with a variable fill height or a lidded box. You simply adjust the height of such boxes according to your product. Extremely handy because this way you need to use much less filling material per box!

► Tip 3: think of the environment with recyclable packaging

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment. For many consumers, a box that is too big and full of filling material is no longer acceptable. Make sure your boxes are adapted to the size of the product, but also that they are recyclable. Eco-friendly packaging will certainly be able to count on your customers’ satisfaction and only enhance your image!

► Tip 4: Provide easy return shipping

Suppose you buy an item of clothing online but it turns out not to fit so well after all. Then you just want to return it, right? Many online shops offer that option but then your customer must have a good return box. Thanks to a shipping bag or box with return closure, that problem is solved for the customer! The box has a self-adhesive closing strip that one uses if the parcel needs to be resent. Easy for the customer, because he no longer has to look for a new box. And easy for you, because you can be sure that your product will be delivered back to you in a sturdy box. So you can offer the product again in your webshop.

► Tip 5: avoid accidents with extra sturdy boxes

Even if your products are well protected, you want the box itself to reach the customer preferably undamaged. Many customers see a damaged box as a bad sign… And of course you want to avoid any negative impression on the customer. For even better protection of your products, it is therefore best to choose a more robust double-corrugated cardboard box. A double-corrugated box has 2 layers of cardboard and is therefore much more shock-resistant compared to a standard single-corrugated box.

► Tip 6: make your brand stand out with personalised packaging

Customers appreciate your packages even more if they look attractive – for example, by using your logo or house colours. Personalised packaging is clearly on the rise. They give your brand more visibility and also increase customer satisfaction. Research shows that attractive and personalised packaging is shared by 40% of customers on social media or recommended to acquaintances.¹

► Tip 7: pack faster with the right packaging machines

Making your packaging fit as closely as possible around your product should always be your goal. If you can’t achieve that 100%, you will have to fill the empty spaces in your package. Which brings us to number 7 of our packaging tips. Make your own padding material in the form of bubble wrap, air cushions or padding paper. All you need? A decent paper cushion or air cushion machine. In many cases, you can simply rent these (such as from RAJA) so you don’t have to make a big investment.

► Tip 8: Choose suitable protection for your products

Not all products can be put in a box and wrapped with standard paper or air cushions. So make sure your packaging material is well adapted to your product. Food or medicines, for example, are best sent in an isothermal box. This ensures they are protected against temperature fluctuations and excessive temperatures. Are you shipping electronic equipment or components? Then do not forget to use anti-static packaging. You can always recognise this type of packaging by its pink colour. And then there are shipping tubes – ideal for large photos or posters.

► Tip 9: Make sure boxes are easy to open

When your customer receives his parcel, he only thinks about one thing: opening it as soon as possible! So don’t make things difficult for your customer and make sure his box is easy to open. 55% of customers are annoyed if their parcel is difficult to open*. When packing, don’t overdo it with too many layers of packaging tape but choose a sturdy tape of which you only need one layer. With a tear-open perforation , you will make your customer’s life even easier. With the same ease as opening a zip, he can unpack his order.

► Tip 10: don’t lose time thanks to efficient warehouse layout

Efficiency is around the corner even before you get around to packing. So make sure you store your products clearly with an orderly warehouse layout. With stacking and storage bins, you can sort everything in an orderly fashion and make your order picking go more smoothly. The faster you get your parcels processed with the right packing tips, the faster they will get to your customers and the happier everyone will be. After all, that’s what we do it for!

Source:
^1E-commercePackaging Preferences Survey Shorr