Apr 01
philsnyOrder Fulfillment FedEx, Order Fulfillment, Packaging, Shipping, UPS
Carrier pricing for package shipments is based on the shipment’s destination and time in transit as well as it’s package weight and dimensions. Since the destination is set by the customer the most often area targeted for cost savings is the time in transit (or service level). While selecting a Ground or Mail service with a longer transit time can save money it is not the only way to reduce costs. Lesser known is minimizing the size of the shipment’s packaging to save on dimensional weight charges.
Dimensional weight always applies for FedEx, UPS and DHL domestic air and international shipments. For FedEx and UPS Ground shipments it applies over three cubic feet. Carriers charge based on the greater of weight or dims. The length, width and/or height of a package can easily turn a 10 pound package into a 40 pound package, thus increasing the cost of the shipment.
ProPack has designed a series of custom boxes for use by it’s clients. These boxes have scores (or perforated lines) at 2, 4 and 6 inches down from the top of the box. This allows ProPack’s expert packagers the flexibility to “score” down a box to the exact size needed for the product inside. Eliminating any excess height to a package saves on potential dimensional weight charges.
ProPack’s custom sizable boxes help save it’s clients on their shipping costs. This is yet another way that ProPack uses innovation to add value and reduce costs in the supply chain for it’s clients.
Mar 21
philsnyOrder Fulfillment, Technology 3rd Party Logistics, Order Fulfillment, Packaging, Returns, Shipping, Technology, Warehousing
Product returns go hand-in-hand with shipping orders. Anyone who orders a product online assumes that they can somehow return that product if it becomes defective or is not what they ordered. Thus, companies shipping product need to be prepared to receive and process returns. When these same companies use a fulfillment warehouse they need to be aware of the returns processing capabilities of their 3rd party provider.
Returns come in a variety of flavors. A shipment can be refused by a consignee and returned to its sender. Likewise, there can be a bad address, causing the shipment to be returned. In both cases the package was not opened and the product can simply be returned to the shelf in the warehouse. Otherwise, a consignee can receive a shipment and later decide to return all or part of the items in the shipment. In this case, an RMS number is often issued by the company along with an address and instructions for how and where to return the item.
The warehouse receiving the return needs to be prepared to quickly receive, identify and report on its contents and condition. Returns must be processed swiftly since the customer is waiting to get a credit back for their purchase. Online visibility is also key for the company to monitor their returns through the process.
ProPack has built a complete returns processing system for receiving, processing and providing online visibility to all client returns. Returns are first entered into our system, complete with an inventory of each item contained within. Clients then receive an email detailing the return and its contents. Once the client authorizes action on the return, its contents are then returned to the shelf, discarded, returned to the customer or held for further inspection. This whole process is visible online along with a complete history of a client’s returns.
Returns are an intricate part of picking, packing and shipping orders. At ProPack, we’ve invested in technology and systems to quickly and effectively drive our returns process. Our added online access allows clients to manage the returns process with complete transparency. This reduces costs and adds value for our clients, allowing them to focus on selling more product and shipping more orders.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
Jan 10
philsnyOrder Fulfillment, WMS DHL, FedEx, Manifest System, Order Fulfillment, Packaging, Picking, Scanning, UPS, USPS, WMS
Orders are the lifeblood of any Fulfillment Warehouse. At ProPack we are not in the business of storing product, but in the business of shipping orders. Thus we’ve worked hard over the years to build custom technology to facilitate the path of an order through our system. We’ve done this not only to make our internal processes more efficient but to build value for our clients through faster service and greater supply chain visibility.
First, orders need to be input into our WMS system – www.p3pl.com (ProPack 3rd Party Logistics) . This can be done through web-to-web transactions, direct online entry, by emailing an Excel sheet, or by using our QuickBooks interface.
Once orders are in P3PL an order release specialist uses our automated system to allocate inventory to the order. If problems arise in this process such as inventory shortages the client is notified immediately.
Next the order is taken to one of our experienced order pickers who (again using P3PL) scan the order off the shelf by location, and lot number if necessary. Scanning product reduces errors by close to 1 in 10,000.
After scanning, the contents of the order are taken to the packaging stations where they are arranged into their shipping packages.
Finally the closed and sealed packages are processes on our customized multi-carrier manifest system for FedEx, UPS, USPS or DHL. After they are processed packages are then picked up by their respective carriers and leave our building.
However, the process does not stop there. Each evening nightly transaction reports are sent out containing all shipping and inventory transactions for the day. As well, all information is available on www.p3pl.com to any of our clients.
The path of our client’s orders through our system is a well thought out science that let’s our clients get product to their customers as quickly and accurately as possible. This builds value for ProPack, adds value to our client’s and delivers value to our client’s customers.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
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