Whether you’re a small start-up business still shipping orders from home, or you’re an established SME with hundreds of orders leaving your warehouse on a daily basis, when was the last time you considered the efficiency of your packaging process?

When running your business, the packing process can often be a bit of an afterthought. You’ve spent hours of time meticulously planning your marketing strategies, your website design and of course your product range. But what about your packaging? Give this the same careful care and attention as you would do your other business strategies, and you’ll soon see the positive effect it can have on your bottom line.

Let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take to improve your packaging efficiency.

1. Draw up a plan of action
   As we’ve touched upon already, it’s likely you’ve planned for every other aspect of your business, so it’s time to put together a plan for your packing process. We’d advise taking into consideration the following: the size and weight of your product stock, the layout of your warehouse/stock cupboard, and how much space you have to store packaging alongside stock. There’s a lot of potential to make big savings by bulk ordering your packaging supplies – just make sure you have plenty of space for them first!
2. Review your products
   When was the last time you actually reviewed the packaging products you’re using and whether they best suit your business needs? Take a step back and consider whether they’re helping you work smarter and faster; from boxes/mailing bags, right down to your packing tape. For example, did you know that Big Tape products come on a standard 150m long roll? This is 3 times the length of an average roll of packing tape and will save you money and time – with less roll changes required.
3. Reduce packing times
   Whether you’re dealing with all your orders yourself, or you have a team of hard working pickers and packers, when it comes down to it – time is money. Which is why you’ll want to ensure your packing process is as seamless and efficient as possible. So here are a few things to consider:
   
   • Do your packaging products require assembly? If you’re using boxes to package orders these can take a fair amount of time to assemble, and can significantly eat into your overall productivity.

   • For less fragile items can you consider using self-seal recycled plastic mailing bags instead?
   
   Remember the little things can make a huge difference. Shaving a few seconds off a process may not seem worthwhile, but think of the bigger picture – if this process takes place a few hundred times a day, those seconds start adding up.

4. Think sustainably
   Most consumers today are looking for brands which they feel align with their own values, and sustainability is a great opportunity to show your customers that you care. Moreover, sustainable choices can actually be more efficient and save you money.
   
   Many of the suggestions we’ve already made will help you in your sustainability journey. For example, ordering in bulk might seem a great idea to cut costs, but you’ll also be cutting down on carbon emissions required to deliver your packaging goods. By implementing some of the strategies we’ve suggested, you’ll have plenty to shout about when it comes to your corporate social responsibility statement.

We hope you now feel confident putting in place a new plan of action to create a far more streamlined and efficient approach to your packaging, which will not only benefit your business and bottom line, but also the environment too.

Discover our range of packing supplies here, designed to help you run your business smoothly and efficiently. We offer bulk purchasing discounts, designed to help you keep down your carbon emissions while also saving you money.