When it comes to shipping, a box is never just a box.

A box from your company is an extension of your brand, and thus determines how consumers will view your brand. If this is the first time the customer is working with your company, it will determine how they feel about your company and if they recommend you to others going forward.

One common mishap that can cause a consumer to be dissatisfied with shipped goods is damaged packaging, which in many cases can lead to damaged products.

As a company that takes pride in ensuring that consumer satisfaction as a key component of our supply chain management, we strive to help our customers throughout the entire process. One way is by ensuring they’re equipped with the knowledge for what it takes to get their packages safely from pickup to delivery. So, we thought we’d take a bit of our knowledge about packaging errors and how best to correct them, and share it with our readers.

Finding the right fit
In many e-commerce shipments, the product takes up no more than 60 percent of the box’s total volume. Meaning, there’s 40 (or more) percent of unused space, that’s simply being filled with air. This unused space can easily cause damage to products, simply by allowing the product to shift.

Additionally, this unused space causes an issue if you’re shipping product boxes in pallets or cargo containers, as the unused space within the boxes themselves, decreases the amount of product that will fit within the pallet or container space.

The simple solution to this packaging error, is to reduce the amount of unused space for boxed products. With a large variety of box sizes and even bag and envelope options available, increasing the selection for packaging can reduce damage and wasted space for future shipments.

Reduce, reuse, recycle need not apply
While many companies try to be as eco friendly as possible, going green by reusing packaging is another error you’d like to avoid. Packaging, especially of the bag, envelope and cardboard varieties are ideally meant for single use shipping. This is because the wear and tear brought on by transportation can lead to the material of the package to break down over time. If the packaging isn’t in tiptop shape, it could lead to more easily damaged products.

Other ways to be more eco friendly with your shipping, is to use reusable pallets and cargo containers made from plastic or steel.

Using improper packaging techniques
While the box or container you packed your items in might be correct, the packaging technique may be the issue. When shipping fragile items, for example, dividers are strongly recommended to fill the space in between those items. This can keep the items from shifting, rubbing against each other, and becoming damaged during transit.

The best way to avoid improper packaging techniques, is to err on the side of caution when packaging products for transport. Always include some sort of filler or divider

Labels that stick
This last common error is really an umbrella for many different types of errors that all fall within one category: labeling errors.

Labeling errors can include everything from an incorrect label on an item that leads to the shipping on the wrong item, incorrect destination address or tracking code, and even forgetting to label an item that’s hazardous, needs refrigeration or is fragile.

The simplest way to avoid label errors is to have a system for double and triple checking in place. While automated systems seem fool-proof, it’s best to always check over your products, to make sure labeling mistakes aren’t being made.

At King Solutions, we make it our business to ensure customer products are transitioning from origin to final destination in the easiest ways possible. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your company avoid these common packaging errors from the very beginning.