A fast-growing omni-channel 3PL operating across the U.S. and 17 international markets needed a better way to capture parcel dimensions across inbound and outbound workflows.
Manual measurement was taking 20 to 30 seconds per parcel, with operators measuring packages by tape and entering the data into Infoplus WMS. For regular cartons, poly mailers, bulged packaging, and uneven parcels, that process created slow handling, inconsistent DIM data, and weak master records.
The 3PL implemented vMeasure Parcel Ultima to automate parcel dimension capture, connect directly with Infoplus, and standardize data flow across its operation. After the initial rollout, the company expanded to 10+ Parcel Ultima units.
What made parcel data hard to control?
The issue was not only measurement speed. Each manual step created a different downstream problem.
-
Low throughput at parcel handling pointsMeasurement slowed the movement of parcels through receiving and packing. During volume spikes, that delay affected dock flow, labor planning, and the speed at which shipments moved toward dispatch.
-
Unreliable records for irregular parcelsMeasuring irregular parcels by hand produced inconsistent measurements. One operator’s measurement method varied from another’s across shifts and stations, which made DIM data harder to use for shipping validation and cost control.
-
Weak master data inside InfoplusInbound records were not reliable enough to support later shipping decisions. Parcel data often needed to be checked again, corrected, or captured later, which added extra work across inbound and outbound workflows.
As volume increased, these issues started connecting. Slower handling affected throughput, inconsistent records affected billing accuracy, and weak master data made Infoplus records harder to rely on.
The 3PL needed a controlled dimensioning process that worked inside its existing warehouse workflow.
How did parcel data start moving into Infoplus without manual entry?
The 3PL deployed vMeasure Parcel Ultima to automate the measurement process and remove manual entry from the workflow.
This 3PL wanted parcel dimension data to move into Infoplus in real time instead of relying on a CSV export or batch upload workflow. vMeasure Parcel Ultima supported that requirement by sending the measurements after each scan.
The workflow became simple:
- Barcode scanned
- Dimensions captured automatically
- Data pushed to Infoplus
- Parcel record updated without manual entry
This gave the operation a cleaner way to build dimensional records at receiving and validate shipping data at packing.
How did the process compare before and after?
| Metric | Before vMeasure | With vMeasure Parcel Ultima | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Measurement time |
20 to 30 seconds per parcel |
Under 2 seconds per parcel |
|
|
Measurement method |
Tape-based measurement |
Automated dimension capture |
|
|
WMS update |
Manual Infoplus entry |
Real-time data push to Infoplus |
|
|
Parcel consistency |
Inconsistent records for irregular parcels |
More repeatable dimension capture |
|
|
Re-measurement work |
Repeated across workflows |
Reusable dimensional records |
|
|
Data handling |
Manual touchpoints |
No CSV exports or batch uploads |
|
Why did the 3PL expand beyond the first deployment?
After the initial rollout, the 3PL expanded to more than 10 Parcel Ultima units. That expansion showed the process was not treated as a single-station improvement.
Automated dimensioning became part of the company’s parcel data infrastructure.
The 3PL gained a standard way to capture dimensions, reduce manual dependency, and maintain cleaner data inside Infoplus across multiple stations.
What did this mean for the operation?
The 3PL moved from manual parcel measurement to a connected dimensioning workflow.
That shift gave the operation:
- Faster parcel handling
- Real-time Infoplus integration
- Cleaner master dimensional data
- Better support for shipping cost control
- Standardized measurement across multiple stations
For a growing 3PL, the value was not only in saving seconds per parcel. The bigger change was creating a more reliable data flow between physical parcels and the warehouse system.
If your parcel workflow still depends on tape measurement and manual WMS entry, the same issues are already affecting speed, billing accuracy, and master data quality.
Talk to the dimensioning experts
Explore how vMeasure Parcel Ultima fits into your current WMS workflow.
Discuss a similar parcel dimensioning setup for your operation.
What do our customers say?
"…They are now indispensable components in our shipping process and have allowed us to predict shipping costs accurately…"
Bargain Book Stores
"...vMeasure provided excellent support throughout the product integration process, with readily available and effective after-sales assistance…"
Holisol
"...With vMeasure, we were able to take the cloud-based solution literally under a day and under a far more achievable budget..."
Pidge