Introduction
You are in a state where you have meticulously packed a product but upon arrival, your customer shares a disheartening view of damage. Shipping damages are not just a financial burden. It silently kills the reputation of your brand and customer satisfaction.
As per Packaging Digest, approximately 11% of products that reach a distribution center experience damage. Furthermore, statistics as per Beyond Supply Chain returns during one holiday season amounted to $32 billion, and approximately 20%-30% of these were attributed to damage.
Let’s delve into the errors occurring during shipping and how we can prevent them and claim the shipping damages with the aid of dimensioning system.
Top 5 Mistakes That Result in Shipping Damage
We have highlighted a few common mistakes that result in shipping damage and ultimately affecting customer satisfaction.
#1. Oversized Packaging
One of the main reasons for shipping damages is oversized packaging. Constrained with packing choices, you may end up selecting a box that is much larger than the product. Due to oversized packaging, you not only incur shipping charges, but your product also damages as it wobbles during transportation because you have packed more air than the item itself.
#2. No Proper Fillers
Neglecting the aspect of proper fillers in your packaging can lead to shipping damage especially when your package has more empty spaces. Imagine a fragile item surrounded by empty space in a box. Without proper fillers, the item is susceptible to bouncing around, increasing the risk of damage. Using the wrong type or insufficient fillers is a prevalent mistake. Some materials might be too rigid, while others may not provide enough cushioning.
#3. Mishandling
Your package experiences rough handling from loading docks to delivery trucks. While mishandling is often beyond your immediate control, the impact it has on your packages can be mitigated with robust packaging.
#4. Incorrect Documentation
The documentation accompanying your shipments serves as the passport through the various shipping process checkpoints.
There are various scenarios where incorrect documentation can lead to shipping damages. Incorrect or missing details can worsen the mishandling of your packages during inspections. If the weight or package dimensions are incorrectly documented, the carrier may not allocate the appropriate space, leading to potential stacking issues and increased risk of damage.
#5. Environmental Factors
Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, pose a threat to certain types of products.
Neglecting to account for these temperature extremes may result in possible shipping damage.
Transporting electronic devices in adversely cold environments without adequate insulation can lead to malfunctions or irreversible damage upon reaching the destination. Books or paper products inadequately protected against humidity may arrive with warped pages or visible water damage.
Understanding how weather and climate conditions can influence the safety of your shipments and aims to minimize the risk of damage during transit.
Tips to Prevent Shipping Damage
Take a moment to reflect on the repercussions of delivering damaged goods on customer loyalty. Think of a customer, eagerly waiting for a package only to receive it in a damaged state.
Now that we’re familiar with common mistakes leading to shipping damage, let’s turn our attention to some key tips for preventing shipping damage.
#1. Make Smart Packaging Decision
Different products have different needs when it comes to packing. Choosing the right-sized packaging and the apt fillers safeguards the product from prevalent shipping damage.
The precise measurement from a dimensioning system, when passed into the cartonization software computes the right package configuration to avoid inevitable bumps and knocks during transit.
For delicate glassware, opt for bubble wrap and sturdy boxes with dividers to prevent breakage. Conversely, for temperature-sensitive goods, consider insulated packaging to maintain product integrity.
#2. Ensure Clear Labelling on Your Package
Clear and legible labels are the first line of communication between your package and the handlers involved in its journey. Whether providing fragility, package weight, or special handling instructions, dimensioning systems serve as a comprehensive solution. They not only capture the package dimensions but also gather additional information related to the product. This information can be transferred to the labeling software to generate accurate shipping labels.
A box containing glassware labeled with “Fragile – Handle with Care” alerts handlers to exercise caution. A package with liquids, marked with directional arrows, guarantees it remains consistently upright during transit, preventing spills and leaks.
The use of clear and visible labeling ensures the safety, efficiency, and success of your shipping operations.
#3. Check the State of Your Package Before and After Shipping
A fundamental practice to prevent shipping damage involves diligently inspecting packages both before the journey and upon the arrival at the destination.
Investing in an automated dimensioning system such as vMeasure Parcel Ultima enables automatic imaging of the product with annotations. Moreover, it allows you to capture a 120-second video, ensuring that the correct product is selected, properly packed, sealed, and ready for shipment without any damages.
A comprehensive set of before-and-after photographs and detailed notes provide a clear record for insurance claims and discussions with the carrier in case of damage.
Ways a Dimensioning System Can Help You Claim Shipping Damages
Consider an occasion where you had to process a claim and its frustrating aspects. Now, envision having precise data on the exact dimensions and weight of the package along with the image and video capture of the product. These accurate dimensions, along with the product images, can be automatically synchronized with your existing Transportation Management Software (TMS) to enhance order accuracy.
Integrating a dimensioning system into your shipping operations not only safeguards your package but transforms the claims process into a more efficient and evidence-backed experience.
- Accurate Documentation of Package Dimensions: An automated dimensioning system delivers precise and accurate measurements of your packages prior to shipment. This data serves as a baseline for assessing damages accurately.
- Visual Proof through Images and Time Stamped Video Documentation: Dimensioning systems that are equipped with the ability to capture images and timestamped videos of packages provide visual evidence of the package’s condition before it leaves the facility.
By embracing this dimensioning technology, you not only enhance your ability to claim damages successfully but also contribute to the overall optimization and effectiveness of your shipping operations.
Conclusion
By embracing the innovative dimensioning system, you not only safeguard your products but also strengthen your claim processes.
The insights gained from accurate measurements, visual documentation, and streamlined processes contribute significantly to the proactive prevention of damages. Furthermore, the dimensioning system strengthens the claims by providing indisputable evidence of the pre-shipping state of packages, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
Talk to our experts to know how dimensioning solutions can safeguard your products during shipping.
