Branded Packaging Elements That Work with Automated Fulfillment Systems

There are packaging elements that appeal to the different branding strategies of a business. In the last two years, because of the increase in direct-to-consumer order volume, brands are now having to devise ways to differentiate themselves from every other brand dishing out brown boxes at consumer doorsteps. Meanwhile, consumers also want everything yesterday; two-day, one-day, and even same-day deliveries are now an expectation. This means that fulfillment providers, on their part, have to make sure their order processing throughput can accommodate much higher levels of demand. Thus, more automation will have been brought in not just to keep pace with the higher order volumes, but to satisfy the demands for faster delivery of its products too.

The flip side is that a lot of custom packaging does not work that well with many fulfillment automation flows. Perfectly fitted box sizes may not fit through an automatic tape machine or print and apply system. 

How do brands stand out in the marketplace while maintaining the speed of their fulfillment process? Here are the best three types of branded packaging, along with a short discussion on how each works with automated fulfillment systems.

Special Inserts Are a Cost-Effective Way to Add Branding 

Some of the most value-for-money customizable packing materials are the ones inside the box. When modifying your packaging or fulfillment process, consider starting in small increments. If you want to add a little gift wrapping to your orders but do not want to change the order fulfillment process too much, these packing options may be the way to go.

Custom Inserts 

Anything like a flyer, card, or coupon would go a long way in pleasantly surprising your customers. Inserting something into the package is a process that will require some modification to your fulfillment flow, yet it will not disturb any of the automated systems like conveyance, robotic picking, and print and apply labeling. 

Adding a unique coupon or flyer is quite a cost-effective option. You will incur one-time costs like hiring a designer to create a branded card, not recurrent costs like an additional dollar to ship every consumer’s package because of extra weight.  

Insider tip: Upping the average-order-value by inserting custom messages into packages could take some time to set up with your fulfillment provider, but the advantages are well worth it. Just by throwing in a nominal fee for adding a message, you can increase your profit margin. Plus, your customers will have a ball customizing their products and gifts. Good for everybody!

Branded Product Box 

Products placed in a box may need some added protection. If you are investing in an outer carton for protection together with product packaging, product boxes will certainly be worth your while. Here is your opportunity to flaunt your brand personality. 

Insider tip: Boxes pile up with regard to product packaging, yet there are plenty of alternatives available! Think of an envelope, bag, or custom box designed with your branding. Something your competitor isn’t might catch your customer’s eye!

Give Customers a Boost with Colorful Dunnage and Branded Packing Materials   

Also known as void fill, dunnage refers to any packing material that fills space between the product and the outer shipping box. The purpose of dunnage is mainly to protect the product when loaded and unloaded during transport. The right dunnage will keep your product centered in the carton for that perfect look when your customer opens their package. Infusion with air and insulation is also done sometimes, for products that need this property.  

Most filler material cannot be branded; however, there are choices that could promote branding vibes. Sizzle paper, kraft paper, and SpiroPack come in all sorts of colors.  

In manual packing processes for small to medium-sized, and some large-scale, e-commerce fulfillment processes, packing materials can easily be customized. Other kinds of branded packaging are more difficult to customize. With larger-scale fulfillment operations, dunnage and void fill are usually integrated onto an automation line, making a specialized kind impossible to incorporate. Be sure to check with your 3PL or fulfillment provider to see if adding colorful filler will delay any of your order processing.  

Insider tip: If colorful packing material isn’t an option, consider wrapping your product with tissue paper. A low-cost way to elevate the unboxing experience, and you could include your designs, logo, or brand colors.  

While redesigning your inner packing materials, consider securing your product. Damaged products will cost revenues and irk the customers.

The Ultimate Way to Stand Out is Branded Boxes  

The burgeoning online shopping craze has made brands heavily depend on the unboxing experience to elate their clients and set their products apart from a myriad of other brown boxes that scream mediocrity.  

Custom boxes build a great stage for your branding to shine. By adding company colors, a logo, or even a catchy tagline, you would enforce your brand personality while giving a fun element of surprise to your customers when they receive your product.

Mailer versus Product box 

There are many variations of boxes that can be customized. However, each box type offers certain advantages and disadvantages that would affect your overall shipping costs and product overhead differently. Some branded boxes fit well with automated fulfillment processes-whether it be assembly, packing, taping, or labeling-while some do not. Partnering with your 3PL or fulfillment provider is vital in ensuring the boxes selected can go through their automated systems easily. 

Industry hint: The most important consideration for designing the box is the DIM weight of the shipment as a whole. Padding materials that are customized add proportions, weight, and volume to the package, which go on to affect the shipping cost calculation.

Conclusion

The potency of brand identity and efficient fulfillment processes is expatriated from an individual theme in today’s rapid-fire e-commerce setting. To fulfill higher order volumes, automation is key, but brands can still enhance user experience with smartly designed packaging. Inexpensive ways include utilizing special inserts, branded product boxes, or colorful dunnage to insert some style into packaging without interfering with automation. However, collaborating with fulfillment partners will ensure custom features for packaging are integrated into existing workflows. The ideal investment in branded packaging will sit within automation, create brand recognition, and be efficient and cost-effective.

From its end, Panda Scientist provides printed packaging boxes, offering solutions that are indeed future-proof enough to fit in automated fulfillment systems so that brands can add identity without losing efficiency.