IQpack

Packsize and PackEdge Corporation continue to strengthen its business partnership with the addition of the IQ Fusion2 into the PackEdge Corporation Business and Innovation Center in Circle Pines, MN. When complete, this system will showcase the strength of efficiently producing right-sized cartons using product dimension data and tying it all together with freight rate shopping. It all comes together using the data analysis tools of IQpack and packchain to make decision-making easier; resulting in second to none business improvements.

Supply chains don’t fail all at once—they erode, decision by decision. Bad data. Overpriced freight. Warehouses full of inventory in all the wrong places. Most supply chain problems aren’t “acts of God”—they’re acts of bad planning. Last week, Kai Althoff broke it down in Supply Chain Digital. His key point? Resilience isn’t about reacting to problems—it’s about designing a supply chain that doesn’t break in the first place. Worth the read ?? ? 84% of companies faced major supply chain disruptions in 2024, and nearly half paid for it in lost profitability. ? Geopolitical instability isn’t an exception—it’s the rule. If your strategy depends on “things calming down,” I’ve got a bridge to sell you. ? Fixed infrastructure is a liability. Demand shifts. Costs fluctuate. If your supply chain can’t flex, you’re spending more time cleaning up problems than preventing them. The companies that win aren’t just surviving disruption—they’re structuring their supply chains to absorb it. That starts with fixing three key areas: 1. Bad Data = Bad Decisions You wouldn’t let your accountant “round up” your revenue by 30%, but that’s exactly what’s happening in most item master databases. Studies show that over 30% of product data in ERP systems is inaccurate, leading to SKU mismanagement, inflated freight costs, and inventory placement mistakes. John Moore and the team at IQpack & packchain have built a system that takes item master data from messy to meticulous. Their platform cleans, validates, and enhances SKUs, freight classifications, and packaging data—eliminating costly errors before they ever impact operations. When item master data is right, everything else—pricing, shipping, forecasting—falls into place. AI is only as good as the data you feed it. 2. Poor Packaging Is Making Freight Carriers Richer—Not You One of our customers saw a 35%-45% spike in adjustment billing on their FedEx invoice—not because they shipped more, but because their packaging was inefficient, triggering higher DIM divisor weight charges. Translation? They were paying top dollar to ship empty space. The wrong box size can quietly eat away at your margin, one shipment at a time. If you’re not optimizing packaging, your “free shipping” promo becomes a liability. 3. Static Inventory Placement = Burning Cash Supply chains that assume inventory stays put are getting eaten alive by transit costs. The smartest companies are repositioning inventory dynamically, leveraging a distributed network to flex with demand instead of chasing it. A network-driven approach to inventory placement means: ? Less dead inventory sitting in the wrong places ? Lower freight costs by reducing unnecessary long-haul shipments ? Faster fulfillment without premium shipping fees What’s another overlooked supply chain issue that I’m missing? #4pl #3pl #warehousing #supplychain #inventory #fulfillment #kinimatic

Those familiar with ETi know that we are a top-notch Integrator partner who can make your life easier by delivering efficient and cost-effective MHE, Automation and Fulfillment solutions for the operation within your 4 walls. They may not be aware that aside from a world-class list of vendors who contribute to our projects, we also have a great group of partners who can deliver complementary services addressing other concerns and expenses that keep our clients up at night. Here’s a partial list: ERA Group - North America benchmarks your organization’s recurring non-payroll expenses against industry standards, and identifies opportunities for savings in over 50 categories. There is no charge for an initial evaluation. IQpack?provides tech-enabled services and software to help mid-market retail and ecommerce companies slash material, transportation, and labor costs by shipping less air to customers. Cornerstone Edge, LLC helps their clients with the selection, configuration and implementation of Supply Chain-related software solutions such as ERP, WMS, OMS and TMS. Heffernan Consulting Group can evaluate your Supply Chain for reglobilization by assessing manufacturers and vendors for nearshoring, reshoring, and friendshoring, offering a one-stop suite of sourcing and procurement solutions to ensure the lowest landed cost. Supply Velocity, Inc. provides expertise around Lean Manufacturing, as well as fractional PM services to manage a wide variety of Supply Chain or Finance projects and initiatives. Lumen Global cuts operating costs, boosts EBITDA, and enhances sustainability with no upfront investment via Energy Efficient LED lighting solutions that deliver immediate savings, long-term asset value, and reduced carbon emissions. Typical IRRs range from 48% to 150%. There is no charge for an initial audit. First American Equipment Finance can fund large Capital equipment purchases, including soft costs, as a lease or loan in order to pay for a project over the life of the equipment and generate an immediate positive ROI. Feel free to reach out for an introduction if you'd like to discuss any of these services in more detail.

One of the most common questions we get from companies looking to automate is "Where do I start?" You can't go wrong by starting with getting your Item Master updated and accurate. https://lnkd.in/grXxwD-4