Why Fulfillment Speed Matters

How fulfillment automation can improve customer experience and cut labor costs.?

With many major retailers offering 2-day shipping, consumers have come to expect swift delivery of every order. It’s no wonder that in today’s fast-paced e-commerce landscape, efficient order fulfillment ranks high for maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. But does the demand for rapid fulfillment translate to higher labor costs for e-tailers? Not necessarily.??

If your business is looking for a way to meet fulfillment deadlines without a large increase in labor costs, enhancing fulfillment speed with automation might be the solution.??

The financial impact of fulfillment speed.?

Have you ever perused a retail site, hoping to have something arrive in time for an event that is just a few days away? When you see an option that says “delivery expected in a few weeks,” what’s your typical reaction? Buy elsewhere or from another vendor. According to research, as many as 23% of consumers abandon their orders due to slow expected shipping times.??

Fulfillment speed matters.??

Quickness is so important that customers will pay extra for fast shipping. In fact, the FedEx Whitepaper, Ecommerce Insights and Trend, reported that consumer demand for faster delivery time is strong, with 55% willing to pay for same-day delivery and 45% willing to pay for next-day delivery.?

So, what can you do to improve the pace of your fulfillment operations? The answer lies in shifting from manual packing to an automated (or semi-automated) process.?

Two strategies to enhance fulfillment efficiency.?

In an earlier article, we shared how studies show that retaining a customer costs far less -between 5–25% less - than acquiring a new one. So before your customers abandon cart, and especially if you are packing every order by hand, we suggest adding a little automation to your fulfillment practices.??

1. Go for semi-automation with WicketPAC? mailers?

Integrating semi-automated solutions such as WicketPAC? mailers can streamline the packaging process and help you decrease the manual input needed. These mailers can be vertically mounted on a workstation or placed on a wicket stand for quick, easy product fulfillment. This allows for quicker manual insertion of products, reducing the time your employees spend on packaging - thereby decreasing labor costs.??

By adding PAC’s patent-pending Fixed Release Liner to your wicket mailer further simplifies the packing process even by eliminating the need for packers to remove and dispose of traditional release liners. This innovative solution not only enhances safety by reducing workspace clutter but also improves workflow efficiency, leading to faster and smoother operations. As a result, productivity in packaging processes is significantly increased.?

2. Embrace full automation with PACjacket? and Eco PACjacket? systems?

For high-volume operations, fully automated systems such as the PACjacket? and Eco PACjacket? offer substantial benefits like increasing fulfillment efficiency by 400 to 500%! For example, our internal research found that, on average, the PACjacket? machine produces 15–20 bags per minute using a protective bubble or flat poly film. By comparison, a person hand-loading and sealing bubble mailers puts out an average of only 3 bags per minute.??

Our PACjacket? and Eco PACjacket? systems can package orders significantly faster than manual methods, ensuring consistent quality and reducing labor requirements.?

Reduce fulfillment costs and keep customers happy with PAC?

Investing in semi-automated or fully automated packaging solutions is a strategic move for businesses aiming to enhance fulfillment speed and reduce labor costs. By adopting technologies like WicketPAC? mailers or PACjacket? systems, your company can meet consumer demands for rapid delivery while optimizing operational efficiency and profitability.?

Ready to learn more? Request a quote today!?