What Is Pick and Pack Fulfillment?

Pick and Pack.

Pick and pack. You take a product off the shelf and transfer it into a box. Or a bag. It gets a label, and off it goes. Any robot can do it, right? In fact, many fulfillment companies have turned to heavily automated warehouse and shipping operations, to save time and cut down on labor. And for some client companies, this is perfectly adequate fulfillment service – pared-down, efficient, low-cost.

And yet here at USA Fulfillment we often hear from corporate sales and distribution managers who are frustrated with their pick and pack results. Things just aren’t up to snuff. One person actually said flat out, “We could sell more, if only the guys in shipping could get it right.” He was talking about his in-house crew, but he could just as easily been talking about outsourced fulfillment.

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Every mistake damages your company’s reputation and bites into your bottom line. No savings there, especially for companies where outstanding quality and personal touch are critical customer care objectives.

Superior pick and pack requires superior attention to detail.

Most companies need custom-tailored shipping services. Unless you sell only one item, each customer order will be different. Unless your merchandise never changes throughout the year, at some point(s) what needs to be picked and packed will change. And if you do special promotions that require one-off kitting, gift-wrapping, etc., you need a fulfillment partner that can get it right.

What your customers receive reflects directly on your company brand. Done right, then, pick and pack fulfillment becomes a branding tool.

Pick and Pack Fulfillment

A company that offers comprehensive pick and pack services will be able to give you:

• “Everyday” picking and packing to fulfill ongoing orders. Here at USA Fulfillment, we use state-of-the-art equipment and technology, including automated systems where they make sense. But because your packages go to real people, we use real people to oversee and double-check the process. Machines can do only what they are programmed to do. It takes a human eye to ensure everything is perfect.
• Customized kitting and assembly that is not only right but great-looking.
• Specialized shipping services. One-size-fits-all shipping may be simpler for your fulfillment company, but it is not in your best interests. Your pick and pack company should be working on your behalf — to identify the most appropriate package sizes to help you avoid dim weighting, and identify the most cost-effective shipping option for each package. This can make a dramatic difference in your bottom line over time.

A top-flight pick and pack fulfillment company does not just “get it done,” they constantly look for ways to improve, whether it’s another way to save you money or another opportunity to elevate your customer’s experience.

That’s what pick and pack fulfillment should be.