When it comes to providing smooth customer service a properly prepared packing station constitutes an essential element of this process especially when running an online shop business. Not only do you need enough space to pack parcels comfortably, but you also need convenient access to all the materials used during the parcel preparation. So let’s see how to set up a professional parcel packing station.
Warehouse table
In shops that do not sell bulky goods, a storage table is an essential piece of equipment for the parcel packing station. Its size depends on the type of products which are to be packed. In bookstores and drugstores, a work table the size of a desk will suffice, while in shops selling items such as small household appliances or decorative accessories for the home, larger sized storage tables will be of much more use.
In order to ensure the comfort of the packing staff, it is worth considering the purchase of a table equipped with the possibility of adjusting the height. The height adjustment makes it possible to set the table to a suitable height, adjusted not only to the height of the employee, but also to the type of products being packed. The height adjustment allows for an easier work flowand and increases the comfort of the packer.
Hangers and shelves for parcel materials
When preparing a packing station, it is worth considering not only the size of the table, but also additional shelves, hangers or bars. These can be used to stack carton boxes in various sizes or foil packs and to hang any packaging accessories such as packing paper, tape or fillers. They ensure that everything you need is always at hand and that packing goes quickly and smoothly.
It is advisable to choose table equipment that will allow for the packing materials used in the warehouse to be installed. This is because different warehouse tables will be used for packing different types of goods, for example clothes, do not need to be protected from damage, and when it comes to packing tables used in warehouses packing fragile products which need to be wrapped in air mats or bubble wrap.
Packaging aids
When equipping a parcel packing station, it is worth considering the purchase of other packing aids and accessories. A professional packing table designed to pack parcels using mats or air cushions will be equipped with a device to inflate them and a storage space for this type of safety material. A good example would be packing station with worktop, where even up to five people can work comfortably.
The inflatable device can also be set up next to your existing equipment if you have previously used other safety materials and already have a packing table. Instead of replacing the work surface, it is better to modify it, by adding the necessary inflatable device, which will allow the use of air pack fillers. Rolling machines and air filled pillows placed over the packers’ head or being placed next to the packing table with wheels so they can be positioned as required, will work perfectly.
An under-counter basket for collecting fillings is also a solution worth taking into account. Such a basket is placed on a small trolley that slides under the countertop. On the trolley there is also a device for inflating the fillers. The packer takes only as many cushions from the basket as he/she needs, and the inflating device switches on automatically and inflates (thanks to special sensors) exactly as many fillings as the packer has previously taken out. The packer does not have to bend down to pick up the fillers. Thanks to the feeding system – the cushions are delivered right over the work surface in the most ergonomic and time saving manner.
Packing space for parcels
When preparing a packing station, it is worth remembering to provide adequate space not only on the worktop, but also in the surrounding area. This is because at the packing station, there must be space for storing the products before packing, the carton boxes where the goods are packed in, as well as space for storing the packed parcels. In warehouses serving large shops, a conveyor belt runs next to the packing station, which carries the packed shipments onwards to the next distribution points.
If there is not enough space, it will be difficult to work comfortably, which will significantly reduce efficiency during packing. In such a situation, it is worth considering increasing the storage space or outsourcing the handling of orders to a so-called ‘third-party‘ fulfillment.
Another aspect worth mentioning is that there must also be a place for a monitor near the packing station, which displays information about the ordered products. It is necessary in order to have good control over the preparation process of the shipments and to check that all ordered products have been put into the box. Depending on the organisation of work, this may be a separate station for the person responsible for completing the order or may be part of the packing station equipment.
As you can see, a well-equipped packing station is the key to efficient order processing in an online shop. It is therefore worth taking the time to set up a workstation equipped with elements to streamline the packing process, which will allow for the preparation goods ready for shipment in a faster and more pleasant manner.