Packaging is the backbone of product-based businesses. If you can't package and ship your goods efficiently, you company will struggle to stay alive (and stay successful!).
There's only so much you can do....
But that's why you shouldn't be doing it yourself. By investing in business packaging machines, you can automate the fulfillment process and turn your attention back to where it belongs.
Here's a quick look at how these machines can help your business take off, what type to choose, and signs you're ready to buy one right now.
How Packaging Machines Can Benefit Your Business
An increase in demand means your business will make more money, right?
That's only true if you have the means to support this upsurge. Your employees can only work so fast. If they can't keep up with the orders, you can't push out as many products, meaning you'll miss sales and lose money.
Without the right packaging machines, you're leaving yourself very limited room for growth.
Automating the fulfillment process takes these concerns out of the picture. Not only can your business continue to develop and expand, but these machines will give you a host of other benefits, such as:
1. Lower Labor Costs
How many employees do you have setting up boxes? Wrapping up pallets by hand? Filling the packages?
You can buy a machine, such as a case erector or stretch wrapper, to take care of these tasks instead. That means you can reduce the number of employees fulfilling these orders—or at least move them to more important jobs. While you might have to spend more money upfront, buying these machines is much more affordable than paying an employee (or several employees) a yearly salary.
Automating your packaging will quickly pay for itself, and you'll save more in the long run.
2. Improved Efficiency and Productivity
Packaging machines are faster than humans—no matter how experienced your employees are. For example, many packaging machines can set up 700 boxes per hour, which is much more than a handful of employees can do all together.
On top of that, machines don't need to take breaks. You can keep packaging and shipping orders 24/7 if you wanted/needed.
3. Less Waste
Automated machines give each of your packages a set amount of material—no more, no less. And it uses the right amount every time.
These machines also find the best measuring and cutting pattern, meaning you use as much material as possible. This can make your packaging material last longer, so you won't have to spend as much money buying replacements. You'll also keep unnecessary waste out of the trash, which can reduce your impact on the environment.
4. A Safer Work Environment
Fulfillment and shipping work demands a lot of repetitive movements from employees. This can easily lead to workplace injuries—and costly worker's comp claims for you.
Installing packaging machines means your employees don't have to do all that heavy lifting or manual labor, keeping them safe and saving you money.
5. Better Quality
Since packaging machines don't have any human errors, they deliver consistent (and quality) results every time. This ensures the goods in your packages are protected properly. They'll reach their final destination in one piece, which means happier companies and more sales.
Streamline Your Shipping: Choosing the Right Business Packaging Machines
There's not a specific set of packaging machines you must have for your business. The right tech for you will depend on the size of your company, what type of products you ship, what material you use, etc.
Because of that, it's important to spend some time researching your options so you get the best fit for your needs. While every company will benefit from different machines, here are a few good choices to look at first:
- Case Erecting System - builds corrugated boxes
- Tape Dispenser - secures tape over boxes or other packages
- Stretch Wrapper - applies stretch wrap around packages or pallets quickly and efficiently (it also helps reduce stretch wrap waste)
- Shrink Wrapper - creates a tight and secure seal around your products
- Label Applicator - applies the correct label on the right spot for the package's size and shape
- Ink Jet - prints all the necessary codes on your package
These are just a few of the packaging automating machines out there, but even if you only pick one or two from this list, your fulfillment process will speed up—noticeably.
Are You Ready for Packaging Automation?
Worried you'll end up spending a lot of money on expensive machines when you don't really need them? If you've come to the point where you're thinking about packaging machines, you probably need them.
But here are a few other things to consider before you buy anything.
Can your employees keep up with demand? If not, hiring more might not be the right choice. Remember, you can save money (and a lot of it!) by automating your shipping process instead.
You should also figure out how much money you're spending on packaging materials and how much of that material is ending up in the trash. If you're throwing a lot of your investment into the garbage every month, it might be time to make the switch to machines.
Lastly, think about the type of work your employees are doing. Is it simple, small, and repetitive tasks? Installing a machine to take care of these jobs means your employees can move onto more important work that'll benefit both them and your company.
Take the First Step Toward Packaging Automation Today
Buying business packaging machines isn't a waste of money. Think of them as a worthwhile investment. They'll make your fulfillment process much more efficient, improve the quality of your packages, and make you more money in the long run.
Not sure which type of automation machine is right for your needs?
Don't wait to give us a call! We can help you learn more about packaging machines and help you choose the best fit for your business.