1. How to Ensure Quality Control in eCommerce Packaging
When it comes to running a successful e-commerce business, the product is the lifeline. Marketing or logistics will only take you so far if your products are of low quality. The moment your customers start feeling they are not getting their money’s worth with you, they’ll switch to another business more in line with their desires.
Now, you might have full confidence in your product, but if the packaging is shabby or worse, damaged, it might leave a bad impression on the customer. So how do you ensure your product packaging remains top-notch all the time? Well, that’s what this we’re here for, and that’s what Quality Control is all about.
Quality control, when it comes to e-commerce packaging, essentially refers to the process of making sure that the products are packaged in a manner that is safe, durable, and pleasing to look at. It is especially important when the product in question is fragile or breakable, like a glass jar or vase. Effective quality control reduces the chances of parcels getting damaged in transit. It also elevates the brand image in the eyes of the customer. In other words, it plays a huge role in shaping how customers think and feel about your business, and what impression they form of it.
Now that we know what quality control is and why it is important for e-commerce businesses, let’s get straight to how you can ensure it for all your e-commerce packaging. Here is a detailed guide that will take you step by step through the process. Once you implement these measures, quality control worries will be a thing of the past!
2. Use a Test Sample
It might be tempting to ship out your product the moment it’s ready, but it’s extremely important to perform a few tests first to check whether the packaging is robust and holds up under pressure. In such cases, it’s better to use a test product with similar weight, volume, and dimensions to increase accuracy and minimize losses in case of damage
3. Study the packaging in detail
Once you have your test sample handy, it’s time to examine the packaging and note down your observations. You need to learn what materials the packaging is made out of, whether or not it can sustain large weights. Is it suitable for transporting fragile items, and so on. Also check that the packaging materials are in line with the item inside. For instance, plastic wraps are suitable for shipping clothes, but not for large items.
4. Layer your Packaging
It might be helpful to use multiple layers of packaging, especially when it comes to fragile or valuable items. Multiple layers allow for a greater degree of protection and might prevent good from getting damaged during shocks or drops. You might need to perform some checks or tests in order to make accurate observations. Some of these tests, such as the Drop Test, are given below.
5. Drop Test
As the name suggests, it involves dropping the item in various ways from various heights in order to check the impact on the item inside. If the item gets damaged even from a small height, the packaging is inadequate and needs more layering and/or better materials. It essentially means that more quality control measures need to be taken to ensure that the parcel reaches the customer safely.
6. Advertise your brand
An often overlooked part of quality control is the fact that simply being durable is no longer enough. The packaging also needs to be attractive and impress the customer. It should serve as a reminder of a good delivery experience and encourage the customer to buy your products more. Therefore, it’s important to ensign your parcels with your brand name and logo, preferably with stickers and tape.
7. Seal your packages well
Next up, it’s of the utmost importance to seal the packages and see that they are airtight. Not sealing properly might lead the product to get damaged due to adverse weather conditions, or even due to rough handling by the courier company. It might also lead to loss of the product itself.
8. Use labels and bar codes
Knowing to use and check for labels and bar codes goes a long way in being able to keep track of the products. When dealing with large order volumes, labels are especially important as they help differentiate the orders and deal with problems with that specific order as they come. Make sure they are clear and accurate, and check up on them regularly.
9. Perform Inspections Periodically
Last but far from being the least, performing regular inspections is actually one of the most important factors when it comes to implementing quality control. The final inspection before the orders are sent away is especially important, as it is the last chance to check for any errors or defects before the product is shipped. Go ahead with the shipping process only when you are confident that the orders have been inspected satisfactorily.
10. Conclusion
As we can see, ensuring quality control in e-commerce packaging is a daunting, but a rewarding task. Efficient and safe packaging will ultimately lead to more customer growth, so there is no reason why e-commerce businesses should not look into it right from the beginning. Research and learn about the best kind of packaging suitable for your products, communicate with your suppliers and courier companies to assist you in the process, and sure enough, the task will get a lot more simplified. With the help of the steps given above, you can rest assured your product packaging will be in line with world standards, and your customers will remain eternally impressed.