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"I have been consistently impressed by their ability to handle our complex needs and willingness to say yes to any challenge. Most importantly, I believe in the character and work ethic of the team."
Mike, Co-Founder & CEO
Pick and pack fulfillment is a core operation of most e-commerce businesses. In fact, the accuracy of online order fulfillment hinges on effective pick and pack fulfillment. In this article, we will discuss what pick and pack fulfillment is and how it works.
Pick and pack order fulfillment is a process that occurs in a warehouse when an e-commerce order is placed. It involves retrieving the ordered products from warehouse inventory, processing the products, and preparing them for shipment. Picking refers to finding and selecting products for an order, while packing involves placing the selected products into boxes or poly bags with appropriate documentation and packing materials. Once the picking and packing process is complete, the order is labeled and shipped to the customer.
Pick and pack is a necessary part of order fulfillment for your e-commerce business. Many e-commerce companies hire a 3PL provider to make the process more efficient. Here’s how it works:
The first step of the process is picking. When an order is placed, it is the warehouse’s responsibility to find and retrieve the products in the order. To do that, a warehouse worker uses a pick list and picks all the items on the list from different locations in the warehouse. Efficient storage solutions and inventory management are crucial to speeding up this process.
Once all the products are picked, the order is sent to a packing station. Packing involves placing the items into an appropriately sized box or poly bag while using the right protective materials to ensure the products reach their destination safely. Next, the box is sealed and labeled for shipment.
Shipping is the last part of the pick and pack fulfillment process. A good warehouse management system will calculate the most cost-effective shipping method during the labeling process based on the order size, weight, and required delivery speed. The package is handed off to the chosen shipping carrier, and the order starts its delivery journey, which can be tracked through the carrier.
Picking and packing strategies vary from one fulfillment center to another. Here are some of the most common ones:
Batch picking most commonly occurs in large warehouses that deal with a high number of orders. It involves picking items for multiple orders at once and separating individual orders later on. Batches are often made according to the location of products in a warehouse. This makes the picking process more efficient because pickers can retrieve all the necessary products from one location in a single visit and add them to a batch.
Single order picking is a process where each order is picked separately. It involves using a pick list for a single order and retrieving all the products in the order from the warehouse. Once everything is picked, the items are forwarded to a packing station. This is a simple process that is ideal for small businesses.
Zone picking is ideal for large fulfillment centers that utilize high-tech warehouse management software. In this process, pickers have dedicated zones where they are stationed to pick items as needed. Once they have picked the necessary items, the order is passed on to the next zone and eventually makes its way to a packing station.
Wave picking involves batch picking items for orders that share the same destination, shipping date, or product type. Each batch is determined by warehouse management software.
Kitting is a critical part of the pick and pack order fulfillment process, but it only applies to businesses that offer products in bundles or packs. It involves combining all the products that a customer is likely to order in a single bundle. This strategy reduces picking and packing time and improves cross-selling opportunities for your business.
If you need help with storage, inventory management, and order fulfillment, you should hire a pick and pack service. Hiring a reliable service provider will give you access to scalable storage space and efficient inventory management and order tracking systems, enabling your business to fulfill orders faster and become more profitable.
If you want to optimize your supply chain, Encore Fulfillment is ready to fulfill your picking, packing, and shipping needs. Here’s what we bring to the table:
Contact us today to get started!
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