Logistics is a pretty interesting field, depending on who you ask. There are people that even go to college specifically for learning about logistics and how to manage it because it is its own specialized field.
In this day and age, there are entire warehouses and buildings devoted to just housing the supplies needed for people to get their products shipped from one place to another, whether that be by land, sea, or air.
The process of getting those products from Point A to Point B is what we in the business call ‘pick, pack and ship’. But what does this process actually entail? If you don’t already know, you’re in the right place. Today we’re going to take a more in-depth look at the pick pack and ship process and what goes into making it happen.
From Beginning to End on Your End
So, what is “pick, pack, and ship”? In short, it’s the process of getting your product from your warehouse to your customer’s door. A lot of fulfillment service companies integrate it into their services. But there’s a little more to it than that. Let’s break it down into its three steps:
- Picking:
- This is when you select the products that need to be shipped out. Oftentimes, this will be done with an order-picking list that tells you which items need to go out and where they’re going. Once the items are selected, they’ll be placed in totes or boxes and moved on to the next step.
- Packing:
- This is when you pack those items into shipping containers. You’ll want to make sure that they’re properly cushioned so that they don’t get damaged in transit. Depending on what type of product you’re shipping, there may be special packaging requirements that need to be followed. For example, if you’re shipping food products, there may be certain regulations about how those products need to be packaged and labeled.
- Shipping:
- This is when you actually send out the package using a shipping carrier like UPS or FedEx (or sometimes even USPS). You’ll need to choose a shipping method based on how quickly you want the package delivered and how much you’re willing/able to spend on shipping. Once the package is shipped out, you’ll be able to track it using the tracking number that was assigned to it.
Now let’s take a more detailed look at each of these steps.
- Picking:
- As we mentioned before, picking is when you select the products that need to be shipped out. This is usually done with an order-picking list, which tells you which items need to go out and where they’re going.
- Once the items are selected, they’ll be placed in totes or boxes and moved on to the next step.
- Packing:
- Packing is when you pack those items into shipping containers. You’ll want to make sure that they’re properly cushioned so that they don’t get damaged in transit.
- Depending on what type of product you’re shipping, there may be special packaging requirements that need to be followed. For example, if you’re shipping food products, there may be certain regulations about how those products need to be packaged and labeled.
- You’ll also want to make sure that your packaging can withstand the rigors of shipping so that your product arrives at its destination safely. This means using sturdy boxes and packing materials like bubble wrap or foam peanuts (you know, those little Styrofoam balls) to cushion your products.
- Shipping:
- Once the package is packed and ready to go, it’s time for shipping. This is when you actually send out the package using a shipping carrier like UPS or FedEx (or sometimes even USPS).
- You’ll need to choose a shipping method based on how quickly you want the package delivered and how much you’re willing/able to spend on shipping.
- Once the package is shipped out, you’ll be able to track it using the tracking number that was assigned to it. This tracking number will allow you to see where your shipment is at any given time and provide an estimated delivery date.
- And that’s it! Once your shipment has been delivered, you can sit back and relax knowing that your product has made it safely into the hands of your customer.
This process is just as simple as it is complicated. Sometimes there can be a lot of moving pieces, but as long as you have a good handle on each step, pick, pack and ship can be a breeze.
Of course, there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. Depending on what type of product you’re shipping, there may be special requirements that need to be taken into account. For example, if you’re shipping food products, there may be certain regulations about how those products need to be packaged and labeled.
Similarly, if you’re shipping hazardous materials or live animals, there are going to be different procedures that need to be followed in order to ensure the safety of your product and comply with the law.
But for the most part, pick pack and ship is a pretty straightforward process. So next time you receive an order from a customer (or place one yourself!), take a moment to think about all the steps that had to happen in order for it to get from Point A (the warehouse) all the way to Point B (your customer’s doorstep).
Is The Process Similiar for International Shipping?
The process that we’ve looked at thus far is generally just for domestic shipments, but what about if you plan on shipping from Lubbock, Texas to Athens, Greece, for example? Is the process going to be the same?
The answer is both yes and no. There are some similarities, but there are also some key challenges that you’ll have to deal with. For example:
- Customs:
- When you’re shipping internationally, your shipment will have to go through customs. This means that you’ll need to fill out the proper paperwork and make sure that your product is properly labeled. You may also be required to pay duties and taxes on your shipment.
- Language barriers:
- If you’re shipping to a country where English is not the primary language, there may be some communication challenges that you’ll have to deal with. This is why it’s always a good idea to have someone on your team who speaks the language of the country that you’re shipping to (or at least knows enough to get by).
- Different time zones:
- This can be a challenge when trying coordinate everything from pick-up times to delivery dates. Depending on how big of a time difference there is, this can make things very difficult (especially if phone calls are involved).
- Shipping restrictions:
- There are some countries where certain items are restricted or even banned from being shipped into the country. For example, food products may require special permits in order for them to enter the country. live animals are often banned from being shipped altogether due to their potential for transmitting diseases.
- Longer ship times:
- It kind of goes without saying that shipping to the other side of the globe would take longer than just shipping to the other side of the country. But this can be a challenge if you have customers who are expecting their orders to arrive much sooner than they actually will.
But despite all of these challenges, international shipping is still possible (and sometimes even necessary). If you’re planning on shipping internationally, it’s important to do your research ahead of time so that you know what challenges you may be facing and how to best deal with them.
One way to make international shipping easier is by using a freight forwarder. A freight forwarder is a company that specializes in arranging transportation for your shipment. They can help you with things like paperwork, shipping schedules, and even tracking your shipment once it’s on its way.
Another thing that you can do is to ship your products via air freight instead of ocean freight. This will obviously be more expensive, but it will get your products to their destination much faster (sometimes even within a matter of days). This is often a good option if you’re shipping time-sensitive or perishable items.
So as you can see, there are some challenges that come along with international shipping. But with a little bit of planning and preparation, it’s definitely possible to get your product from Point A to Point B (no matter where in the world “B” may be).
Getting Your Logistics Sorted Out
Logistics are a necessary part of any business that ships things, no matter how far the distance. Being sure that your logistics are in order is important to having a well-oiled machine of a company. The pick, pack, and ship process is just one component of logistics, but it is an important one nonetheless.
We hope that we’ve been able to shed some light on this process for you so you can have a better understanding of what goes into getting your product from the warehouse to your customer’s doorstep.