How to pick and pack in a warehouse

06 Jan 2021 • 3 mins read

Picking errors and slow picking times are among the most common warehousing inefficiencies. Such issues can slow down operations, leading to reduced productivity and increased costs. Packing issues can also cause serious problems for businesses. From using the wrong type of packaging to failing to void fill correctly, packing mistakes can lead to damaged goods and customer dissatisfaction. This can result in reputational damage and lost business. 

As warehousing experts, at Freightline Carriers, we’re well placed to help you to optimise your pick and pack processes. In this article, we explore exactly what’s involved in this vital order fulfillment activity and provide advice on how to do it as efficiently and effectively as possible.

What does pick and pack mean?

Pick and pack is an essential part of fulfilling customers’ orders and moving stock from one location to another. 

In retail, for example, when a customer makes an online order through an ecommerce website, order details are used to generate picking lists. These lists tell warehouse operatives the unique identifiers of the products required and their locations in the warehouse. Operatives travel to the item locations using the quickest routes possible. Once the items have been found, the correct quantities are picked. 

After this, the products are packed using suitable packaging materials. For example, corrugated protective sleeving may be used for glass bottles, waterproof mailing bags might be used for clothing and post storage tubes could be used for art prints and posters.

Pick and pack workers perform a critical function in the overall running of a business. They are responsible for ensuring that goods are shipped on time, that packages contain the correct items and that products are packaged in a way that prevents damage and reduces waste where possible. Their ability to be fast, accurate and judicious can have a significant impact on customers’ experiences. After all, an item being shipped on time and arriving at its destination in good condition can be the difference between repeat business and a bad review.

A warehouse operative carrying out pick and pack.

How to pick and pack

So now you understand the pick and pack process and the important role it plays in your businesses’ success, how do you ensure it’s done properly?

Outsourcing this part of your business to logistics and warehousing specialists like Freightline Carriers can be hugely beneficial. Whether you’re a manufacturing company shipping components or a retailer shipping products, by allowing an experienced warehousing logistics expert to manage what can be highly complex processes, you can ensure that your suppliers and customers will receive the best experience possible.

When it comes to picking and packing, there are a number of steps you can take to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction levels. Here are some of the most important:

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