The number of business premises used for transport, logistics, and warehousing in the UK rose by 21% from 2019 to 2021.
Warehouses can be complicated environments. There is a lot of inventory going in and out, so staying organised is essential. Picking and packing are among the most important warehouse processes, so you need to make sure it’s done effectively within your business.
For a rundown of how to choose the right pick and pack services, keep reading.
What Are Pick and Pack Services?
Warehouse picking and packing is one of the most important elements of the order fulfilment process. The first part is order picking, in which a worker will pick the items a customer has requested. Workers will then pack these warehouse products so that they’re ready to send to the customer.
The pick and pack process needs to be as efficient and streamlined as possible to ensure things are done correctly and in good time. Skilled workers and an effective warehouse management system will help with the whole process. This will ensure business operations are maintained and customer satisfaction stays high.
Different Pick and Pack Methods
Pick and pack fulfilment may sound like a simple process, but it takes a lot to make sure everything runs smoothly. There are several methods that you should be aware of.
Piece Picking
This is the simplest method, as it involves picking just one order at a time. The worker will take a packing slip, and then locate and pick the items on the order. They then need to take the order to the packaging station.
Smaller businesses generally have fewer orders. This is often the most suitable method for such a business.
Batch Picking
This is better for slightly larger businesses that have enough orders to batch them together. Batches consist of items that are located near one another in the warehouse. The idea is that by picking items in the same area the process will be more efficient.
For example, if there are 10 orders that contain the same item, it makes sense to pick them all at once. This gets orders picked faster, meaning they’ll get sent out faster.
Even smaller businesses can make use of this method. With a small number of orders, it can be more efficient to pick them all at a set time each day.
Zone Picking
For larger warehouses, this can be an ideal solution. Workers have designated zones, and they pick the products within their zones for various orders. Once they’ve picked the items for an order, they pass it on to the next zone.
After everything on the order is picked, it moves on to the packing station. This requires better coordination than piece or batch picking, so warehouse management software is essential.
Wave Picking
This combines elements of both batch and zone picking. Workers have their specific zones where they will pick items for batches of orders and then pass them on to the next zone. Again, this is quite complex, so it requires a highly organized and efficient system.
Why Choose AP+ Storage and Fulfilment?
Regardless of the size of your warehouse, you can benefit from efficient order fulfilment services. AP+ Storage and Fulfilment has experience working with a range of businesses such as importers, manufacturers, and retailers of all sizes from across the globe. Over the years we’ve provided end-to-end 3PL solutions for shipping, receiving, storing, and distributing all kinds of goods.
Rapid Dispatch With Tracked Delivery
Any orders we receive before 10 pm will be fulfilled and dispatched the next day. In most cases, we can dispatch smaller orders on the same day if they’re placed by 2 pm. With our system, we can bulk print orders with pre-selected courier labels and pass any tracking info through to your marketplaces/shopping channels.
Efficiency at Every Stage
We have a modern warehouse management system that automates various processes. This helps workers pick orders faster by providing them with product locations and order times. By minimising the time it takes to pick, pack, and dispatch orders, your customers will get their items faster.
Inventory Tracking and Monitoring
As workers pick customer orders, they scan each product into our warehouse management system. Efficient inventory management is vital, and this helps ensure 99%+ stock accuracy. We’re also able to monitor when stock is ordered, allowing us to get it picked, packed, and sent out to customers more quickly.
Our facility is well organised and secure. We have perimeter fencing, fully remote CCTV, and entry/exit access, so your assets will be safe at all times.
Reverse Fulfilment
Sometimes you’ll have returned items, and we can help with this too. We work to make returning products seamless and easy for customers to help minimize waste and shipping costs while keeping customers happy. When a return request comes through, we can contact the customer to organise a time to pick up the item(s).
Our warehouse management software automates the stock process so there are no mistakes. Inventory levels will be adjusted immediately to minimise losses and regain value.
We’ll also check the quality of any returned items to make sure there are no issues. We even have an in-house workshop, so depending on the product, we may be able to refurbish inadequate items on-site.
Your Pick and Pack Solution
Regardless of the size of your business, pick and pack services can be very beneficial. With AP+ Storage and Fulfilment, you can be confident that all customer orders will be handled efficiently and accurately. Visit our pick and pack page to find out more about how we can help your business today.
