The packaging optimization process

All businesses—from the smallest home crafting operations to the most innovative  companies—are looking for ways to improve their offering day by day. I hope I’ve persuaded you by now that packaging optimization is a great way to do this. But how do you go about it in a systematic way?

Here’s how it works.

Step 1 – study the product

It sounds obvious, but each product is different. Start by assessing what the most critical needs are and work from there. Does your product need to be kept fresh? Is it fragile? An unusual shape?

The current packaging may meet these requirements but in an inefficient way. Thinking creatively is key. In the modern world, it pays dividends to consider alternatives rather than sticking with what we know: alternatives to our usual diet, alternatives to zoom, alternatives to our everyday lifestyle. Be your own disruptor and take advantage of new ideas.

Step 2 – study the supply chain

Once the product leaves your premises, it will be subjected to all kinds of treatment. It may be exposed to humidity, air or rough handling, for example. Determine the conditions all along the supply chain. Then make sure your packaging is up to the task.

Step 3 – design some options

This is where you let your imagination loose. There are many fun ecommerce packaging ideas already out there for you to take inspiration from. Or maybe you can innovate and come up with something better?

Step 4 – testing

Before you send out your new packaging into the world, it’s vital to do proper testing. That means subjecting it to the supply chain conditions you identified in step 2. You can replicate road stress by using vibration machines, for example. At this stage, it’s worth hiring engineering expertise to do the job properly.

Putting all your packaging options through this is a terrific way of finding out which performs best.

Step 5 – review

No matter how much testing you do, you won’t know how your new packaging will perform in the wild until it’s out there. So it’s important to keep everything under review. Keep an eye on wastage and be ready to rethink if necessary.

Packaging optimization is an iterative process. Using real-world feedback is crucial for making incremental improvements over time. Modern smart packaging solutions with embedded sensor tech can make this job easier. You can use them to trace your packages through the supply chain and control the environment of your products in transit.

Solution in a box

The past few years have seen companies dealing with a range of new challenges, such as how to implement pandemic protocols and how to manage a remote workforce. So it’s understandable if packaging hasn’t been your top priority.