marketing

How Digital Printing revolutionizes Packaging 

Richard TottenLeave a comment

Gone are the days of having to use printing plates. You can get this all digital! It’s a great way to really change the way your products work, offering an even better, more profound sort of existence for the times you wish to package. Here, we’ll go over how packaging aesthetics and digital printing all come together. 

Brand Identity and Material Diversity 

Digital printing is heralding a new era for the aesthetics used in packaging, as there is a need for diversity and brand differentiation. Digital printing allows you to use many different substrates, colors, and textures, all of which can markedly fit the identity of the brand. Ti’s flexible, and allows for the brand to stand out, even in the most crowded of marketplaces./ 

One example is Bunzl Industrial, who recently leveraged the capabilities that digital printing offers, providing a wide array of solutions for packaging that will resonate with the branding needs a client will have. 

Whether there’s vibrant colors or textures that are subtle, the options are not limited. With so much experimentation, it offers compelling visuals that will captivate even the hardest of audiences, enhancing the experiences of customers. 

Integration of QR codes as well, along with AR is further enriching packaging, as there is now that intimate connection of digital experiences and fostering of a deeper brand connection. With interactive packaging, and IoT, it definitely elevates the customer experience. 

More companies can be different, and offer differences, and not be limited by so much that they used to be in the past. 

Personalization and Customization 

Then of course, there is the personalization and customization of packaging, which is so easy to do these days. 

Digital printing offers empowerment for businesses, looking to tailor that packaging they have to these preferences. It creates engaging, memorable unboxing experiences. The level of personalization isn’t just used to make marketers happy, but it’s a move that enhances the loyalty of the brand and customers because they will remember. 

A lot of ecommerce packaging does focus on personalization, in order to forge a stronger, better connection with your customers. For smaller enterprises, it translates to affordable means to differentiate the products in online marketplaces that are crowded. User experiences, sustainability, and the like, all offer a means to leverage the custom packaging, so that the brand identity is solidified. 

Being Sustainable 

Then of course there are the sustainability measures that go along with that. digital printing is compatible with the eco-friendly materials that are there, and is a major testament with the promotion of environmental responsibility.   With the ability to print on demand, a lot of digital printing does eliminate the waste that’s associated with your print runs, and ensures that your packaging isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, but also conscious to the environment. 

Using soy, and water based inking along with materials that are recyclable offers major packaging sustainability. The businesses are used to meet the demands the market has for a functional design and won’t compromise on the values that are fundamental there.   you will see a major difference once you start to fix your printing. 

It offers some major advantages, as you will be able to tap into that sustainability that’s there and is cost effective too. Many times, customers will be able to trust your product a bit more with this type of printing measure. 

So don’t be afraid to go digital. With digital printing measures, you will be able to, with these measures in place, change the way your packaging works.   You’ll also be able to foster and welcome in a digital market too. 

Measure Twice — Pay Once

Richard TottenLeave a comment

Shipping charges are determined by the contents (and sometimes) dimensions and overall weight of the package, not just the items included within. Inaccurate measurements of either the size or weight of the package, whether due to careless measurement or inaccurate scales, can result in additional expense. Properly measuring your order ensures that the appropriate shipping materials are used and that you meet your budget requirements.

Worker measuring a cardboard shipping box on a digital scale
A warehouse worker measures a boxed shipment before labeling and dispatch.

Take all measurements once the order is packed. Due to content, a box may be larger than it was when empty; similarly, a mailer may have grown thicker with content added. Measure the finished packaging as it will arrive to the destination. Taking this measurement will provide a truer representation of how much room your shipment takes up.

Measure the longest dimension to determine the length. Next, find the widest and tallest dimensions. Be certain to measure to the farthest point of any protruding feature. Record the measurements in the same sequence each time to ensure they do not get entered into the incorrect fields.

Do not compress a soft package to appear smaller. Although some compression may occur upon filling, the mailer typically returns to its original form once released. Take the measurements when resting on the surface of the worktable. If your package is irregularly shaped, record the three largest dimensions (length, width, and height).

Center the packaged item on a shipping scale and avoid contact with adjacent surfaces or objects. Do not remove the item until the scale readings cease to fluctuate. All components included in shipping (product, packaging material, filler, adhesive, labels, etc.) should be reflected in the final weight.

Before weighing any customer shipments, verify that the shipping scale has been reset to zero. Misaligned or loose labels, open trays or unaccounted tools can cause discrepancies in the scale’s readings. Periodically test the accuracy of your shipping scale using a reference item with a known weight. Prior to shipping any customer orders, resolve any issues that cause inaccuracies prior to weighing them.

Worker using digital scale at Weighing Station 4; signs read "ACCURACY MATTERS" and "NOTICE SCALE USAGE: 1. RESET TO ZERO. 2. CHECK PLATFORM. 3. WEIGH SHIPMENT."
A warehouse worker checks a shipment scale before labeling a customer order.

Include all dimensions when purchasing your shipping label. Estimating a lower size initially may reduce your initial cost slightly; however, carriers have the ability to adjust your invoice later. More importantly, estimating incorrectly could delay delivery of your package. Accurately listing all dimensions allows your package to flow through the process at the most accurate rate possible.

Should your package seem overpriced, consider utilizing a different type of shipping container rather than removing protective covering. There may exist a significantly sized box or smaller mailer that still protects your product while lowering your size classification. Maintain all necessary protection surrounding your product; saving money is beneficial if the product does not arrive damaged.

Create records of frequently shipped products’ packing sizes and weights. Add this information to a reference manual located in close proximity to where you ship. The next time you need to ship this particular order, refer to the previous size/weight data recorded. Your packer will then know which shipping materials were previously utilized and will merely need to verify their accuracy.

A few minutes of attention spent accurately recording all sides of a completed package and its true weight could potentially eliminate unexpected charges associated with numerous packages. Ensure all finished sides of packages are measured carefully, weigh all components in addition to the products included, and input all factual data correctly. By understanding both size and weight prior to pick up, organizations are able to review options, anticipate costs, and ship orders with increased confidence.