Packing Prep & Setup

This guide outlines best practices for setting up your pack station and executing a smooth packing process for eCommerce orders. 

IN THIS TOPIC

• Understanding the Packing Process
• Efficient Pack Station Setup
  • Essential Items for All Pack Stations
  • Additional Setup for Specific Scenarios
• Addressing Special Packing Requirements
• Terminology

Understanding the Packing Process

Packing is the crucial step after order picking, where items are prepared for shipment. Here is how it works with Flexe.

• Initiate Packing: Use the "Pack" feature on Flexe mobile devices. 
• Scan and Verify: Scan each item's SKU, scan box barcodes (if used), and shipping labels. 
• Packing Completion: Once packed, the order status changes to "Packed" in the system.
• Ready for Shipping: Packed orders are prepared for trailer loading and cannot be cancelled or edited in Flexe. These must be now completed by trailer loading. 

For more about using the Pack feature, go to Pack Orders. 

Efficient Pack Station Setup

A well-organized pack station is essential for efficient packing. Here is a checklist:

Essential Items for All Pack Stations

• Location Barcode: Clearly identifies the pack station for pickers and packers. 
• Flexe Mobile Device(s): Used for scanning and order processing
• Overboxing Supplies (if applicable):
  • Packing tape
  • Box cutters
  • Ample supply of various corrugated boxes (organized by size to prevent bottlenecks)

Additional Setup for Specific Scenarios

• Ship As-Is SKUs (Single Line Orders): Pack stations can be used as outbound staging lanes as these do not require overboxing. Designate an area as an outbound staging lane where shipping labels can be applied directly to the product packaging. 
• Ship As-Is SKUs (Multiline Orders): Follow the standard overboxing setup.
• Pack Time Label Generation (PTLG): A packing process where the shipping label for an order is generated after the order has been picked. PTLG is only available if this has been enabled for your reservation. To learn more, go to Pack Orders Using Pack Time Label Generation.

Additional items required for PTLG include:

• • 4x6" label printer (ensure this is Bluetooth compatible with Flexe mobile devices).
  • 4x6" labels

Note: Flexe mobile devices connect to Zebra printers via bluetooth. You'll need to connect your device to the printer at the start of each shift--just tap it on the printer's wireless button: 

Addressing Special Packing Requirements

Some shipments may require additional handling or labeling based on product type or customer requests. Examples include:

• Hazmat labels: Adhering to strict safety regulations for hazardous materials.
• Gift Notes: Including personalized messages as per customer instructions.

Note: These types of requirements should be discussed during the initial Flexe warehouse setup. These should be documented in service agreements and/or custom Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). If you need more information, reach out to your Flexe Logistics Analyst.

Terminology

• Hazmat: Hazardous materials requiring special handling and labeling. 
• Overboxing: The process of placing items within a new corrugated box for shipping, often used for combining multiple items into one package.
• Pack: The Flexe mobile app that guides the user through the scanning and verification process for order fulfillment.
• Ship As-Is: Product that can be shipped in their original packaging, “as-is,” with only a shipping label added. 
• SKU(s): Stock Keeping Unit, a unique identifier for each product variation (e.g. size, color, style).