That smart product loading saves money is crystal clear. Whether you are filling a box, stacking a pallet or loading an entire container, the goal is to fit as many products as possible into as little space as possible. What matters, however, is that loading or stacking is not an action in itself but a step in a logistics process.
In practice, I see companies miss opportunities when the focus is only on load optimisation. Using examples from recent cases, I will explain a bit more.
Broaden your perspective
What is often overlooked is that the process begins when an order is received. If it is already clear at that stage what the consignment will look like and how much volume needs to be purchased, this presents additional opportunities. Imagine if you could immediately offer your customer the option to send more products without extra delivery charges because there is still space on the pallet or in the lorry.
I can go one step further: At one of my customers, the required number of pallet slots is booked immediately after the order is placed to keep lead time as short as possible. A reliable loading schedule therefore prevents over or under space booking.
Mixed consignments
The next step in the process is building a pallet or loading a container. When you’re working with uniform boxes, the process is likely to be fully automated. However, most companies’ shipment profiles are less homogeneous than you might think. There are many exceptions, both in terms of shape and dimensions. Many companies handle these ‘packaging exceptions’ manually. They are, as it were, taken out of the automated logistics processes.
You should therefore consider loading as part of the entire logistics process: some operations may be unnecessary and best skipped, making the whole operation more efficient. Software takes into account product dimensions, stacking restrictions and weight in advance before stacking.
Faster order processing
One aspect that is often overlooked is the processing of orders at the customer’s premises following transport. If goods have been stacked and loaded in a structured manner, it is possible to assess in advance how to unload them most efficiently and quickly.
Again, not everything needs to be unpacked except for an entry check. Think of the benefits to be gained from cross-docking, goods to be put away directly by aisle, and certainly in machine installations, this delivers huge benefits.
A worthwhile investment?
Is investing in load planning software worthwhile? Absolutely. The key here is to keep the entire process in mind. So don’t view load planning software merely as a tool for optimising stacking and saving on transport costs! See it as a tool for gaining insight into your entire supply chain and for implementing changes across the board.
