Dimensioning systems are a staple for warehouses and distribution centers. If you're in the warehousing or shipping industry, you may be in the market for a dimensioning system and are reading up on blogs such as this one to learn more.
Knowing what you need from your dimensioning solution plays a huge role in selecting the best model for your operation. Different applications require different dimensioning systems. Choosing the model that is best suited for your unique needs and challenges is imperative for success. This blog will outline three of the most common dimensioning applications.
Billions of packages are shipped every year. Each package must be measured and weighed before being sent to your carrier for delivery. If you're manually measuring and weighing your outbound parcels, you're likely paying more for shipping than you should be.
Please, Put the Tape Measure Down
Using a tape measure to record parcel dimensions is prone to error. No two employees measure alike, and making data entry errors on shipping labels is inevitable. Shipping carriers audit the dimensions you provide on shipping labels, and assess chargebacks for parcels that don't match their audited results.
Yes, you read that right. Your carrier is auditing your shipments and you're getting hit with chargebacks when your package measurements are off. To add insult to injury, they also tack on additional "audit" fees because they had to take the time to change the declared dimensions on your package. Audit fees can run to the tune of $2.00-$5.00 per package (or more) depending on your carrier.
Dimensioning systems automate the measurement process and pass accurate parcel data straight into your shipping software of choice. Accurate product data provided by a dimensioner will allow you to speed up your shipping lines, eliminate manual errors, and say goodbye to frustrating "audit" fees.
Accurate Dimensional Weight = Saving Money
Dimensional weight is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. Major shipping companies such as FedEx use dimensional weight to calculate shipping prices. You might think that being "close enough" is acceptable for your package dimensions. That might be true if you only send a few things out every day. However, slightly off measurements can result in paying extra for every item sent out, and those costs can pile up if you're sending thousands of packages.
Airplane pilots learn what's referred to as the 1 in 60 Rule. The rule states that if a plane veers off course by 1 degree, it will travel 60 miles in the wrong direction every hour that the error isn't corrected. While shipping packages isn't flying a plane, it's important to note that minor mistakes add up over time and can cause disaster. Being nickel and dimed on every package adds up quickly and worsens over time. If you were charged an additional 50 cents per package for 150,000 packages, you would pay $75,000 in unnecessary shipping fees, all because your measurements were slightly off. By investing in dimensioning technology, many operations are saving money and increasing overall performance.
Warehouse space is severely limited these days. In 2021, warehouse vacancy reached an all-time low of 3.6%. Due to the limited space and heightened demand, warehouse rental rates have also risen. To combat the high demand and expensive rental rates, warehouses are turning to dimensioning technology to maximize every inch of their existing warehouse space. Consistent and clean SKU data enables warehouse leaders to better utilize shelf space, packing materials, cartons, and more.
If a warehouse is going to be as efficient as possible, a high-quality dimensioning system is a necessity. Warehouses can't function properly without clean master data. Accurate SKU data properly used by a warehouse management system allows for proper slotting, storage selection, and other high-priority tasks.
The applications discussed in this blog are just the tip of the iceberg for dimensioning system applications. Many companies and industries use the technology for other purposes. More use cases for the technology come into the market every year. Cubiscan started with one dimensioner over 30 years ago, and now we have 15 dimensioners for various applications. More dimensioning technology is on the horizon, and like you, we're excited to see what advancements we'll see in the future.
If you're interested in learning more about how dimensioning technology can serve your operation, click the button below, email info@cubiscan.com, or call 801.451-7000.
