Any business that is involved in the transport of goods should take certain measures to ensure their product is kept in optimal condition at every stage of transport, delivery, unloading, shelving, and shipping. In some cases, this might involve communicating special requests with your carrier to ensure third-parties are on board with your preferred practices.
However, typically your biggest concern will be equipping your employees and place of business with all the components and skills needed to bring products from shipment to sale without any unnecessary hiccups. With that said, here are 4 things every business can do make sure their products are kept safe at all times:
-
1. Ensuring Cleanliness and Sanitation
Many products can be tainted or completely ruined if sanitation isn’t strongly considered during the transportation process. Moving vehicles and storage areas should be disinfected and cleaned on a regular basis, especially if your business is involved in the sale of food item’s, children’s products, or healthcare-related products. Many businesses also opt for heat treated pallets to ensure that the pallet wood is free of any pathogens like mold and bacteria.
-
2. Training Product Handlers
Any employee that is tasked with handling new products on a regular basis should be trained on how to pick up and manoeuvre items in a reliably safe yet productive manner. You want your associates following specific protocols when handling fragile or sensitive items that could easily break or spoil, so it’s a good idea to administer quizzes to ensure all workers who are involved in the packing and unloading process are well-versed in safe material handling procedures.
-
3. Optimize the Unloading Area and Process
Many problems with appearance can be avoided by giving your employees well-organized unpacking and stocking areas. In general, you’ll want to shorten the distance from the back of the truck to the inventory processing spot, setting up at least one main station to serve as a secure catch-all for incoming products. Taking an arbitrary approach to unloading and stocking can result in damaged packaging that can negatively affect the perception prospective customers receive when browsing through your shop.
-
4. Use Better Inventory Tracking Systems
Aside from keeping products safe and in good condition, it’s also important to keep track of inventory as it is in route to and from your warehouse or place of business. For this step you may want to look into inventory tracking software, particularly if you manage a large selection that tends to change frequently.
-
Small Mishaps Can Have a Big Impact
While it might seem like taking so many precautions just to avoid the odd slip up isn’t worthwhile, consider the fact that even the smallest bad impression can have a rippling effect on your potential outreach. If one customer isn’t satisfied with the condition of the product, that might not only lead to a bad public review that will sway other future prospects away from your brand, it will also directly stop that customer from coming back or referring their friends and family.