Following the impact of Covid-19, online sales have grown exponentially around the world. The enormous mass of requests, in addition to the peaks of normal annual sales, puts a strain on transport and logistics companies, especially in the management of the volumes of deliveries, which are constantly increasing. Often, the excessive volume of goods to be handled generates costly inefficiencies in parcel delivery. Companies are looking for innovative solutions that are struggling to find. In fact, only 28% of them define themselves as “digitally advanced”. The research focuses in particular on technologies that allow rapid and accurate sharing of information and that bring benefits in terms of efficiency and productivity.
On the other hand, today e-commerce has got shipments off the ground. In Europe alone, couriers deliver over 9 billion items purchased within a year. 2020 was obviously a particular year, to the point that, according to industry experts, Covid-19 anticipated the future growth of e-commerce by at least 5 years. Research conducted in the UK shows a 74% increase in online shopping since the pandemic began. 45% of customers received more package deliveries during the lockdown period than in previous years. But in this sea of consumer goods, 3% of parcels per year are not delivered. Most of the time – trivially – only for a lost, damaged or illegible label. Also in the EU, around 120 million online orders are not delivered each year due to incorrect labeling. And no package can be handled without a clear and precise label.
But in what situations should a label be considered wrong? For example, when it is not present on the package. Or when the barcode (the barcode) is damaged in transit. Or again, when the data on the label is incorrect or printed in a non-compliant format. In all cases, packages with illegible labels are not properly sorted. But then they must be removed from the automated sorting channels and re-labeled by hand. Here it is necessary to bring in labeling tools that reduce the time to correct any errors to a minimum and ensure fast parcel delivery. Because from the order fulfillment center to the goods sorting center, up to the delivery of the package, the procedures are complex. What is certain is that in each link of this chain each label must be printed, scanned or processed.
Let us now consider three examples in which technology Brother, in logistics and transport companies, can make a difference by optimizing their workflows. First example. In an environment governed by fast-paced times, fast and accurate operations are essential to achieve a flexible and unforeseen distribution process. In this case, the portable printers, which the staff can use anywhere in the warehouse. They save time, improve labeling procedures and help the operator rectify errors on the spot immediately. The result is a correct and fast process even in moments of heavy traffic. Second example. In support of the rhythms to be maintained in a logistics center, Brother created the industrial printers at high speed, designed for high-volume printing. Devices that allow you to keep up with volume peaks by meeting the requirements of efficiency and traceability. Placing high-speed printers at key locations in the warehouse offers a significant advantage in creating shipping and receiving labels, pallet labels, product IDs / serial numbers, and more. This is because in a distribution center, the speed of stock rotation is a key aspect, which requires precise documents, represented by durable and good quality delivery and packaging labels. Third example. The last delivery mile is the stretch considered the most critical and therefore feared by all logistics companies. This is the only activity carefully evaluated by the customer, a step whose success can decide the fate of a company.
The answers of Brother there are many difficulties in this sense, starting with portable printers in A4 format (unique product of its kind) that use direct thermal printing technology, do not require ink or toner, small footprint and weighing only 500g, incredibly reliable and with high professional print quality; to this solution are added the portable label and receipt printers usable on board the vehicle with which it is delivered. Providing couriers with devices to fasten to the belt or to be installed on the vehicles themselves allows them to print, in addition to the normal labels, also other documents such as schedules or confirmations of registers and deliveries along the way. All this always to the advantage of traceability. A valuable aid that simplifies and makes last mile operations more effective. Increasing customer satisfaction.