How to Beat the Summer Shipping "Heat"

The sun is shining, temperatures are rising, and customers are shopping online more than ever (other than during major holidays, of course)! If you're an ecommerce business owner, you should make sure your logistics operations are ready to take on the summer. To help business owners prepare for the excitement, Atomix put together a few great tips to make sure your brand is up to the task:

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1) Protect Goods Against Extreme Temperatures

Consider using temperature-controlled containers/rooms or insulated packaging to keep sensitive goods safe and at their optimal temperature during transit. This can apply to a wide range of products; from chocolate, to cosmetics, and even specific materials in tech products! 

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2) Use Ideal Packing Materials

In addition to making sure products are insulated, it’s important they are also being protected from physical damage. With how busy major carriers tend to be, it can be difficult for them to enforce proper care for every single parcel being handled. Using proper packaging materials like sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and other cushioning helps prevent even the most fragile packages from being damaged in transit. It may cost a little more to pay for the more robust packaging option, but remember - it will likely cost more to lose what’s inside.

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3) Proactive Planning

In addition to hot days and cold drinks, the summer season brings a substantial increase in shipping volumes throughout the ecommerce industry. To make sure your brand is ready to take on extra order volume, make sure to implement a plan for preparing your logistics operations ahead of time. Reach out to your fulfillment center/partner, schedule pickup times, and make sure your brand secures enough surplus inventory to keep order fulfillment running smoothly during a large influx of orders. 

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4) Consider Expedited Shipping

In the high temperatures and extreme weather brought on by summer, some goods simply can’t survive being in a trailer for hours on end without melting or being otherwise ruined. For products like these, using the insulated packaging materials we mentioned above or ice packs is a possible solution, but these aren’t always viable solutions for certain products. In cases like these, consider exploring options for expedited shipping to ensure goods are delivered undamaged, and on time.

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5) Keep Customers in the Loop

Communicating with customers should be every brand’s priority year-round, but the increase in shopping during summer months calls for even more effort on the “customer experience” side of business. Provide customers with real-time updates on their shipments, so they know when to expect their orders to be delivered. Using Atomix’s proprietary app, our clients can access a real time “birds-eye-view” over their order fulfillment operations, helping business owners provide accurate information to all customers.

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6) Embrace Eco-Friendly Shipping Practices

In the past, finding a partner for sustainable shipping was not only difficult, but substantially more expensive than commercial carrier options. Today, there are a myriad of options for eco-friendly shipping options. In no particular order, these are a few valuable options to explore (note, some are mentioned earlier in this post):

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• Consolidate shipments to minimize the number of trips

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• Use recyclable packaging materials

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• Explore alternative transportation options, such as electric vehicles

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• ‍‍Leverage some of Atomix’s eco-friendly shipping partners

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Conclusion

Make no mistake - summer is finally here, and excited customers are ready to begin enjoying the beautiful weather. Atomix is ready to help ecommerce business owners navigate the shipping and logistics challenges that come with this chaotic season, let’s make this summer your season of success - reach out to us today!