As an online retailer, you probably want to offer your customers the best possible shopping experience. This is why you deliver their products via “express” delivery so that they arrive quickly at their destination.
This express delivery is often more expensive than standard delivery since carriers systematically calculate and bill you for the volumetric weight of your packages.
Here is more about volumetric weight and how to optimize it to reduce your product transportation costs.
Why do carriers calculate the volumetric weight of your products?
Most carriers calculate the volumetric weight of your packages to compare it with their actual weight. This allows them to choose the more profitable option for themselves, which is often the volumetric weight in the e-commerce industry.
How to calculate the volumetric weight of your packages
To calculate the volumetric weight of your products before sending them out, measure the length (L), width (W) and height (H) and use the following formula: (L x W x H)/5000.
The resulting number will be the volumetric weight of your package in kilograms.
Analyzing the volumetric weight of your packaging
Most companies limit the sizes of shipping crates and boxes they use to optimize their storage, though this can become costly when considering the impact of volumetric weight on billing.
To get a better idea of how volumetric weight affects your transport costs, create a chart highlighting the number of parcels that you ship according to the invoiced weight. Refer to the rates applied by the carriers to determine the weight ranges to include in your table.
You should then categorize your shipped parcels by weight range to get a better overview of your billing data. This will help you reduce the average weight invoiced by your carrier by adjusting your packaging.
Rethinking your packaging methods to reduce transportation costs
After analyzing your packaging practices, you may need to adjust your packaging methods to optimize the volumetric weight of your parcels.
Excessive use of protective packaging could significantly increase the volumetric weight of your packages, so start by re-evaluating the level of protection your products require.
Adapting the box to the contents of your packaging is also essential for optimizing volumetric weight. Having a larger variety of boxes or packaging materials can give you more control on the volumetric weight of your shipments.
Improve your packaging practices to reduce transportation costs
In conclusion, you can optimize your packaging to reduce transportation costs by calculating the volumetric weight of your parcels and analyzing the average packaging weight billed to you.
Do you need help from a specialist to optimize the volumetric weight of your packaging? Simply request a quote. Our consultants will apply their expertise to offer you the best solution tailored to your needs.