Best Practices for Sellers Shipping Perishable and Time-Sensitive Items
In 1806, American entrepreneur Frederic Tudor achieved notoriety for becoming the first person to successfully ship a perishable item. He shipped ice by sea from New England to the Caribbean. Modern refrigeration did not exist at the time, and it was indeed a tremendous feat. Ironically, the islanders at the time did not think it was tremendous enough to line up and purchase ice. Thankfully, for Tudor, that changed. Ultimately, he earned the moniker “The Ice King” and, at the age of 80, died a rich man.
The business of shipping perishables and time-sensitive goods has evolved extensively in the ensuing 219 years since Tudor’s initial achievement. Over time, processes have been invented, implemented, perfected, and given rise to new methods. At present, here are a few best practices for shippers to minimize spoilage and ensure integrity.
Use Proper Packaging – Regardless of what you are shipping, the packaging has to protect what’s inside. Whether that means it has to be durable in case of turbulence, be able to keep moisture out or prevent the item from breaking in a fall, the packaging has to help ensure the product looks to the customer when they receive it the way it looked when you prepared it for its journey to them. Our partner, Periwrap, can assist you with a review of your current packaging.
Control the Shipping Environment – At some point, this will likely be out of your control. Carefully pack your shipments to maintain desired temperatures during transit. Include an appropriate number of gel packs or ample dry ice based on the time of year.
Load and Unload Products with Precision and Care – Every second counts. In the case of perishables and time-sensitive goods, it’s vital that items don’t get lost in the shuffle. Do you trust your shipper to handle your product with the same care that you would?
Find the Straightest Line, Even if it isn’t Straight – Sometimes in shipping perishable items, the shortest distance between two points isn’t a straight line. When it comes to an optimized route, there are many factors to consider. While distance is certainly one, you have to take into account what the actual route is and what obstacles lie in wait along the way.
Follow the Rules – When it comes to food and shipping perishable items, there are countless regulatory compliance and safety standards that must be maintained for the protection of customers. Additionally, those rules and regulations aren’t always the same from locale to locale. Do your research and make sure your product, or how it’s packaged, does not run afoul of local or federal laws.
Follow Every Step Along the Way – Even when you turn over your product to a shipping partner, you don’t give up the responsibility of delivering that item. You want assurances that your product is making the journey to your customer promptly and properly. Real-time tracking is nearly ubiquitous at this point, but there are exceptions. Understand what the shipper you choose offers so that you have peace of mind from the time your product leaves your facility and arrives at its intended destination. Utilizing a logistics management service like PeriShip adds a layer of service to ensure your package has every chance possible of arriving on time.
Have a Strong Relationship with Your Carrier – Open and honest lines of communication with your carrier are important. Laying the foundation of your expectations from the start is vital to having a strong relationship where everything is clearly defined. For certain shipments, you may be flexible as to when a product arrives. For others, even an hour beyond the promised delivery time can be unacceptable.
Monitor Their Standards – Employees come and go. Rules change. Technologies improve. In addition to keeping the people inside your walls apprised as to the latest and greatest and ensuring they are well-trained and meeting expectations, your carrier should be doing the same. Question your carrier to see what sort of regular training they provide. Ask them how they ensure the assimilation of that training.
Expect the Unexpected – The list of challenges that can arise from Point A to Point B is endless. Many are challenges that the carrier will have to overcome, but you have to prepare for contingencies on your end as well. Accidents happen. Natural disasters occur. Weather challenges arise. Power outages can affect your operations. Resiliency planning is critical for every operation. When relying on a third-party, your planning has to consider the challenges they may face. Address issues as they arise, especially when shipping perishable items.
Implement Sustainability Whenever Possible – Sustainable packaging and sustainability in any area of your organization allows you to direct funds to other aspects for improvement. Whether it be in research of better ingredients, purchasing better materials, or even increasing the happiness of employees. Each of these improvements can contribute some facet to making sure your product follows sustainability practices.
PeriShip is at the forefront of helping clients make sure their time-sensitive and perishable goods arrive on-time. We have in-house tools, resources, and solutions that business owners rely on daily to get their products into the hands of waiting customers. From food to medical devices, floral arrangements and tuxedoes to life-saving pharmaceuticals, and even wine. Our expertise allows clients to focus on their passion and sales instead of worrying about pickups, tracking, and delivery.