Barcode Shipping Labels-Streamline Your Shipping Process

A significant problem that the shipping industry faces is the loss of products. This common complication disrupts the shipping process, affecting customers and business owners.

But now, with most businesses opting for shipping labels and shipping label scanners, they have proved to be a blessing for the entire shipping process.

This article illustrates all about shipping labels and shipping label scanners and how they streamline the shipping process. Read on.

What is a shipping label?

A shipping label, also known as a packaging label, is a type of identification label. It provides the details a carrier needs to transport a package from its point of origin to the destination. A shipping label includes the following information:

• Origin/return address
• Destination address
• Shipping class (Next Day Air and Priority Mail)
• Electronic tracking number
• Package weight
• Shipping label barcode

How does a shipping label work?

A shipping label is helpful throughout the shipping and receiving journey. All its details can be easily accessed by using a shipping label scanner. Let’s see how it works in different scenarios:

While receiving inventory at the fulfillment center

A quick scan with the shipping label scanner ensures that the right products have been received. Thus, canceling out the time it would take to check every product and confirm it corresponds with what was ordered. This reduces the time consumption in the entire process, thus, the overall cost.

During the time when the shipment is with the courier company

After the barcode is printed with the shipping label and attached to the product, it is handed over to the logistics team/courier company. This is where the shipping label becomes crucial. It can be easily scanned at every fulfillment center, allowing the customer and the logistics team to have real-time updates as to the exact location of the product.

While processing a return from the end-customer

When a product is returned directly from the customer, the barcode on the label is thoroughly scanned. This is done to ensure that the item returned is the same as the one delivered. Only then is a refund initiated. This step also benefits the customer, saving them the hassle of writing/printing the product details before returning it.

How Shipping Labels Streamline The Shipping Process

1. Efficient Time Management : Even after the industrial revolution, shipping labels were written using the most rudimentary methods, be it a typewriter or pen and pencil. The advent of shipping label barcodes and their respective templates proved to be an elemental development for printing. Now, businesses can print tons of labels within minutes. Even for delivery executives, shipping label barcodes proved to be a boon. They can read barcode using their phones and have all the package details at their fingertips - delivery location to the estimated delivery date.
2. Reduced Manual Labor: Another instance when shipping label barcodes come in handy is eliminating manual cross-checking if every product has arrived, loaded, or shipped off. Instead, a single scan of the shipping label and all the details are fetched automatically by the shipping label scanner.
3. A Professional Edge : A shipping label not only simplifies the shipping process. Additionally, if the shipping label scanner is robust enough, it might scan a partially damaged barcode. But can the same thing be claimed about handwritten addresses? One splash of water and all the effort goes down the drain. Therefore, along with saving time and effort, shipping labels increase the professionalism of a business.
4. Improves Customer Satisfaction: As mentioned above, the manual writing of shipping details gave room for errors. A single misprint in the address or contact information could lead to the product being misdelivered or even shipped to the wrong facility. All this might lead to a delay in delivery. For a customer, the only thing worse than a delayed delivery is a misplaced order. The shipping label barcode allows the customer, the logistics team, and the business owner to trace the product and, ideally, prevent it from being misplaced.

The courier company gives out updates at every facility center the product stops at. Now with shipping labels in the picture, the chances of a delayed or misplaced order become slim to none.

For instance, if a delivery executive is in a tussle over two orders as to which one needs to be delivered first, given their limited time. They can decide by looking at the shipping class mentioned on the shipping label. This way, they can deliver the priority shipment first. Thus, sticking to the estimated delivery date. All of this would lead to improving customer satisfaction greatly.

Conclusion

Cheaper, faster, and more compelling are the words that aptly describe what a boon barcode shipping labels have been to the shipping industry. A ton of pros and almost no cons to speak of. Who wouldn't want a piece of this in their business?