Smart Packaging As A Building Block For Supply Chain Management
Passive packaging has been an integral part of the supply chain & logistics industry. The term passive packaging refers to traditional packaging, which involves standard packages using boxes, plastic pouches, wrapper, and metallic containers. These conventional methods were efficient to wrap and pack the consumer products and deliver them with minimum issues. However, they didn’t offer any added value for the suppliers regarding management, traceability, and quality control while safely transporting the product.
Can Smart Packaging Help Supply Chain Management?
Smart packaging refers to connected packaging, which can share some information with the users or, in this use case, to the supply chain management. The involvement of smart packaging means that products and shipments can exchange information and status with the extensions and gateways at warehouses. Smart packaging provides full tracking and control over the resources and shipments. It reduces shipment management hassles and any chance of human error, significantly allowing faster and accurate services to customers.
Logistics Problems Solved By Smart Packaging
There are many benefits that Smart Packaging offers to the logistics and supply chain industry. Here are specific applications where the implementation of smart packaging provides an edge:
Better traceability of goods and packages:
Brands and manufacturers mostly rely on third-party supply chain partners to transport their packages from the assembly house to the end consumers. Some of these vendors don’t provide real-time tracking, and it could result in customer frustration.
Temper and theft protection:
In distant deliveries and extended supply chains, often the products might suffer tempering or even thefts, which is a deal-breaker for any customer and can even jeopardize brand value. Smart Packaging would allow manufacturers to identify the point of wrongdoing and find the loophole.
Quality assurance:
Certain products require special environmental care and attention. Smart packaging could monitor and notify real-time if environmental thresholds are met. Such monitoring allows manufacturers to ensure that products are delivered in the best condition to maintain customer satisfaction.
Superior customer experience:
Supply chain management is responsible for presenting the products to the end-users. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that they know the package’s condition, situation, and quality. One lousy supply chain management example could put a damper on the brand’s name. Proper logistics and transportation management strengthens customer loyalty.
Data science & analytics:
Connected packaging or smart packaging operates on data. All the data that comes from these packages would help brands better understand their process and optimize their resources. Demands for data scientists is at an all-time high as better predictions and planning can help supply chains more than any other industry.
On the ending note, smarter supply chain management is the extension of intelligent product engineering. There are innovations daily in consumer products, and there are more convenient ways for shopping; as such, it is indispensable for supply chains to upgrade. A better supply chain is a part of a better user experience and optimized logistics. It paints a clear picture to the customer that a brand is prospering. It will not take long for e-commerce industries to implement intelligent supply chains, and smart packaging becomes a new normal.
