Your business has already felt the impact of increasing prices for packaging raw materials such as paper and aluminium. High energy prices add to the problem and factory and mill closures restrict supply. Tariffs and ongoing supply chain disruptions across the packaging sector continue to create challenges.
At the same time manufacturers and retailers are passing on the pain of increased pressure on their margins. Increased sustainability requirements will affect all market sectors. In contrast, the internet of things (IoT) is bringing about rapid positive changes for consumers and businesses alike.
While you can hope for better times ahead, improved efficiency can help your packaging business weather the storm. Before you begin cost reduction measures, consider streamlined operations and automation to improve control of your day to day operations. With business to business (B2B) ecommerce and enterprise (ERP) system integration you can improve customer service, pricing accuracy and sales processes. You can strategically adapt your pricing models to minimize the impact of materials shortages, disrupted distribution, and tariffs in the packaging sector.
Table of Contents
Benefits of automated reordering tools for your packaging business
Digital transformation will change the packaging sector, improving cost-efficiency. Process automation will have a key role to play.
Clients who repeatedly order the same products, sometimes with an extensive list of SKUs, find it time consuming and frustrating. They want fast and easy purchasing experiences and may look elsewhere for suppliers who can offer more efficient ordering. However, you already know ecommerce platforms often don’t provide purpose designed tools to streamline high-volume repeat orders for packaging products.
When you provide easy reordering tools specifically designed for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers you simplify order processing. Automation reduces administration for your back-office team, saving time and reducing errors. Most importantly, you’ll increase customer satisfaction and add to their lifetime value.
An automated B2B ecommerce reordering solution for the packaging sector
You can improve your margins and increase customer loyalty and engagement with purpose designed B2B reordering tools. You can provide multiple options to suit your customers’ needs.
Simplified sales order processing
You don’t have to worry about data silos thanks to business system integration. A single source of accurate and reliable information ensures online orders pass seamlessly to your ERP, accounts and warehouse teams. To avoid bottlenecks, you can include radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors and internet of things (IoT) devices.
Easy reordering tools.
Your customers have specific configuration, delivery and contract requirements. You can save time and money with automated order processing. Business system integration means you don’t have to worry about data silos. You’ll have a single source of accurate and reliable information. Your online orders pass seamlessly to your enterprise (ERP) system, accounts and warehouse teams. You can include radio frequency identification (RFID), sensors and internet of things (IoT) devices.
Real-time data
Robotics and automation have already changed the packaging and logistics sectors. The same principles can also transform sales order processing. Your latest order information can immediately update your storage and retrieval systems. You can streamline picking, packing and fulfilment and customers can track consignments online.
E-procurement
With PunchOut integration you can become part of your customer’s procurement solution. Your customers benefit from easy and convenient ordering experiences directly within their own e-procurement systems. They can browse part or all your product range and place their orders. Once approved, you can begin the fulfillment process straight away. For your larger customers electronic data interchange (EDI) provides secure data transmission and simplified order processing.
Multi-level authorizations
Multi-level approval features simplify order processing for customers who have strict purchase authorization processes. You and your clients can set up logins for buyers, managers and anyone else involved in the purchasing process. Everyone in the workflow can see orders and payments waiting for approval, with automatic redirection to the right people. Orders can go ahead as soon as all the right people have approved them.
Subscription ordering
Simplest of all, you can set up a subscription for customers who regularly order the same items. Once you or your customers have added the products, quantities, frequency and duration, it all happens automatically. If orders require approval before dispatch, there’s even an automatic reminder. It saves your customers’ time and adds a valuable revenue stream for your business.
Streamline packaging sales with automatic reordering tools
Your customers are increasingly comfortable making high value purchases in single online transactions. You can take full advantage of the latest B2B ecommerce reordering tools to benefit from these opportunities. That’s why more packaging and logistics companies are increasing B2B online sales to respond flexibly to changing market requirements. Whether you’re a small manufacturer or a global logistics provider you can simplify complex sales, reduce costs and improve customer service.
Case Study: AE Global
Florida based AE Global supplies packaging solutions to cannabis distributors who then sell their goods to retail stores and other outlets. With demand for the company’s custom-branded and child-resistant packaging increasing, efficient order processing became a priority. AEG wanted to capitalize on its expanding market to scale the business. They chose Cloudfy’s customer self-service portal with ERP integration to provide product and account information online in real time.
Find out more about Cloudfy’s automated reordering tools for the packaging sector. Book a free demonstration today.
