How can WMS assist with volume cubing and packaging?

Discover how the WMS system automates the calculation of cubing and helps define the right packaging for each order

If you are a logistics manager, you will surely confirm that the pressure to reduce costs and ensure efficiency at all stages of operation is constant. This, in fact, impacts not only the financial health of the company but also the customer’s satisfaction, who expects agility and precision in deliveries, along with reduced shipping costs. But how to save and be effective? One of the points that deserves attention is volume cubing.

Proper cubing helps reduce waste caused by the use of inadequate packaging, but also in load formation, avoiding poor use of space. This means your company will save on internal and transportation costs and work actively towards sustainability. And it is worth remembering that customers appreciate companies committed to this cause. That’s why we state that packaging cubing is among the key elements for the success of your company’s logistics planning.

However, there are still many doubts on the subject, even on how to correctly calculate cubing. To change this situation, in this text, we will clarify the questions and show how WMS can make the entire process more agile and simple.

After all, what is volume cubing? What is the difference from load cubing?

Cubing is related to the volume of any product, meaning it is related to the formula length x height x width. In the context of a warehouse, when we say “volume cubing,” we refer to the calculation that will help in choosing the ideal packaging for an order. In other words, it considers the area occupied by all the items that make up an order and, based on the number reached, defines the ideal box or package so that all products are well arranged, without leaving excessive space.

There is also load cubing, which relates the volume of the product and the space of the vehicle that will transport it, and is therefore essential for optimizing transportation and avoiding waste. It identifies the available load capacity in a vehicle, as well as its limits.

This information is essential to consolidate shipments efficiently, balancing the gross weight with the physical space. In other words, without cargo cubing, there is no efficient logistics planning, as the loading process becomes much more precise if you consider the volumes of goods and the area of the vehicle.

How to calculate the volume cube?

In calculating the cubing of volumes, it is necessary to consider both the cubing of each item that makes up the order (cubing = height x width x length) and the dimensions of each package. Essentially, you discover the total area that the goods will occupy together and then make the choice of a box or package with similar dimensions.

In manual operations, it is normal for employees to choose packaging randomly, after all, it is not always possible to calculate the size of each order. However, this can lead to material waste and affect the load formation inside the transport vehicle. If space is used improperly, there will be losses, and there could even be an increase in shipping costs: these costs will go to your company or the consumer, but neither situation is positive.

WMS: fast and 100% accurate volume cubing.

The good news is that technology can help you a lot in defining the ideal packaging for your order, avoiding material waste and the implications that come with it. This is the function of the WMS system, which performs cubing automatically, indicating to the packaging operator what type of box or package to use for each request.

In the product registration carried out in the WMS, the dimensions of each merchandise are entered. The dimensions of the available packages are also recorded. Since the WMS controls the order from the moment of separation, the software automatically calculates the total cube volume, thus indicating the best packaging.

In practice, this means that the system already optimizes the packaging box (transport handling unit) during separation, taking into account the size of the box and how each product will be organized inside it.

Moreover, the WMS divides the volumes into cubing by sector and address, meaning the products will be organized in boxes or packages according to their specificity. For example, if an order includes food and perfumery items, the system already separates them into different packaging, avoiding any risk of contact.

In short, with WMS, you avoid waste, contribute to the environment, speed up packaging, and make better use of space in each shipment. It’s technology that combines efficiency, sustainability, and savings!

Want to know more about WMS, learning in detail about the features that the Deagor system offers for packaging and shipping? Get in touch with our experts and discover how the software can transform your business and increasingly enhance your customers’ satisfaction.

How can WMS assist with volume cubing and packaging? Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!