Packaging can do a whole lot. Protect the item, be a marketing tool, and now, provide real analytics of the contents inside and overall success of the product. This is done through the use of packaging with embedded sensors, which are sensors put directly into the packaging, which generate all sorts of unique analytics that customers can use.
Some, include temperature and humidity, ensuring that it doesn’t get too hot, or too cold. It can also tell you other details as well, such as the location, and if there are any impacts that might have hurt the packaging along the way. It can also sometimes tell you the time between leaving the factory and getting to the customer, which is good to see if there are ways to speed up your shipping.
How This is Used for Quality Control
Lots of shippers use this type of data for quality control, which controls how good, or how bad something is. A lot of supply chain monitoring is done through these analytics, which are of course, used to monitor the way in which your items get to customers. It will also tackle performance reviews, which will review how effective the current distribution process is.
Overall, it can tell businesses where things are great, and what they can do better, invaluable tools for improving the success of your supplies.
Supplies that synch with Inventory and CRMs
You want to look for tools as well that sync up with your CRM, because this will help to manage customers.
A QR triggered response is one example of this. This is where a QR code gets scanned, and then triggers a response in the system, good for branding adjustments and current statistics for what the brand is going for.
Another, is NFC tags. Again, when these get activated, they then offer a unique way in which your customers are telling you about this item.
Finally, real-time scanning. Having scanners that scan these features and then translate them to the CRM, such as through the sorting and delivery phases, can be a good way to check on inventory and how far this goes. This type of scanning is great for warehouses, to ensure that you don’t run out of stock of course.
The Downsides with Data Analytics and Packaging Tech
So this type of packaging solution offers some marked effects that are worth mentioning, but there are some concerns.
Most notably, in the realm of data.
Data is everywhere. You give your information for all sorts of activities. Some companies may start to take this data without actively making it something fair and ethical, which can impact customer perception.
This brings about the big question: does the sender own this data, the receiver, or the carrier. Some companies and customers might not be privy to having all of that data out, while others see this as just a measurement.
If you plan to use this, make sure that you do offer some opt-out strategies that will not let your data be shared with others. If you have concerns about this, reach out to the distributor, or perform a survey on your current customer base, and figure out if it’s beneficial to have this strategy in.
Most of the data-driven packaging is seen in a lot of merchandising sectors, but we are also beginning to see this in the fashion sector as well as other locations. Overall, this type of packaging does offer new solutions, especially when bolstering the current packaging scenarios, improving the effects that it has, not just on the customers, but on the branding and wellness of such overall.
