Our experts understand the varying challenges of the ecommerce supply chain, whether you sell your products on your own website or via a third party platform or vendor.
Ecommerce shipment packaging for non-perishable food needs to be able to withstand the multiple touches and variability of courier journeys, it must also be able to hold a near infinite variety of mixed loads.
Having effective packaging is critical for online retailers; a recent Smithers survey found that 11% of online shoppers received a damaged product in the past twelve months. Damaged packaging and broken products can have a long-term impact on a company's reputation.
For more information on how we can help your packaging, please contact us.
Ecommerce delivery simulated testing
In some cases, your supply chain will vary depending on the delivery route chosen by the customer, and your packaging must be able to withstand the multiple demands of these. Our experts will help you ensure that your packaging is fit-for-purpose, and we can simulate the conditions of multiple shipping environments, including:- Parcel and courier delivery
- Pallet shipments
- LTL shipments
- Roll cage and mixed pallets.
Ecommerce food packaging testing
Ecommerce is evolving and growing, bringing it with new opportunities and new challenges for retailers. But around a third of all food produced globally for human consumption is lost or wasted - around 1.3 billion tonnes per year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Around 88 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in the EU, with associated costs estimated at 143 billion euros according to European Commission. Shipment damage of food contributes to these figures.Ecommerce shipment packaging for non-perishable food needs to be able to withstand the multiple touches and variability of courier journeys, it must also be able to hold a near infinite variety of mixed loads.
Delivery challenges for ecommerce products
Unlike traditional retailers, online retailers often use third party delivery companies and therefore face a lack of control over the conditions encountered by their package. Additionally, the supply chain is often dictated by customer requests, and ecommerce retailers need to take these into account when making packaging decisions.Having effective packaging is critical for online retailers; a recent Smithers survey found that 11% of online shoppers received a damaged product in the past twelve months. Damaged packaging and broken products can have a long-term impact on a company's reputation.
ISTA testing for ecommerce packages
Currently, there are no specific standards for ecommerce packages. However, Smithers apply the testing process specified in ISTA 3A to packages intended for ecommerce transit. This test methods involves shock testing, vibration testing and drop testing at the relevant atmospheric conditions.Testing capabilities
We offer Amazon Testing including:- ISTA 6-Amazon.com SIOC : Ecommerce package testing for products that Ship In Own Container (SIOC)
- ISTA 6-Amazon.com Over-Boxing
- Leak Testing: simulating supply chain conditions and inspecting potential weak areas for leakage
- Seal Testing: testing for product contamination inside the package
- Accelerated Ageing Testing: run following a transit test, this assesses whether food goods will spoil at any point in the delivery timeline
- Pack Integrity Testing: package material testing to check the packaging has not been compromised.
- Bespoke testing to simulate specific conditions: If your packages will experience particular challenges we offer a range of additional tests (Drop testing, impact testing, testing with common items that could be shipped alongside it e.g. tins or heavy items).
Accreditation
All Smithers distribution testing laboratories are ISTA certified and ISO 17025 accredited. Many of the team members in both the US and UK are ISTA certified members and are globally recognized for their knowledge and expertise.For more information on how we can help your packaging, please contact us.
