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Traditional packaging and distribution methods are insufficient to meet shifting market needs and changing consumer expectations. Working with local distribution providers as well as international domains and providers makes packaging all the more essential.
Understanding the different types of smart packaging available can set struggling companies apart from successful ones. Digital businesses, brick-and-mortar shops, online stores, and E-commerce solutions all benefit from this innovation.
Smart packaging consists of packaging systems with embedded sensor technology used for different product tracking. Direct distribution aims to extend its shelf life, track and trace products, monitor freshness, display information on quality, or improve the effect on customer safety.
Smart packaging contributes to the overall supply chain efficiency by constantly contacting the products through strategic sensors devices on the packaging. Smart packaging is integrated into products such as food, pharmaceutical, and many more. The Supply Chain packaging and distribution resource management are currently in a growth phase with immense potential.
New innovations with digitalization and automation, such as thin-film electronic and antimicrobial packing, are being analyzed to increase their capabilities and become even more accurate and safer (Cheung, 2018). It all comes down to improving supply chain management processes from end to end.
The three main Packaging levels and Direct Distribution
The packaging process consists of three primary levels. The first level is about the structural nature of the package. This phase is the smallest. Within this phase, the package is in direct contact with the actual content.
The second level deals with visual communication and customer satisfaction. The primary purpose of the second level is to keep packages in que and to follow their progress. It is a critical piece of the direct distribution puzzle.
Finally, the third level is designed and used for transportation and storage, such as cartons. The packaging system is cross-functional, which means that different departments dealing with the system each have specific requests about the design of the package.
The three package levels involved in packaging and distribution resource management are illustrated in the schema below.
“Smart packaging permits transparency through an instantaneous ability to track and trace the exact location of a product in the supply chain using unique barcodes, QR codes, or RFID technology. These features enable predictive planning and more efficient inventory management.” Cargo & Freights
Smart Packaging Improves Security and Delivery Success
The security of the products can be monitored by research design to increase the safety of the product during manufacturing and assembly, storage and picking, and transport. Smart packaging also plays an important role in traditional packaging. Information transmission is used to inform the management team on the correct way to store or transport the contained product. Organizations also integrate the internet of things (IoT) through an electronic device RFDI (radio-frequency identification) which is a tag on packages to enable companies to identify the products in real-time, reducing the risk of damages and mapping the path of the products to control the work in progress. An unprotected product could cause product waste which can be negative from an environmental and economic point of view.Shipper and Carrier Benefits to Smart Packaging
Smart Packaging can offer various advantages. They can fulfill the information, automation, marketing, and protective functions.
To accomplish this, packages are equipped with tiny electronic devices that add functionalities such as barcodes, LED, augmented reality, NFC (near field communication), loudspeakers, and displays.
A good example would be intelligent drug packaging with built-in RFID (radio frequency identification) chips that can track and report the location and status of each individual box, pallet, or load. It helps all involved parties better manage packaging and distribution resources.
Smart Packaging has a strong customer empowerment element through great new technological tools. These supply chain tools can offer a customer interface that is used to understand the different purchased products better.
Quality control is another strong advantage of direct distribution and packaging and distribution resource monitoring. Active packages use sensors that are being placed on the product. Organizations can detect the product’s status and see whether it is good or compromised.
Furthermore, advanced packages can even go further by extracting unwanted particles inside the package which can increase the shelf life. These sensors result in easy access to the manufacturer’s final quality products and longer-lasting solutions (impacx, 2020).
Innovative packaging has made the process of locating products much easier and safer, as too many products are difficult to track within a complex supply chain (Choudhury, 2018). It is easy to improve the shopping experience and improve customer services with smart packaging solutions like these.
