Shipping Labels for a Multiple Carrier Transport Management System.

by Chelsea Camper | Last Updated February 26, 2020

The Transport Management System (TMS) is the crucial link between warehouse and customer that makes commerce possible. Every industry has it’s unique requirements and within that every business has specific needs that must be met for a product to make it successfully to the customer without error. Using shipping label sheets can help your TMS perform at it’s optimal speed and accuracy.

Transport Management System Cycle

There are three main parts of a Transport Management System cycle:

Warehouse
Transportation
Store/Customer

Once the cycle has reached the “end” (Store/Customer) it starts again at Warehouse when the store needs to refill its stock or a customer purchases an item from an online store.

The cycle above is simplified since some companies use multiple warehouses or obtain raw products from another source, create their products, and then house them in their own warehouses. It’s a complex cycle that may contain many “error points” (situations that can cause an order to be incorrectly filled or delivered).

Using Shipping Label Sheets in the Transport Management System Cycle

Warehouse

When picking and packing orders the two most important elements are Speed and Accuracy. Customers and stores want the items they ordered that morning yesterday. They don’t want to sit around waiting for pickers and packers to be running around in an unorganized warehouse with a pad of paper trying to fill orders.

By keeping your warehouse organized you can help to speed up the order. You can also speed things along by using a shipping label sheet. This will keep your packing list and shipping label on the same sheet of paper so that the packing list stays with the package and shipping information until it is ready to be sealed and shipped. When it comes time to tape up the box and ship it out you simply remove the packing list via perforation, place it in the package, then peel off the shipping label, place it on the package, and the package is ready for shipment.

Transportation

While in transit the shipping label of the label sheet has one job: Allow the barcode to be scanned without error.

Because the label is self-adhesive, it required no tape to be attached (just peel and place). Using tape on a shipping label barcode can cause numerous problems that can result in an incorrect delivery or even no delivery.

The shipping labels are also a nice, clean white which allows for the best scan possible. When shipping label barcodes are printed on color paper it reduces the contrast between the background and the black bars of the barcode; this can also cause scanning problems that can lead to incorrect delivery or no delivery at all.

Store/Customer

When your package finally arrives at its destination, the store employee or customer will be able to open it and review the packing list that was inserted at the end of picking and packing. Using this list they’ll be able to make sure their invoice matches up with what’s listed on the packing slip as well as double check that every item listed on the packing list is in the package.

It’s also possible to list your ToS or Return Information on the back of the packing list in case something was missed or the store/customer ordered the wrong size/color/etc. Having a good return system can make your customers happier and more likely to return to you in the future.

Transport Management Systems from Carriers vs. Creating Your Own

Some carriers offer free Transport Management Systems, but because of every company’s specific needs, the free systems don’t always work out.

Not able to implement your business’ specific rules or polices
Greater annual increases and subject to that carrier’s rate increases
You’ll have a lack of visibility, control, and accountability for how the packages are managed
Will have a hard time adapting to industry changes
You’ll be at a competitive disadvantage since your shipping rates will be more set in stone than your competition

In order to get the best possible TMS for your company it’s best to create your own or buy a software package that allows you to tailor the system to your needs. There are a wide variety of commerce systems available for purchase that allow you to set up your own unique systems; most notably pick your own carrier or carriers.

Using Shipping Label Sheets With Multiple Carriers

Most major shipping carriers allow you to manipulate the shipping label to print on a specific area of a shipping label sheet. By tailoring your shipping label you can add your company’s logo, return information, ToS, etc. to your packing list and/or shipping label. Creating a unique shipping label and packing list will help your customers remember you and the items they’ve purchased from you.

Your company’s shipping solution will be unique to you. Sometimes you may have a multi-part shipping method while others will have a more straight forward way of shipping with just one label.

Shipping label sheets can be used with multiple carriers and when you can’t find a standard shipping label sheet layout that works for your company, you can always create your own custom label sheet layout.

Whether you’re in the food industry or are a small local business, making sure your products reach your customers in an efficient and speedy manner is an important part of your day to day operations.

Don’t forget, you can test out a small sampling of our shipping label sheets by requesting samples.