IPG Blog: October 2019

The online retail market for aftermarket automotive parts and accessories continues to grow at a rapid rate. In fact, according to findings from Hedges & Company, auto parts sales influenced by digital is likely to grow to $152 billion by 2021.

This means that the challenges associated with packaging and shipping automotive parts and supplies need to be addressed quickly and efficiently.

Why Are Buyers Shifting To Purchasing Parts Online?

There are four main benefits of buying aftermarket automobile parts online:

✔ Easy access a wide selection of parts
✔ Cost savings
✔ Ability to price compare
✔ Time savings

Simply put, the convenience of e-commerce and modern shop management systems have made it easier to purchase parts online, compared with traditional, over-the-phone ordering.

Consumers appreciate the information and price transparency available on online because local garages have often held an unfortunate reputation of being vague in their pricing and pricing methods, as well as in their product descriptions.

Proper Packaging is Key

Online shoppers buying auto parts employ ship-to-store 55% of the time, a 14% increase from the prior year. This is part of a growing trend toward increased convenience and “no-cost, ship-to-store pricing," according to data from V12.

For the remaining 45% that opt to have their automotive parts shipped to their home or place of business, there are unique challenges to address.

Aftermarket automotive parts can be anything from replacement windshields to fenders or headlights. Each product requires unique protective packaging to prevent damage during shipment.

When car enthusiasts make purchases for their vehicles, they expect the parts to arrive in pristine condition — any imperfection is simply unacceptable.

If parts are damaged during transit due to poor packaging, a costly returns process may be initiated by the buyer.

Depending on the application and final destination, there’s an array of materials and techniques that can be used to create the best packaging solution for your products.

Some of these solutions include:

✔ Plastic corrugated partitions lined with foam
✔ Heat-sealed bubble pouches
✔ Films to protect against scratching, marring and abrasion
✔ Water-activated tape for a strong, secure seal

Choose Efficient Packaging Methods

When shipping automotive parts, packagers’ top concerns and considerations typically include the speed and flexibility of the carton sealing equipment, and the durability and overall quality of the shipping carton and tape being used.

Ensuring that efficient solutions are in place for your packing stations will help increase productivity, employee happiness, and improve overall time to delivery for each package.

Water-activated tape and electric tape dispensers are ideal for pick-and-pack operations. The electric dispensers feed and cut the exact length of tape needed to seal assorted sizes of cartons with just the touch of a button.

Because water-activated tape creates a strong bond with the shipping carton, only one strip of tape is needed to securely seal the carton - increasing packer efficiency.

Additionally, when using water-activated tape (also commonly known as gummed paper tape) you have the option to add branding to the tape itself, to further increase brand awareness as your product goes through the delivery process and waits on your customer’s porch.

Better Packages is Here to Help

As you work through the challenges of increasing e-commerce demand for automotive aftermarket parts, we’re here to help.

Check out our Automotive Aftermarket Parts Packaging Guide today.

[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]

As the person who oversees your company’s shipping operations, you know as well as anyone (and probably better than anyone) the tools you and your team need to be successful. However, you also understand how challenging it can be to change the status quo.

If your organization’s shipping processes are working “well enough” in the eyes of upper management, convincing them to invest in implementing a new approach—even if it’s far more effective than the current approach—can be difficult.

Making the switch to water-activated tape (WAT) is an excellent example. Companies are finding a wide range of benefits when transitioning from plastic, pressure-sensitive tape (PST) to WAT (also called gummed tape or Kraft paper tape), but you’ll need a carefully defined strategy in order to convince management that this type of carton sealing tape is the way to go.

As you think about how to make your case to your boss, keep the many advantages of WAT in mind.

Water-Activated Tape Increases Productivity

When you are talking with your boss about making the switch to WAT, productivity is a great place to start.

After all, if WAT can help your team get more shipping cartons sealed and ready for transport in the same amount of time, it can quickly offset the cost of buying water-activated tape dispensers and rolls of WAT—costs that are very reasonable to begin with. And, WAT can deliver on that promise!

Independent testing has shown that WAT increases productivity over plastic pressure-sensitive tape (PST). In fact, WAT is 21 percent more effective than PST for carton sealing.

What’s the source of that efficiency gain? There are a number of factors.

For one thing, water-activated tape dispensers prepare the tape and cut it to the appropriate length in one operation. All packers have to do is lay the tape on a seam, slide a hand over it, and let the adhesive go to work.

Plus, using PST and a tape gun requires manipulating a shipping carton into different positions so that the packer can get the correct angle for application of the tape strip. WAT can be applied with the carton in any orientation.

What’s more, frustrating and wasteful tape tangling, which is common with PST, does not occur with WAT.

LEARN MORE: 4 Ways to Reduce Packaging Costs & Increase Productivity

Water-Activated Tape Dispensers are Extremely Durable

One of the factors decision-makers consider when approving an expense is, “How long until we have to make this expenditure again?”

In the case of water-activated tape dispensers, the answer is that it will be many years before you need to replace the dispenser.

On average, electric tape dispensers last more than 15 years and manual machines last 30+ years with regular maintenance. We’ve even seen machines continue to operate beyond 40 years!

And when issues arise, they can typically be addressed by the person using the device with parts obtained from our website.

Manual and electric water-activated tape dispensers are available, and both styles are designed with durability in mind. Whichever type of dispenser you choose, your company can expect reliable, cost-effective operation.

Water-Activated Tape Provides Outstanding ROI

Another question that decision makers ask is, “What will be the return on this investment?”

With WAT, the ROI is significant, as indicated by the features and benefits noted above. There is also the fact that the superior seal created by water-activated tape means that only one strip is needed.

Studies show that on average, packers use 50 percent more PST to seal a shipping carton. Using less WAT can help you manage your materials expense.

Water-Activated Tape is Safer to Use

Continual use of PST and a tape gun poses safety risks for a couple reasons.

First, repeatedly gripping the handle, dragging it over seams, and tipping it to cut the tape can, over time, lead to repetitive use injuries to hands and wrists. These injuries can be difficult to resolve, often requiring time off or even surgery.

Second, tape guns have sharp edges for cutting the tape, which creates the potential for injury. This is especially true since users frequently find themselves in awkward positions as they attempt to apply the tape.

Plus, using a tape gun can lead to repetitive fatigue.

WAT doesn’t require the use of a handheld tool and the tape is cut by blades that are protected inside the water-activated tape dispenser.

Other Benefits of Water-Activated Tape

Other benefits of water-activated tape to share with your boss include:

✔ WAT can be printed with your branding to turn shipping cartons into mobile “advertisements” that increase brand awareness.
✔ WAT’s powerful seal can deter “press and grab” thefts, which keeps your replacement costs down.
✔ If you get your WAT and water-activated tape dispensers from Better Packages, you benefit from the expertise and backing of a trusted company that has been in business for over 100 years!

Learn More About WAT

Before you talk with your supervisor about switching to WAT, be sure you have all the facts. You can even get a free sample roll of water-activated tape!

And if you have questions about our products, we’re always happy to answer them. Contact us at your convenience.