With parcel carriers like FedEx and UPS raising rates by 5.9 percent annually, saving on shipping is top-of-mind for many clinicians. The Covid-19 pandemic placed a strain on many aspects of the supply chain, from accelerating ecommerce orders to creating labor shortages. With global parcel volumes expected to double by 2026, parcel delivery companies are searching for ways to scale their services quickly and are transferring costs to customers to do so.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce shipping fees—you’ve come to the right place. To help clinicians like you, we have compiled four minor changes that can make a big difference in recouping shipping costs.
This article was originally published March 27, 2019.
1. Place one order (or fewer orders) each day
Consolidated shipping involves placing a single order in a day so you receive your items in fewer boxes as opposed to placing multiple orders and cluttering your doorstep with multiple packages. Because you're placing a single order, leveraging this best practice allows you to spend less time behind a computer, and more time in front of patients. In addition, waiting until you have a complete list of items to order can eliminate the need to pay multiple pickup and handling fees—which often exceed the cost of shipping one large package.
2. Use Quick Order or Quick Buy File Upload to place orders
The SPS Online Store includes helpful features to assist with end-of-day ordering. One feature that can streamline your ordering process is Quick Order, which allows you to add items directly to your cart by product SKU.
Quick Buy File Upload is another great option for placing fewer orders per day and eliminating shipping costs. If you know the SKUs and quantities of each item, you can create a spreadsheet to upload directly to your shopping cart.
3. Always select your default ground shipping method
With SPS, the majority of customers receive shipments within 1 – 2 business days when ground shipping is selected. That’s quick, but we understand that occasionally expedited shipping is needed. For all other orders, select the default ground shipping method to ensure you’re receiving the best possible rate and avoid expedited shipping costs that are 2 to 12 times more expensive.
4. Ship outbound with the most appropriate box size
In 2015, UPS and FedEx started using DIM weight to charge for shipments. DIM weight is calculated by dividing the cubic size of the box by 194. Parcel carriers base the shipping price on either the DIM weight or actual weight—whichever is greater. Unfortunately, DIM weight can cost up to 39 percent more than actual weight. Avoid these extra unnecessary costs by making sure you’re using the appropriate box size, and shipping as many items in one box as possible.
The costs of multiple small orders can really add up. Starting a few simple habits now can have a big impact for your clinic for years to come.
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See also:
How to Order for Your Clinic in Peak Holiday Shipping Season
How to Order Efficiently | Tips from Michael Shanks, Snell Prosthetics and Orthotics
Know any savvy shipping tips? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
