When a customer places an order, someone needs to find the right products, pack them securely, print a delivery label and get everything ready to send. This is what’s known as pick and pack.

If you run a Sussex business that sells online or supplies products to retailers, you’ll already be familiar with the process. You might even be doing it yourself from a stockroom, an office or a spare bedroom.

But as orders increase, keeping up with packing and dispatch can become a job in itself.

In this guide, we’ll explain how pick and pack services work, what happens to your orders in a fulfilment warehouse and when outsourcing might be worth considering.

What does pick and pack mean?

The name describes exactly what’s involved.

Picking means locating and collecting the products needed to complete an order.

Packing involves checking those products, packaging them securely and preparing them for dispatch.

When you use a pick and pack service, a fulfilment company stores your stock and takes care of these tasks whenever an order comes in. You can continue running your business without needing to manage your own warehouse or employ staff to pack orders.

Pick and pack is one part of a wider service known as order fulfilment. This includes receiving deliveries of stock, storing products, processing orders and arranging shipping.

At Express & Global, we offer the full service from our East Sussex facilities, taking care of your stock and orders through to dispatch.

How does the pick and pack process work?

Let’s say a customer orders two mugs and a tea towel from your website.

If your online shop is connected to your fulfilment provider’s system, the order details are sent straight to the warehouse. There’s no need for anyone to enter the information manually.

Warehouse staff then locate the three products and collect them from their storage locations. Before packing, the items are checked against the order to make sure everything is correct.

The products are then packed securely, labelled and prepared for collection by the delivery company.

Of course, there’s work happening behind the scenes before any of this can take place.

When new stock arrives at the warehouse, it’s checked, recorded and put into storage. Keeping accurate records of stock levels and locations helps staff find the right products and process orders efficiently.

Once an order has been packed and dispatched, it makes its way to the customer, whether they’re elsewhere in Sussex, across the UK or overseas.

When should you consider outsourcing pick and pack?

There’s nothing wrong with packing your own orders, especially when you’re just starting out. For smaller businesses, it can be a perfectly manageable way of working.

However, as sales increase, you might find yourself spending more time dealing with parcels than actually running your business.

You’re running out of space

It often starts with a few boxes in the corner of a room. Before long, stock is taking over the office, garage or anywhere else you can find space.

As products pile up, keeping track of stock and finding individual items can become increasingly difficult.

Packing orders is taking up too much time

Perhaps you started out packing a handful of orders each evening. Now you’re printing labels late at night or spending the first few hours of every morning getting parcels ready for collection.

That’s time you could be spending on customers, marketing, sourcing new products or other parts of the business.

Busy periods are becoming difficult to manage

A successful promotion or a busy Christmas period is great for sales, but it also means more orders to process.

Without enough time, space or staff, delays and packing errors can become more likely. Even a small mistake, such as sending the wrong product, can mean extra work dealing with returns and customer enquiries.

You’re supplying more trade customers

If you’ve started supplying shops, distributors or other businesses alongside your online customers, you may also be dealing with larger orders and different delivery requirements.

Managing both types of order yourself can become complicated, particularly if you need to arrange pallet deliveries as well as individual parcels.

If several of these situations sound familiar, it could be worth comparing the cost of outsourcing with the time and space you’d save.

What types of businesses use pick and pack services?

Pick and pack services are used by businesses of all sizes, including online retailers, wholesalers and brands that sell directly to consumers.

For e-commerce businesses, a fulfilment provider can manage orders placed through their website, online marketplaces or a combination of sales channels.

Businesses supplying shops and distributors can also benefit, particularly when dealing with larger orders or specific delivery requirements.

Some businesses need both.

For example, a Sussex-based gift company might sell individual products through its website while also supplying several independent shops. Using a fulfilment provider that handles both consumer and trade orders means the business can keep its stock in one location and manage everything through the same service.

What’s the difference between parcel and pallet fulfilment?

The basic picking and packing process is similar, but the way orders are prepared for delivery depends on their size.

Most online orders are packed into individual boxes or mailing bags and sent directly to customers through a parcel courier.

Larger trade orders may need several cartons or a full pallet of stock. These orders are prepared for pallet transport, with goods stacked and secured to keep them together during delivery.

Some fulfilment companies specialise in parcel deliveries, which means businesses may need to make separate arrangements for larger shipments.

At Express & Global, we handle both parcel and pallet deliveries from our East Sussex depot. This allows businesses to manage individual customer orders and larger trade shipments through the same provider.

Pick and pack services in Eastbourne and Hailsham

Express & Global is an independent logistics company that’s been operating since 2002, with depots in Eastbourne and Hailsham.

We offer storage, pick and pack and dispatch services from our 45,000 sq. ft warehouse, helping Sussex businesses manage their stock and deliveries without needing their own warehouse facilities.

Here’s what you can expect when working with us:

  • Online order integration:Orders from your website or marketplace can be sent directly to our warehouse system, reducing manual data entry. Let us know which platform you use, and we’ll confirm the available integration options.
  • Order checking:We check products against each order before packing, whether it’s a single parcel or a larger trade shipment.
  • Parcel and pallet deliveries:We offer UK next-day pallet delivery, European export services and worldwide parcel delivery.
  • A service that suits your business:We’ll discuss your order volumes, products and delivery requirements to work out a suitable arrangement, including businesses handling both consumer and trade orders.

And if you’re based in Sussex, having your stock stored locally means you won’t have to travel halfway across the country if you need to visit the warehouse.

Looking for a pick and pack service in Sussex?

If you’re spending too much time packing orders or running short of storage space, we’d be happy to discuss how we can help.

Call Express & Global on 01323 419111 or email sales@expressandglobal.co.uk. Tell us a little about your business, what you sell and approximately how many orders you send, and we’ll explain the options available.

You can also find out more on our pick and pack services page.