5 Top Tips for Shipping IT Equipment
Regardless of what your business sells, shipping is a crucial stage of both the buying and selling process. Although the main aim with shipping is usually getting products to your customers as quickly as possible, shipping products safely to their final destination is equally as important for customer satisfaction.
IT equipment is usually an important purchase that customers may have researched for months or anticipated for a very long time. Some businesses may even need the electronics or equipment in order to operate. This, combined with how fragile IT equipment can be during transit, can leave customers extremely disappointed if their order arrives damaged.
Potential risks and sources of damage
Shipping products and order fulfilment is a very straightforward process and involves three main stages.
These 3 stages are:
- Receiving products or stock
- Processing products
- Fulfilling orders
Human Error
Whether you ship your own products or make use of order fulfilment services, your supply chain and approach to shipping will follow this basic formula. The main problem in this process is human error, which is the main cause of any damage, especially for IT equipment.
Packaging
Another problem with shipping IT equipment is unsuitable packaging. A lot of IT equipment can be extremely fragile and requires specific packaging. Although expensive electronics and equipment such as TVs usually comes with proper packaging from the manufacturer, you will still need to make sure the packaging will adequately protect your IT products.
Batteries and Circuit Boards
Most electronics and IT equipment has either a battery, a circuit board or both. These components should never come into contact with water or damp conditions because this will cause permanent damage and, in most cases, render the product useless.
In the UK it is a requirement for all parcels containing a battery need to have a warning label on the outside of the packaging. This is because when improperly handled batteries can be dangerous and cause, chemical burns, electric shocks or explosions.
Regulatory Problems
This potential risk isn’t damage related and only relevant for businesses that do international order fulfilment but it is extremely important. You need to do research on the shipping regulations for your chosen shipping company so if you are looking to send things via FedEx then find out how they regulate electronics.
You will also need to do research on how exactly your IT equipment is going to be affected by local laws and regulations so look into customs forms, tax and other important factors. A lot of countries consider lithium batteries as dangerous goods so make sure you have all the paperwork necessary before the order is sent.
How to ship IT Equipment
There are a few considerations for packing and shipping IT equipment such as following regulations or packaging equipment effectively. In order to help you understand how best to ship products, we’ve created a list of top tips for avoiding any issues with product shipments.
Pack Correctly
Packaging is extremely important for protecting IT equipment and making sure nothing gets damaged. The way things are packed can also create a very positive impression for your customers.
Here are some top tips for packaging IT Equipment.
- Separate all components such as chargers, cable and batteries not attached to the device or equipment. Compartmented packaging can help with this.
- Wrap fragile components in bubble wrap or foam packaging. You should wrap. components individually where necessary.
- You should also remember to leave a gap of 2-3 inches between the goods and outer packaging which will be filled with the packaging that covers the different components.
- Make sure the packaging is properly sealed and secure.
Review Restrictions and Regulations
There are different regulations and restrictions for IT equipment depending on where you are shipping them too. For example, if you are shipping products to the EU then they will require CE markings to identify that they are adhere to local IT regulations.
The UK used to have CE markings too but as of 2021, UKCA is now the correct marking for electronic products. If you are shipping products overseas, then it’s worth researching the guidelines in the country you are shipping to.
Insurance Coverage
Consider getting insurance coverage for extremely expensive IT equipment and electronics. Your chosen courier should be able to provide insurance coverage where needed, especially for international shipments.
Accurate Tracking
Make sure you are accurately tracking the shipment of all your products. Remember to make sure your courier offers tracked shipments so that you and you customers have the peace of mind of knowing where the It equipment or electronics are at any time.
Software and Data Security
It’s important to note that most, if not all hardware has some sort of software on it. This software can easily become corrupted during transit from electrostatic discharge. Although you’ll be protected from this in our warehouse storage, this doesn’t apply to the actual shipping process so remember to check with couriers and see how you can mitigate any data corruption.
Similarly, data is vulnerable to security risks so if you are shipping anything with sensitive data such as servers then. Make sure there’s no potential of data breaches throughout the shipment process.
Shipping IT Equipment with Allegro Logistics
As experts in order processing and fulfilment, we are always happy to help you properly store and ship your IT equipment or any electronic devices. We currently work with a well-established and even well-known brands, have a look at our case studies to see how we’ve helped different brands scale their growth.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you ship your IT orders to customers.
