5 E-commerce Packaging Trends In 2024 You Need to Know
Are you looking to catch the most trends in your e-commerce packaging? You may even be a manufacturer looking to enhance your client’s sales. Even if you are a distributor in the ecommerce niche, you need to know what is in these days and what not to do.
This blog is a sure-fire short guide to getting the most out of your packaging efforts and helping you grow as a professional in this field. We will discuss five different trends that matter for your niche and help you succeed with these trends. So, let’s start this!
AI-Powered Packaging For Eco-Friendliness
Now, one thing is for sure: AI is changing the entire industry landscape in every field. The same goes for the packaging world, where you must know things before they are too late.
Here is what AI can bring for packaging professionals in the short and long term.
Benefits of AI in Packaging
Now, packaging can be a revolution for you, and that is why you need to know about the benefits it can provide:
•It will work as a software program to improve the analysis of different information about boxes. For instance, it can give better information about the product’s dimensions, fragility, and weight.
•By making these boxes carry the right dimensions and other metrics, we allow them to be more eco-friendly while minimizing resource exploitation.
•AI can also suggest improving the packaging design to help make the changes before production.
This technology can also be integrated with the existing systems, allowing seamless changes within the systems used for this purpose.
This technology helps by correcting these issues, which improves the eco-friendliness of packaging.
Why These Matter For E-commerce Professionals
Well, the answer is simple: they get multiple goals with these features, like:
•These technologies will be a stepping stone towards making this industry more productive and eco-friendly.
•At the same time, it would allow you to reduce costs and offer better margins. This would happen due to the enhancement of overall customer experience with better product delivery.
•This way, you will get a better-streamlined packaging design process, saving resources.
How This Technology Is Already Making Marks?
There are multiple early adopters when it comes to pioneering this technology. With the help of this technology, they have improved the software they use while also granting access to other companies. These technologies are still being integrated into the existing systems, and it will take time before they become fully functional.
Still, there is a learning curve that professionals in the field will have to face due to it being a new technology.
What Will This Technology Look Like In the Future?
This technology is projected and expected to change the world of packaging entirely. For instance, it may bring solutions like better analysis of shipping conditions, product fragility, and consideration of weather patterns in packaging. It is also integrated with 3D printing, design software, and other workflows.
Its use would also help material innovation by building sustainable packaging materials for the field. Using it would improve personalized suggestions for consumers.
Blockchain And Packaging
Now, blockchain has been making a good mark in the field. It will further help improve the complete packaging process from the sources of raw materials to the delivery. How? This is how!
It allows you to discuss the origins and sustainability of packaging materials. At the same time, it can deliver product information, for which you may use QR codes or other methods. The data you receive will be secure and authentic, with a robust and easy-to-use display source.
This would also improve the systems behind identifying affected products during storage and transit. It would even enhance credibility, as other parties would put more trust in you. This would also allow you to collaborate better. With this, you can create a better supply chain with a central system that offers authentic and reliable information for all teams.
Current Stage of Blockchain in Packaging
Companies are running pilot programs to test and verify the feasibility of this technology. However, technical expertise and infrastructure development will hinder its implementation, so spreading it across the entire industry may not be easy.
Use Of Personalized Packaging With Customer Insights
When it comes to ecommerce packaging, the data collection by these platforms is enormous. So, make sure that you utilize it well. For instance, it would offer better browsing behavior and even social interactions. Collecting this information is essential, and no company or packaging professional should overlook it. At the same time, the use of augmented reality in these packages can enhance results.
AR can help you show exclusive content to these people. At the same time, subscription boxes can improve your suggestions for the design and messaging of the packaging.
The Use of Soluble Films
This technology has been around for some time now. In this one, your packaging film dissolves into water. You can use compostable films that break down in natural conditions. Their everyday use is for non-food items like clothing, electronics, and personal care.
Benefits They Offer To Professionals
Regarding the benefits of these soluble films, you have reduced waste with them during packaging. At the same time, when you use them, you ensure there is no extra waste in the environment. Another thing to remember is the reduced risk of accidental ingestion due to these films being soluble.
Such films dissolve into the saliva of the child who consumes them, mitigating the chances of any medical emergency. Then, there are compostable films that break down naturally under specific conditions. This technology also eliminates the requirement for plastic films that can damage the environment.
You can also use them for branding opportunities, just like regular films that may not be eco-friendly.
Benefits of Ecommerce Packaging
The benefits you get with such packaging for ecommerce are immense, as you can use them for:
•You can use them for laundry detergent pods and other cleaning products.
•Their use can also be quite helpful for portion control packaging for different snacks you consume.
•You can also utilize them for garment bags and for wrapping delicate items during ecommerce transit.
•Using them as inner liners for boxes or pouches can also be great.
Personalized Packaging With 3D Printing
Using 3D-printed boxes in e-commerce can help improve the personalization levels of your boxes. This way, you can get rid of generic boxes for better-fitting boxes. At the same time, you do not have to worry about issues like minimum order quantities.
This way, you also get better prototyping and testing, as you can test a single product before you mass-produce any order. You can utilize biodegradable filaments or recycled plastics for eco-friendliness, so you do not have to worry about any negative impact on the environment.
When To Use 3D Printing For Ecommerce?
This technology is best for e-commerce when you have seasonal items, prototypes, or limited-edition products. You can also try it for cosmetics, jewelry, and electronics. At the same time, using unique-shaped items can be a great idea for the e-commerce industry.
You can also try them for personalization according to your customers’ needs.
FAQs
How can these technologies help e-commerce businesses save money?
AI in packaging can help lower shipping costs by better managing different aspects of packaging and preventing damage during shipping. Soluble films would eliminate the need for secondary packaging to avoid extra costs. Also, you can use 3D printing for custom packaging, where there will be no need for minimal quantities required for a certain job.
What are the biggest challenges to adopting these new technologies?
Here are some of the challenges when it comes to adopting these technologies:
•The initial costs spent on these technologies must be high.
•Also, compliance with data privacy regulations is a big hurdle when using AI in packaging.
•On the other hand, soluble films have limited availability, which makes them challenging to produce.
•Cost and speed are two issues when it comes to 3D printing.
What are the future trends of AI in e-commerce packaging technology?
This technology can integrate with 3D printing. AI can analyze historical data with these technologies and help select material for sustainability.
Final Thoughts
We discussed some of the top benefits of using different emerging technologies in packaging. Using these technologies can make perfection in the need to bring better solutions to life. You need to use these technologies to make things look great in the future. These technologies would also improve the eco-friendliness of different aspects of the packaging field.
