Is a packing slip necessary? No, but it saves us a lot of headaches

Packing slips are documents included in shipments that list the items inside a package. They typically contain details such as product descriptions, quantities, and SKU numbers. Packing slips help verify that the correct items are being shipped and received, serving as a reference for both sellers and customers during the order fulfillment process.

Packing slip vs. picking slip and their uses

Packing slip is used while shipping any type of a shipment, which include parcel shipments, LTL, TL shipments etc. It has legal ramifications in case of disputes, especially if the value of the merchandise is very high, or it involves sensitive merchandise like Lithium ION batteries, Food (recalled) etc. Packing slip is a document that a cop (or any government official) can demand if a truck driver gets pulled over for any reason and if the cop wants to check the contents of the truck, the truck driver can show as a proof.

A picking slip is a document that is typically used within the warehouse, strictly to pick products to fulfill an order. It does not serve any purpose outside of the warehouse other than picking. It usually has the product or SKU, that is the number used by that distributor or manufacturer to track that item within their Supply Chain, the location (it could be a bin or a reserve location or a pallet rack location or a flow rack) where the item resides within the warehouse and also the quantity that needs to be picked to fulfilled that order (or carton). It is primary purpose is to provide picking directions to the picker. So it does not have much legal ramifications to it. Once picking process is complete, the order is verified that it is picked complete and shipped. it is thrown away usually. A new packing slip gets printed just before sealing the carton/box that and that packing slip is placed inside the box, so the customer knows clearly the contents of the box.

Having said that, there is always a but, in order to make processes efficient in the warehouses, what Warehouse Managers do is to print one document that is used as a picking slip as well as packing slip and ship that same document to the customer, again it depends on the order.

This is often the case in e-commerce order fulfillment, where one document, often referred to as a “collation,” is used to do everything. Because having only one document simplifies everything and eliminates the need to print multiple documents, it saves time, streamlines the process, and helps to efficiently execute the process in the warehouse.

Because having just one document simplifies everything and not requiring to print multiple documents saves time and keeps processes simpler and help with efficiently executing processes in the warehouse. So it could get muddled and what needs to be incorporated in it etc while designing it. it could get challenging to come up with the right document depending on the process you are planning to use this for.

So, is a packing slip necessary? No, but it saves us a lot of headaches.

What information should be on a packing slip?

A packing slip should typically include the following information:

1. Sender's Information: Name and address of the seller or company.

2. Recipient's Information: Name and address of the customer.

3. Order Details: Order number and date.

4. Product Details: List of items included, with descriptions and quantities.

5. SKU or Product Codes: Unique identifiers for each product.

6. Contact Information: Customer service contact for any issues or inquiries.

7. Additional Notes: Any special instructions or messages for the recipient.

If you are a seller using Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA), this means you send your products in boxes to an Amazon warehouse, in which case, no packing slip is required.

On the other hand, if you don't use FBA, and are selling one or more items to a customer directly using Fulfillment By Merchant (FBM), then yes, you do need to include a packing slip and you can print it from your account on Amazon Seller Central.

Avoidance of packing slip mishandling

To ensure packing slip accuracy, designate a quality assurance person to check each box's contents and shipping label against the packing slip before sealing. This person should be different from the packer. If there's an error, pull the box for correction and note the issue on the slip. Have both the packer and QA person sign the slip, and review these regularly to identify and address recurring mistakes.

Problems are not always the fault of the packer, especially if your "warehouse" is not well organized or your process is not well-defined. You will have to fix known problems and establish formal protocols if you don't have any in place. You will also have to ensure that everyone is trained. Otherwise, the problems will simply continue.

LinkW logistics USA handles Packing slips with Precision

LinkW Logistics USA ensures packing slip accuracy by implementing a robust quality assurance process. We assign dedicated personnel to verify the contents of each shipment against the packing slip before sealing the package. This careful attention to detail helps prevent errors and ensures customer satisfaction.