Kitting is a method used by online retailers and logistics companies to bundle multiple items into one shipment. This may include commonly purchased sets of goods. These parts may serve to complete a whole, or they may simply complement one another. Maybe it’s a subscription service you’re introducing to your customers.
Kitting, in whatever form it takes, can be a fantastic tool for boosting business by simultaneously satisfying customers and generating more sales.
The term “kitting” refers to the practice of grouping multiple items under a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) so that they can be shipped as a single unit. Your business can either physically bundle products into sets and sell them to customers as kits, or customers can virtually bundle products on your eCommerce site and have them picked and packed as kits when they make a purchase.
Kitting can also be used to group products together that are technically separate but functionally related. When items that are meant to be used together can be purchased in one convenient package, it simplifies the shopping experience for the customer.
When it comes to the logistics behind shipping and warehousing, the term “kitting” can refer to two different things that mean essentially the same thing to the end user:
Kitting helps ensure that your customers receive exactly what they ordered on the first try. Whether you do the packaging yourself or have the warehouse do it, having inventory that is already kitted out means higher sales and easier shipping.
Kitting and assembly services come in many forms and can be utilized by both eCommerce businesses and their customers. Here are three of the most common types of kitting fulfillment services that you can consider when looking into kitting:
These bundled collections of products have become increasingly popular in recent years. The contents of a subscription box might come from more than one store. Nonetheless, there are cases in which only a single vendor offers a given subscription box (for goods like spices, beverages, or home goods like candles).
One-time buyers can be converted into loyal monthly subscribers with this strategy.
Kitting pre-assembled goods help reduce headaches for customers. These built-to-order product kits can be assembled in a few different configurations to give customers more options and ensure they receive everything they need when they place an order.
Sets that are custom-made for each customer by varying factors such as quantity, color, and type of item are becoming increasingly popular in the realm of online retail. Incorporating these custom kitting sets into an online shop boosts sales because they make it more convenient for customers to buy more.
So the warehouse management system process might look like:
By following these steps, your customers will receive the correct items they ordered in a timely manner before shipping. When you hire a kitting service expert, you can rest assured that each order is filled with precision, leading to satisfied clients and streamlined stock management.
Kitting has many advantages for your eCommerce business, your 3PL, and your end users. It has the potential to benefit everyone involved. The advantages are the same whether you sell prepackaged kits, assembled products, subscription boxes, or any other kind of kitted inventory.
To streamline the purchasing process for your clients, consider the following kitting advantages:
When products are packaged together and sold as a set, they are typically moved to a new location in the warehouse where they can be more easily accessed. For warehouse storage purposes, this is a time- and space-saving consolidation. This can speed up the process of getting customers’ orders processed and shipped to them.
If there are fewer mistakes, you won’t lose money on rework or upset clients.
In this way, you can boost sales and ultimately, your profits. Subscribing to some of your products monthly will bring in new customers consistently. There are many ways that kitting can help to up your sales and revenue.
Improved efficiency means more products can be picked, packed, and shipped out of your warehouse in less time, which in turn reduces shipping times for all of your customers.
When you package and ship items using kits, you can lessen the likelihood of making mistakes and thereby provide a better experience for your customers. Happy customers turn into repeat customers, making more money for your company.
The world of kitting isn’t one you have to enter alone. Kitting services are provided by many 3PLs, like AMS Fulfillment, and warehouses to facilitate easier sales and delivery. Whatever warehouse kitting options you offer – from subscriptions to prepackaged sets to made-to-order kits – kitting services can help your company and its customers save time and money on shipping costs. This is done by reducing the number of packages delivered to each customer while increasing the number of items included in each.
AMS can streamline the assembly process of implementing kits to boost sales. We have fulfillment centers on both coasts of the U.S., so we can be closer to your customers no matter where they live, and that can expedite the kitting and shipping of your products to your customers. You, your customer, and your logistics provider can all benefit from using kits due to their increased efficiency and sales.