How Hospital Pharmacy Automation Improves Patient Safety

Tension Team on October 30, 2023

Hospital pharmacies face immense pressure to dispense medications quickly and accurately, as delays or errors can have life-threatening consequences. Automation offers a solution by streamlining processes, reducing medication errors, and improving patient safety through technologies like bar code verification and automated quality control. Tension’s pharmacy automation solutions are designed to enhance efficiency and reliability, giving your team confidence in providing the best care for critically ill patients.

In a hospital setting, pharmacy operations face the continual pressure of dispensing a wide variety of medications to patients who may be in a critical state, needing immediate medical intervention. Accuracy is naturally of the highest importance, but so is speed—slowing down to fill a prescription could cost time patients can’t afford to lose, but supplying the wrong drug or the wrong dose could be worse. In fact, as reported by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), medication errors are among the most common medical errors, with the costs of treating drug-related injuries in hospitals amounting to $3.5 billion annually. It can be devastating to reflect such a mistake might have been avoidable.

When an error occurs, it can be natural to blame the individuals involved in the incident first, but often the systems and procedures in place set the stage for avoidable problems. When people are performing repetitive manual tasks under pressure, having to switch gears between multiple steps, and pause at each stage to read over and verify information, the points at which mistakes can creep in multiply. Automation can help improve patient safety by streamlining your processes and improving accuracy, reserving critical human attention for higher-level tasks. Here’s how Tension’s pharmacy automation equipment and software can improve patient safety in hospitals:

  1. Reducing Medication Errors: How many medications have confusingly similar names? How many medications can be beneficial at one dose and harmful at another? Automated medication dispensing in hospital pharmacies eliminates errors that might occur because a medication name or dosage was misread, or because an incorrect count was dispensed. Pharmacies can rely on consistent efficiency and accuracy around the clock.
  2. Improving Patient Safety with Automated Medication Verification: Key to guaranteeing patient safety is ensuring that a prescription is verified at every step of the way. The scanning technology in our WorkFlow Software System (WFS) uses bar codes for fast, easy verification that what’s being dispensed is what was ordered, so it can ultimately be delivered to the right patient.
  3. Automated Quality Control and Testing: In addition to bar code scanning that builds accuracy into your processes, WFS is designed with single-task workstations that allow your pharmacists and technicians to focus on the task at hand. The system is designed to be efficient by eliminating scrolling and switching back and forth between functions, which not only slows fulfillment but also increases the likelihood of mistakes. Quality control is built into the entire process, instead of requiring additional steps.

When medication errors occur in the hospital, they erode patients’ trust in the healthcare system even when harm is minor and are demoralizing to hospital workers. Worse, they can result in irreversible damage in the most severe cases. Automation can dramatically improve patient safety and maximize the productivity of your hospital pharmacy, giving your team and your patients confidence in the care you provide.

Customized Solutions for Your Hospital Pharmacy

Tension Packaging & Automation is a leader in dispensing equipment and software for pharmacy operations of all sizes. We understand that every pharmacy has a unique workflow, so our solutions are designed to be customizable, scalable, and adaptable. As your needs change, we can add additional processes and capabilities to keep your system up to date with your requirements. Just as critically, we’re here to ensure that you get the full value of your investment in automation with top-notch customer service. In addition to tailoring your system to your pharmacy’s needs, we fully train your workforce so they can realize the full benefit of automated support, and we continue to provide support and service as needed, with 24/7 availability for advice, technical support, and maintenance.

When you’re dealing with seriously ill patients in a hospital setting, you want every assurance that the systems you have put in place maximize their safety. To learn more about how Tension can successfully automate your hospital pharmacy, contact us here today.

The Impact of eCommerce Packaging on Brand Image and Recognition

Tension Team on October 24, 2023

Your eCommerce packaging is more than just a way to get products safely to customers—it’s a powerful tool for building your brand. Strategic choices like sustainable materials and personalized designs can enhance your brand image, increase customer loyalty, and create a memorable unboxing experience. Don’t let packaging be an afterthought—let it be a statement that sets your business apart.

When your eCommerce business chooses packaging for shipping products to your customers, your considerations probably start with the fundamentals—picking the right kind of packaging to get your product where it needs to go safe and undamaged, without excess cost or wasted material. But if that’s where the conversation ends, you are missing out on significant opportunities to influence your brand image and recognition through your packaging.

After all, when a consumer receives their order, what does its packaging say about your company? If their items arrive on time and intact, that’s great, but there’s so much more you could be conveying with intentional choices that align with your overall branding and marketing strategy. Compared to a retail store, eCommerce businesses have fewer touchpoints in which to create a great experience, so you shouldn’t squander the chances you do get to create a good impression and build your brand. Consider some of the choices that can send a strong message.

Sustainability

Environmental awareness is extremely popular among consumers, with a solid majority indicating that they would pay more for products with sustainable packaging. You can enhance your brand image by tapping into this customer sentiment with your choice of eCommerce packaging. Options include recyclable paper packaging or polybags that include post-consumer resin (PCR) or post-industrial content (PIC), which keep nonbiodegradable plastic waste out of landfills and protect the environment. Customers will positively associate the extra effort you take to align with their values with your brand reputation.

Personalization

Why send a generic package when your materials offer a blank slate for delivering additional messaging directly into the hands of your customers? Putting your logo or slogan on the outside of your package can boost your brand recognition and encourage customer loyalty. Custom packaging can also increase the perceived value of your product and help differentiate you from competitors. In addition, this space can be used for marketing campaigns or special promotions to increase future sales. Both poly bags and paper packaging can be custom printed, giving you options for personalization no matter what your ideal packaging is. Picture your customers’ faces lighting up when they see your logo on the package they’ve just received and realize the order they were anticipating has arrived, and you’ll see the value.

Packaging and Brand Perception

Quality packaging matters for more than just getting your products from point A to point B. Your customers will make judgments about your company based on what they see in your packaging choices. For example, good strong materials and good seals demonstrate that your company takes care in its packaging, which suggests your customers can expect equal concern in the quality of your products and the investment you put into customer service. Similarly, right-sized packaging sends a positive message—after all, we’ve all had the experience of receiving one small item in an outsized box mostly full of empty space. A package that is appropriately sized for its contents is a signal that your company spends its money and efforts wisely and efficiently.

Your Source for Custom Packaging Solutions

Tension Packaging & Automation understands that the demands of eCommerce sales are different from those of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Our packaging expertise can help you elevate receiving a package into a satisfying brand experience that complements your overall marketing strategy. We can help you select the right packaging materials for your application (including sustainable packaging) to optimize your fulfillment operation’s workflow while protecting and promoting your brand. We can also help you choose the right customization for your packaging to produce the best return on investment for your marketing efforts.

Realizing that there’s more you could do to get the full benefit of strategic packaging choices for your brand? Don’t wait to get started. To learn more about how Tension can make your eCommerce packaging work to strengthen your brand, contact us here today.

Top 4 Benefits of Tension’s PharmaPATH™ Back-End Pharmacy Workflow Software

Tension Team on September 28, 2023

In pharmacy operations, there’s no room for error or delays—patients depend on receiving the right medications quickly and accurately. Tension Automation’s PharmaPATH™ workflow software streamlines order fulfillment with features like dedicated task workstations, barcode verification for accuracy, and an intuitive touchscreen interface. Designed for adaptability, PharmaPATH ensures your pharmacy operates at peak efficiency while staying customizable to grow with your business.

Whether you’re running a mail order, central fill, specialty, or hospital outpatient pharmacy, there’s no room for error in filling prescription and nonprescription orders. It’s also not acceptable to sacrifice speed for accuracy—when patients are waiting on their medications, they rely on their pharmacy to supply exactly what they need when they need it.

Unfortunately, the process of taking fully confirmed order requests and turning them into prescriptions that have been accurately and quickly dispensed, verified, packaged, and manifested is full of opportunities for mistakes and inefficiencies to creep in, especially when a growing volume of orders threatens to overwhelm your current capacity. Whether you’ve automated dispensing, fulfill orders manually, or have a hybrid setup, Tension Automation’s PharmaPATH back-end pharmacy workflow software is an easy-to-use solution that optimizes efficiency and increases productivity from start to finish.

How does PharmaPATH make your job easier while giving you the peace of mind of knowing that every order is going out accurately filled? Here are the top four benefits of our software:

  1. Dedicated Task Workstations – Everybody knows that systems that require multiple tasks and processes per screen inevitably slow things down, forcing users to continually shift gears as they complete steps. Worse, attempting to speed up such layered tasks to keep up with demand can cause mistakes. Our dedicated workstations allow your pharmacy technician or pharmacist to focus on one thing at a time, resulting in reduced processing time overall. The operator is able to excel at a single task rather than juggling many.
  2. Accuracy Scans – Barcode scan verification means that accuracy is literally built into every step of the process. Reduce time lost to correcting errors.
  3. Rapid Processing Time – Scans don’t just enhance accuracy; they also only take seconds to process. (Compare that to the time it would take an operator to read and verify a label, feeling confident they’d gotten it right.) In addition, WFS is programmed for intelligent order monitoring, determining the fastest processing method for each item dispensed. In combination, these allow for higher throughput.
  4. Touchscreen-Based User Interface – Our UI is simple, intuitive, and designed to reduce training efforts, increase throughput, and eliminate mistakes. Color-coded direction buttons on the human-machine interface (HMI) direct users to the next step in the process, telling them exactly what to do. Our software eliminates the need to use a cumbersome keyboard AND mouse alongside a touchscreen.

Made for You: Adaptable and Customizable

The beauty of our back end pharmacy WorkFlow Software is not just that it speeds up accurate pharmacy order fulfillment, but that it is designed to be modified to fit your unique workflows, rather than trying to shoehorn your operations into a one-size-fits-all box. We also know that a successful operation is one that changes, so WFS can also be adapted to add additional processes as your company grows.

Tension’s PharmaPATH also includes a customizable dashboard that gives you at-a-glance visibility into your operations. Track your inventory, monitor which orders have been fulfilled, and stay on top of your output targets. This too can be customized as your business grows and evolves, depending on what data points you need to track.

Best of all, PharmaPATH is backed by Tension’s outstanding customer service. We’re here to ensure that your system is fully customized to the workflow of your pharmacy operations, to provide the necessary training to get your workforce up to speed, and to help you realize the full value of your investment. We’re also here to provide ongoing support and customization as needed so your system always keeps pace with the needs of your business.

Your Source for Pharmacy Solutions

As a leader in packaging equipment and automation systems specializing in pharmacy and eCommerce, Tension Packaging & Automation is dedicated to helping our customers optimize productivity with results-driven solutions. To find out more about how our back end pharmacy WorkFlow Software can improve the efficiency and profitability of your pharmacy operation, contact us here today.

eCommerce Automation: A Guide to Automating the Last 100 Feet, Part 2: SLAM Optimization

Tension Team on September 21, 2023

Increased sales are great news for your eCommerce business—until your fulfillment operations struggle to keep up. A SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply, Manifest) line can streamline the shipping process, reducing errors and bottlenecks while increasing throughput. From automated labeling to precise sortation, Tension’s SLAM solutions ensure efficiency and accuracy, allowing your business to scale without sacrificing quality.

Increased sales can be a cause for elation in an eCommerce business, or they can be a rock smashing your fulfillment operations against the unrelenting hard place of insufficient labor to meet demand. In Part 1 of this series, we examined the role of right-sizing your packages in keeping shipping costs down and how automation can help you accurately calculate DIMs, efficiently shop for the best rates, and avoid costly adjustments and fees. Now we’ll take a look at the other features of a scanning, labeling, application, and manifesting (SLAM) line and how they work in concert to improve accuracy and throughput.

The Many Steps of Sending a Package Out the Door

Preparing a package to ship to a customer requires a sequence of steps that introduce many opportunities for bottlenecks or errors, especially if you’re relying on an overworked manual labor force. Once the products are packed into a carton or bag, that package must be weighed and measured (again, see Part 1 for the errors and problems that can arise here). Then it must be labeled for the correct recipient and shipping service, and routed to the right carrier to head out on its way.

It’s easy to see where mistakes can creep into repetitive tasks when workers are pressed for time trying to keep up with surges in demand. Wrong label on a package. Box deposited in the wrong bin for shipping. Worse, injuries can result from repetitive motion or from accidents when there’s a rush to get too much done. Automating this process not only drastically reduces these kinds of issues, but also frees up your employees for higher-skilled tasks. Here’s how.

Labeling and Sortation

A package’s SLAM line journey starts with packaging and dimension and weight capture. But that’s just the beginning of how automating the last 100 feet can optimize your fulfillment operations.

  • Print & Apply Labeling: This station assures that the right package is addressed to the right person per the label. It can label bags or cartons, assuring that the line stays moving even when dealing with a variety of package types and sizes. Custom labels are also available, so your packages can fit in seamlessly with your overall marketing strategy.
  • Sortation Scanner: At this station, the package is identified and diverted to the appropriate carrier and class of service with the assistance of our Tension Director software.
  • Z-Sorter for Shipping Sortation: Here packages are routed to the appropriate carrier, using our proprietary waterfall design that works with gravity to create a smooth sorting operation. The sorting machine is modular, so additional sortation units can be added or removed to meet your operation’s needs, depending on volume, carrier selection, shipping regions, and more.

The result from start to finish is an increase in efficiency that allows you to process hundreds of orders per hour, with an improvement in accuracy that reduces costs as packages flow through the system. Best of all, Tension Automation’s SLAM lines are fully customizable, allowing you to adopt a solution that is configured exactly to the unique requirements of your distribution center.

Your Expert eCommerce Automation Resource

If you’re ready to talk about how automation could help your business but have been paralyzed because you don’t know where to start or what improvements will have the greatest impact, Tension Packaging & Automation can help. We can assist in examining your current processes and capabilities, determining your goals for automation, and figuring out the right equipment to implement an effective strategy.

In addition to designing, building, and installing warehouse automation solutions for eCommerce fulfillment, Tension is also your partner in training, service, and ongoing support. As your needs change, we’re here to ensure that your packaging equipment and automation solutions are optimized to grow with your business and that your investment pays off for years to come. To learn more about the benefits of a SLAM line in your business, contact us today.

#likeaboss: Top Three Ways to Handle Labor Shortages During Your Peak Season

Tension Team on August 29, 2023

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes a surge in eCommerce orders and inevitable returns. For retailers facing labor shortages, automation offers a lifeline to keep fulfillment operations running smoothly. From full automation to hybrid solutions, Tension Automation provides scalable options to optimize efficiency, meet peak-season demand, and deliver a strong ROI.

With the biggest shopping season of the year nearly upon us, eCommerce retailers bracing for a flood of holiday orders (and the returns that follow) may be facing a sobering realization: they don’t have the workers to get those orders shipped.

Economic news has been mixed over the last year, leading to early predictions that retail sales will only grow modestly from 2022 numbers. However, the recession many economists expected hasn’t materialized—despite rising interest rates, inflation has been declining, wages are going up, families are continuing to spend, and unemployment is low. How low? As of July 2023, it sat at 3.5%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You know peak season is coming. Holiday purchases start in October, spiking on Black Friday and over the Thanksgiving weekend and staying strong through the holiday season. January is also a busy shipping month, with the inevitable returns that occur after all the presents have been unwrapped.

If your past solution has been to add staff to ensure orders are processed and on their way before holiday shipping deadlines with the major carriers, the numbers aren’t on your side. That’s no reason to panic, though. You can still stay on top of order fulfillment (like a boss) with automation solutions that let you make the most of the workforce you have.

Automation Solutions to Overcome Labor Shortages

Every eCommerce order fulfillment company is different, which is why Tension Automation offers a range of options to allow you to introduce automation to your system to enhance your efficiency and accuracy. What are the possibilities?

  • Solution #1 – Full Automation – Did you know that on average, implementing automated packaging equipment can yield 4x package throughput? A fully automated line with packaging equipment and a SLAM (Scan-Label-Apply-Manifest) line that automatically scans, weighs, and identifies package dimensions to handle the DIMs, labeling, and sortation part of your order fulfillment process can help minimize the challenges that come with labor shortages.
  • Solution #2 – Semi Automation – Manual packaging stations with a SLAM line; if, for example, your product doesn’t lend itself to automated packaging, you can still optimize the last 100 feet of your order fulfillment process, devoting your labor pool to getting packages ready while the DIMs, labeling, and sortation are automatically handled.
  • Solution #3 – Hybrid – Integrate an automated packaging system, conveyors, sortation, a DIM scale, a print and apply label system, or a combination of these elements to eliminate costly bottlenecks in your order fulfillment processes. Not sure what you need? Tension Automation is an industry expert at integration. We can consult on a new layout and seamlessly implement a customized solution with our integration software.

Measurable Savings with Automation

Automation is an investment in your business with measurable financial benefits that boost your bottom line. Consider these advantages:

  • Less Labor: Strategic automation increases order fulfillment without increased hiring, meaning your operations won’t be held back by a lack of personnel at critical times (or the training required to bring permanent or temporary workers up to speed). Keep your payroll lean and focus your staff’s valuable expertise on high-skilled tasks.
  • More Throughput: Consumer loyalty is fickle—one study reported that 69 percent of respondents were much less or less likely to shop with a retailer again if their delivery wasn’t made within two days of when they expected it. Automation helps you prevent order backlogs that can affect future sales.
  • Short ROI: In addition to improving overall fulfillment speed and cutting down on labor costs, automation can reduce errors and the amount you pay for shipping. Typical time to realize a full return on your investment is only 12 to 18 months.
  • Bonus Savings: A variable packaging system can accelerate your ROI by reducing your use of consumable shipping materials.

Staying Ahead During Peak Season

When increasing orders and limited staffing are on a collision course in your order fulfillment operation, automation can help keep you effortlessly ahead of the curve. Tension Automation has a variety of flexible, expandable, easily integrated solutions to make you the boss of peak season this year and every year. Contact us today to learn more about your options.

eCommerce Automation: A Guide to Automating the Last 100 Feet, Part 1: Package Size

Tension Team on August 22, 2023

When rising customer demands and labor shortages strain your operations, automation can be the key to efficiency and cost savings. A SLAM line ensures accurate package dimensions, enabling rate shopping and reducing costly shipping adjustments. Tension Packaging & Automation’s solutions streamline the last 100 feet of fulfillment, helping you save money while boosting throughput.

When rising customer demands and labor shortages put warehousing and fulfillment operations squarely in the middle of an uncomfortable pinch, automation can be the key to meeting expectations and keeping your clients happy. Just as importantly, however, it can save both time and money in ways that go far beyond supplementing your existing labor force.

The last 100 feet of your operations—scanning, labeling, application, and manifesting (SLAM) of outbound customer shipments—is a significant area of opportunity for improvement. We’ll start by looking at the impact package size can have on your shipping costs, and ways in which automation can help keep those costs under control.

The Importance of a Right-Size Package

The first consideration in packaging items for shipment is, of course, is having the right size and material to ensure that items arrive to their recipients intact and undamaged. Beyond that, however, the picture becomes more nuanced. Carriers charge to ship based on either the weight of the package or the dimensional weight (DIM), whichever is higher. In addition, larger packages mean more money spent on packaging materials, especially if you’re shipping small items in boxes that must be stuffed with additional packing materials to protect their contents. Thus, packages should optimally be only as large as they absolutely need to be and no larger. 

Automation can be a good solution for consistently matching products with the correct size packaging. Using a variable sized package in particular is a good defense against paying to, in effect, ship empty space unnecessarily. However, this isn’t the only way automation can lower your shipping costs.

Do You Know Your DIMS? The Shipping Carriers Do

The major shipping carriers know that it isn’t in their best interest to let customers get away with paying artificially low rates on light packages that take up a disproportionate amount of cargo space. Both FedEx and UPS use a DIM factor of 139—dividing a package’s cubic dimensions by that number gives you its DIM weight. If that number is larger than the package’s actual weight, that’s what determines the charge. The divisor used can vary by carrier and class of service, so determining which rate applies to each package can be time-consuming if you’re trying to do it manually.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an area in which you want to just guess and hope you get it right. Both UPS and FedEx have introduced new scanning technology that measures each package received to obtain more accurate weight and dimensions, which has resulted in higher shipping rates. Further, in cases where incorrect shipping details have been provided to the carrier, you may be hit with correction fees in addition to the actual adjustment of shipping costs.

Tension’s SLAM line can not only help eliminate nasty surprises in your shipping invoices, but also allow you reduce those costs from the outset while increasing your throughput. Each package is scanned and weighed as it goes through, correctly identifying the dimensions to enable rate shopping as well as accurate manifesting. Because the system automatically captures this information, you eliminate potential errors that can creep in from manual manifesting and prevent costly adjustments in shipping fees.

Finding the Right eCommerce Automation Partner

If you’re considering automation, you’ll achieve the best results with careful planning, clear goals, and the right automation partner to help implement your vision. It starts with examining your current processes and capabilities and deciding whether you want to replace your existing systems completely or augment them with new equipment.

Tension Packaging & Automation is a leader in packaging equipment and automation solutions, designing, building, installing, and supporting warehouse automation solutions for eCommerce order fulfillment. We can help you identify the right solution for your needs and provide training, service, and responsive ongoing support to ensure that you realize the full value of your investment. To learn more about the benefits of automated packaging or a SLAM line in your business, contact us today.

#likeaboss: Top 5 Ways to Prepare for Peak Season with Conveyor and Sortation Solutions

Tension Team on July 20, 2023

Peak season, spanning October through January, sees record-breaking eCommerce sales and returns, with $35 billion spent online in 2022 alone—a 4% increase from the previous year. To stay ahead, flexible and modular sortation and conveyor solutions, like Tension’s Z-Sort and SLAM systems, can boost throughput, handle product variability, and simplify returns. Discover how automation can help you dominate peak season operations and maximize ROI.

Peak season, or the time frame when retailers handle a large surge in orders, usually runs from October as consumers start to prepare for the upcoming holiday season through January as warehouses are still dealing with high return . This article explores the top five compelling reasons to get prepare for peak season.

Key Figures to Consider for Peak Season Preparation

The data suggests that neither holiday spending nor online sales show any signs of slowing down, despite reports of decreasing consumer confidence due to inflation.

Top 5 Ways to Prepare for Peak Season

As eCommerce order fulfillment companies prepare for order demand increases with 2023 peak season, consider these top five ways to prepare for peak season (like a boss) with conveyor and sortation systems: 

Flexibility for Wide Product Variability

Sorting machines not only take the manual out of your sortation process and lend productivity to your team, sortation equipment can also handle a wide variety of product sizes/shapes/weights that are packaged in things like paper mailers, padded mailers, polybags or polymailers and poly bubble bags.

Expandability for Increased Capacity

Sorters can be designed as a more compact solution to fit into a smaller space and maximize your warehouse footprint. Tension’s Z-Sort can easily be expanded as your business needs grow and evolve, and its adjustable height allows for taller gaylords if needed.

These design features allow you to add more capacity through better use of the floor and vertical airspace in your warehouse, critical considerations during your peak season.

Not-So-Modest-Modularity

In addition to increased capacity needs, sorters can be designed to grow for a changing product mix. The modular design of Tension’s Z-Sort allows order fulfillment centers to easily add on or change layout to accommodate changing warehouse automation needs.

Integration Made Easy

Integrate sorting machines and conveyor systems with new or existing automatic packaging equipment in your eCommerce warehouse or pharmacy fulfillment center. Or, go all out this peak season and boost throughput with a complete SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply and Manifest) solution, featuring an intelligent conveyor system that takes the manual process of processing your packages from order induction through dimension and weight capture all the way to shipping sortation.

Multi-Talented Equipment

Sortation equipment and conveyor systems are also ideal for returns processing. According to the FedEx 2022 Peak Season Report, 1.4 billion or 13% of orders purchased in the 2022 holiday season were returned (a 63% increase year-over-year), and 40% of those accounted for purchases made online. And consumer expectations are overwhelmingly in favor of simple, easy returns: 98% of respondents in this study indicated fast and convenient returns will make them more likely to order again.

Case Study: Achieving a 300% Increase in Throughput during Peak with Tension’s SLAM Solution

Discover how an effective sortation and conveyor solution can lead to significant cost savings and deliver a favorable ROI for your organization. Explore our compelling case study on how Tension’s Slam Solution helped Kredo, Inc. achieve an impressive 300% increase in throughput during peak.

Case Study: An effective sortation and conveyor solution must contribute to cost savings and result in an acceptable ROI for your organization. Read how our customer enjoyed a 300% increase in throughput during peak with Tension’s SLAM solution in our new case study, “How Tension’s SLAM Solution Helped Kredo, Inc., Increase Throughput by 300% During Peak.”

Ready to revolutionize your peak season operations?

Contact Us 

As your order fulfillment operations navigates both an increase in order demand and the challenge of increased volume of returns this peak season, consider the benefits of a flexible, expandable, modular and easy integrated sortation and conveyor solution (and show peak season who’s boss this year). 

Contact us now to get the conversation started. 

Spotlight on Service & Support: Going the Extra Mile

Tension Team on June 27, 2023

More than 80% of warehouses today lack automation, highlighting significant opportunities for improvement in efficiency and scalability. Tension Packaging & Automation specializes in designing, building, and supporting automation solutions for eCommerce and pharmacy operations, powered by intuitive TensionDirector software. With dedicated service, proactive training, and 24/7 support, we’re your true partner in creating reliable and stress-free automation experiences.

More than 80% of warehouses today have no automation. This statistic was presented at MHI’s (Material Handling Industry) spring meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina where Tension Packaging & Automation joined MHI’s SLAM and Solutions Community industry groups.  

MHI, the nation’s largest material handling, logistics and supply chain association, has more than 800 members and offers a powerful resource for knowledge, networking and solutions sourcing for manufacturing and supply chain professionals. The Solutions Community group represents a network of thought leaders in automation, software, hardware, equipment and services that support a fully integrated supply chain. 

Who Is Tension Packaging & Automation? 

Tension Packaging & Automation is a full solutions integrated provider; we design, build, install and support warehouse automation solutions for: 

  • eCommerce Order Fulfillment Automation to include packaging, conveying, labeling, manifesting, and sorting solutions for distribution centers, 3PLs and warehouse management.  
  • Pharmacy Automation to include dispensing, verification, packaging, labels, sorting and manifesting solutions for central-fill, mail-order, specialty, hospital outpatient and pet pharmacies.  

Many of our solutions run on our innovative, intuitive TensionDirector software architecture aimed at seamlessly integrating your complete suite of automation solutions. 

We’ve Got Your Back: Your True Partner for Service, Support & Success 

Due to the complexities involved in integrating and operating warehouse automation, such projects require a high level of dedicated, responsive and thorough support through the life of the product or contract.

From installation to training and from service to support, our team is committed to providing expertise to our customers through every step. And in doing so, we strive to provide the best possible service and support in the industry — our team of experienced professionals seeks to anticipate customer needs and provide solutions that minimize downtime and maximize efficiency through: 

  • Proactivity: We support our products with on-call troubleshooting and complete training opportunities. Our team teaches your team best practices for running your new equipment, equips them with reference manuals and ensures your operators and technicians are prepared and confident to run it.  
  • Thoroughness: From troubleshooting to maintenance and repair services, our technicians are thorough in their approach, ensuring that all needs are met, and no detail is overlooked. Our team has the dedication and determination to correct the issue and to exceed customer expectations.  
  • Timeliness: We respond to service requests in an extremely timely fashion. All requests are submitted though our Service Portal where they are immediately assessed and assigned for deployment. 
  • Expertise: Our technicians specialize in equipment from sorting machines and conveyor systems to our proprietary pharmacy automation equipment and software solutions. Organizing our team by equipment subject matter experts (SMEs) enables us to quickly and effectively solve inquiries and transfer knowledge to other projects. 
  • Service with a Smile: In addition to our technical expertise, our team is conscientious, courteous, respectful and attentive to the needs of our customers. We are available 24/7 to provide advice, technical support and maintenance services. 

Overall, we pride ourselves on being your true partner; we want your company to be a success. You can rely on us for service and support through available standard and premium service plans for ongoing support needs, or you can select a flexible maintenance plan that works for you. 

Contact Us 

Whether you are considering new warehouse automation solutions or need assistance with an existing system, our team is here to help. We believe that everyone should have access to the highest quality of service and support. It is our mission to make sure your pharmacy or eCommerce warehouse automation experience is successful, reliable and stress-free. Contact us today to get the conversation started. 

Nothing but Net: 5 Benefits of SLAM Systems in your eCommerce Warehouse

Tension Team on February 7, 2023

SLAM (Scan, Label, Apply, Manifest) systems are powerful tools for eCommerce and warehouse operations, offering benefits like reduced labor costs, improved safety, and increased package throughput. By automating repetitive tasks, optimizing shipping rates, and consolidating workstations, SLAM systems streamline order fulfillment while boosting accuracy and efficiency. Tension Packaging & Automation provides tailored solutions to help you transform your operations into a cost-saving, high-performing success.

SLAM systems, or SCAN, LABEL, APPLY, MANIFEST systems, offer eCommerce order fulfillment centers and warehouses a means to reduce labor costs (in addition to several other benefits). 
 

Located in the last 100 feet of the order fulfillment process, a SLAM label applicator system can offer a variety of benefits to an eCommerce and order fulfillment center, warehouse or B2B shipping facility (including some that positively affect your bottom line or net profits!).

Automating Repetitive Tasks

A SLAM line can help optimize labor in your warehouse by automating many of the tasks associated with order fulfillment.

By automating repetitive labor tasks, your labor force is free to do job tasks that may be of greater interest to them – improving associate satisfaction and potentially team dynamics.

From a cost perspective, task automation can lead to reduced labor costs by a factor of four!

Improve Warehouse Safety

Automation can help improve safety in order fulfillment operations just by automating some of the repetitive tasks that pose a risk to workers. This is a no-brainer when you consider the numbers:

A Positive Ratio: Along with improved safety comes improved associate satisfaction – a win-win for all involved in your operations of order fulfillment services.

Increased Packaging Throughput

A great benefit of a SLAM system is that it can drive accuracy and speed, ultimately leading to higher package throughput. With a SLAM system in place, order accuracy is built into the process.

SLAM lines feature quality checks throughout the process such as scanning an LPN (license plate number) barcode on the carton or package to ensure that it is attached directly to the proper package.

Once the Print & Apply label applicator is attached, the LPN barcode and shipping label are scanned to verify the correct package is going to the correct customer.

Additional options that can be included in the SLAM line include a scale and DIM system with integrated rate shopping to save on shipping cost. This all-in-one system compares the actual parcel weight with the expected weight sorts packages to the correct shipping carrier chute using the package barcode. This all can be done at a rate of 15 – 25 packages per minute with accuracy.

Find Low Shipping and Reduced Carrier Rates 

SLAM systems can also help reduce shipping costs by having the correct weight and DIM of the box packaging or bag. Fast shipping rate shopping software helps to save on carrier costs and optimize order fulfillment.

Additionally, right-sized automated packaging equipment, such as Tension’s HPS-300 variable length packaging system, can reduce excess package waste and help reduce shipping costs by up to 18% when the package is rate shopped on your SLAM line. 

With the option of adding sortation to your line, this reduces labor costs when compared to manual package sorting to different carriers and service levels.

Consolidated Workstations

Another benefit of SLAM systems is that they can help consolidate shipping workstations. With a SLAM system in place, there is no need for multiple shipping stations by carrier.

All orders can be sorted at the end of the fulfillment process and then shipped out from one central location. This consolidation can lead to a 50% reduction in shipping stations, freeing up more space in the warehouse for production and inventory storage.

Contact Us

From increased throughput to reduced labor costs, SLAM systems can offer a multitude of advantages to an eCommerce fulfillment services or warehouse operation.

Looking for ways to improve your operational efficiency and net profits? Consider investing in a system that is sure to be a SLAM dunk for your organization.

Tension offers a full suite of automated packaging equipment including automated bagging machines, conveyor systems, sorters, print and apply labelers and more. Contact an expert at Tension to discuss today.

How a Sortation System Can Optimize Your Order Fulfillment Services

Tension Team on January 18, 2023

The Role of Sortation Systems in Optimizing Order Fulfillment Services

The eCommerce industry is face paced, featuring order fulfillment as a critical factor of customer satisfaction. To meet customer demands and expectations, warehouses are increasingly turning to automated sortation systems to optimize their order fulfillment process.

When it comes to shipping, fast is no longer fast enough. Consumers who were impressed with Amazon’s two-day shipping now want shorter delivery times and lower shipping charges. Twenty-minute delivery windows may soon be the new standard for delivery times as adopters of quick commerce (Q-Commerce) gain traction in the grocery segment, which could soon expand to other retail industries. A recent study also revealed that 66% of online shoppers had abandoned their carts because of shipping costs.

Creating Operational Efficiencies with Sortation

As consumers want more for less, warehouses, distribution centers and order fulfillment operations are looking for ways to be more productive. One way to offer these efficiencies is through sortation systems for order fulfillment.

Items that have been packaged on our automated packaging equipment , travels to the sorter when the package is identified and diverted with the assistance of our TensionCONNECTTM software.

How a Sortation System Can Help Your Fulfillment Operations

Sortation systems can help optimize your order fulfillment operation by improving order accuracy and speed, reducing labor costs, and ensuring versatility and use of warehouse space. By automating the sorting process, you can process a high volume of orders with minimal resources and reduce the chances of errors occurring during the fulfillment process.

Benefits to using sortation systems in your order fulfillment operations include:

  • Increased Speed: With routing that is completed in a fraction of the time compared to a manual process, a sortation system can help drastically improve item sorting rates.  
  • Improved Accuracy: A scanner automatically assigns the package to the correct carrier so your staff doesn’t have to. 
  • Decreased Labor Costs: With the added efficiencies a sortation system can provide, your staff can focus on other high-skilled areas that need their expertise. 
  • Better Use of Valuable Warehouse Space: Save floor space with a sophisticated, flexible design tailor-made for tight warehouses. 
  • Enhanced Versatility: Our sorters can handle nearly every size, shape and weight, including apparel, shoes, jewelry, pharmaceuticals, CDs, mail, books and small parcels.

What to Consider When Choosing a Sortation System

When choosing a sortation system for order fulfillment, several factors must be taken into consideration, including the type of products being sorted, the layout of the warehouse, budget, and ROI. These can have an impact on which sortation systems work best for your order fulfillment. Choosing the right sortation system for order fulfillment can greatly enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction, making it a critical decision for any warehouse or distribution center.

Choose Sortation Systems Designed to Grow With You

Compact and adjustable, our sortation system fits into small or large spaces, and can adjust to different modes or fulfillment channels. This system is also designed to grow in capacity, and is flexible enough to handle a changing product mix.

We work in an environment where the only constant is change. It’s an environment where responding to a more demanding customer is vital to your business. With increased fulfillment demands, an automated sortation system may just be the key to lasting success.

Contact Tension

Tension Packaging & Automation is a leader in complete packaging and automation solutions for the eCommerce and pharmacy automation industries. Our line of packaging equipment seamlessly integrates with sortation systems and related software to help rate-shop and select the best carrier at the best price.

Contact Tension today to discuss how we can help set up your eCommerce or pharmacy order fulfillment operation for success with the help of our sortation systems.