Cross-docking operations can save time and money by eliminating the need to store products at your site. Follow these tips to increase throughput and improve cross-docking sortation efficiency.

Utilize conveyors
Manually handling goods adds time and risk to every order. For larger shipments, specialized equipment, such as forklifts, may be needed to unload the cargo. To reduce manual labor and eliminate the potential for damage or errors, use a conveyor system to move your products. Design your system to move pallets or cartons easily between unloading and loading docks for maximum productivity and efficiency.

Keep it small
The larger your cross-docking operations are, the more likely they are to cause problems. Keep the footprint small to minimize travel time between offloading and loading. Avoid using additional space that isn’t absolutely necessary, and plan your system to be as efficient as possible. Central docks should be reserved for receiving, with docks on the left or right side of the facility reserved for outbound shipments to ensure a smooth flow of packages.

Integrate a warehouse management system
The more you can automate your cross-docking operations, the more you can improve efficiency. Combining your cross-docking setup with a warehouse management system and automated labeling machine can increase transfer speed significantly. Manage transportation, handle sorting, and apply outbound labels automatically to reduce errors and speed up processing.