Supplier Diversification: the Key to Speeding up Warehouse Fulfilment
- , by Jo Hilton
- 4 min reading time
Updated 2/5/2025
There are a lot of companies out there supplying packaging. Though we know we’re among the best of them — not least because of the quality of our boxes and their environmental credentials — there’s another reason that makes us stand out from the crowd, and it can be summed up in two words: supplier diversification.
But what exactly is supplier diversification and how can it work for you in terms of speeding up fulfilment in your warehouse? Read on to find out more…
Promises, promises… – the challenges facing fulfilment
Consumers today are savvy about supply chains. When they click on a product, they expect it to be in stock and delivered fast. Often, they’ll choose the fastest or cheapest fulfilment option — even over brand loyalty.
Unfortunately, shipping incentives are harder to deliver than ever. COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains worldwide. Logistics were hit hard, and strategies to rebuild must now prioritise agility, resilience, and speed.
Even now, many businesses are still catching up. Fulfilment — the act of picking, packing and dispatching orders — has slowed. Supply chain disruptions have increased 46% year over year. Unsurprisingly, customer satisfaction and delivery reliability have both taken a hit.
Consumers still want one thing: products delivered quickly and efficiently at a fair price. And businesses must still deliver on that promise — despite rising material costs, higher fuel prices and global unrest.
So what’s the solution? It starts with recognising what can be controlled — and focusing hard on that.
Key ways of speeding up fulfilment in your warehouse
To improve fulfilment speed, e-commerce businesses should focus on four key areas: automation and optimisation, inventory strategies, labour training, and (of course) better packaging.
Warehouse automation and optimisation
Automation means using technology to handle repetitive tasks — from picking stock to managing orders. Optimisation means constantly reviewing workflows and layouts to make sure they’re as efficient as possible. Both reduce labour cost and speed up throughput.
Inventory management strategies
The right inventory at the right time = fewer delays. Automating inventory management gives you more accurate forecasts, less dead stock, and better visibility. Software tools help you monitor stock levels, anticipate demand, and respond to changes in real time.
Labour training
Skilled staff are faster, safer, and more productive. Providing proper training — and rewarding performance — keeps employees engaged. A motivated team that understands your systems will deliver faster fulfilment and better customer service.
Packaging
Never underestimate the power of good packaging. Efficient packaging helps your team pack faster. Smart designs save space and reduce the need for void fill. Durable materials reduce returns. Sustainable options strengthen your brand.
Our FlyPak e-commerce packaging is a great example — eliminating the need for packing tape or filler and reducing storage footprint. Smart packaging saves time and money while enhancing your unboxing experience.
The most powerful strategy: supplier diversification
At The Packaging Club, we’re packaging experts. But we’re also fulfilment problem-solvers. And if we had to give you one game-changing piece of advice, it would be this: diversify your supplier base.
Why? Because relying on a single supplier is a high-risk strategy. Any delay, shortage, or breakdown affects your entire chain. It puts your own fulfilment speed — and customer satisfaction — at risk. Sure, you can stockpile, but that’s expensive and takes up space.
Instead, adopt supplier diversification. Build relationships with multiple suppliers for critical goods. That way, if one link fails, another takes over — and your warehouse keeps flowing.
The Packaging Club and Supplier Diversification
Supplier diversification isn’t just a strategy for us — it’s our business model. With over 20 years of experience in e-commerce packaging, we’ve seen what happens when supply chains falter. So we built redundancy into our system from day one.
We forecast demand carefully and maintain relationships with multiple UK-based manufacturers. If one chain breaks, others pick up the slack. This ensures we never miss a beat — and neither do our customers.
Whether you’re scaling fast or just starting out, you’ll never need to worry about getting the packaging you need, when you need it. We’ve got it covered — so you can focus on growing your business, not scrambling for supplies.
Browse our full packaging range or get in touch to discuss how supplier diversification — and smarter packaging — can transform your fulfilment flow.
