Blikbuy's Procurement Platform Leverages Spreadsheets for Packaging Cost Control and Optimization

Blikbuy, a rapidly growing cross-border procurement platform, has implemented a data-driven approach to optimize its product packaging operations. The company utilizes spreadsheet tools to systematically control costs and refine packaging solutions, ensuring both efficiency and sustainability.

1. Packaging Cost Tracking System

The platform maintains detailed records in spreadsheets that capture:

Material Costs: Cardboard boxes, sealing tapes, cushioning materials (bubble wrap, air pillows)
Labor Expenses: Packaging time allocation per item/shipment
Design Investment: Custom packaging artwork and branding elements
Storage Fees: Warehouse space occupied by packaging materials

Key Insight: Historical data shows specialty shape products yield 23% higher packaging waste versus standard rectangular items.

2. Data Analysis Methodology

The analysis framework employs:

Metric	Calculation	Purpose
Cost-Per-Shipment (CPS)	(Materials + Labor) / Units Shipped	Identify disproportionate expenditures
Dimensional Score	Package Volume / Product Volume	Measure space efficiency
Damage Rate	Damaged Units / Total Shipped	Assess protective adequacy

3. Optimization Strategies

Through spreadsheet analysis, Blikbuy achieved:

Material Standardization

Consolidated 17 box sizes → 8 standard dimensions with 30% reduced material inventory costs

Process Enhancements

Repositioned packing stations to reduce movement time, lowering labor cost per package by 18%

"Spreadsheet modeling revealed surprising opportunities - we identified that switching to recycled padding materials would actually decrease both costs and environmental impact simultaneously," noted Blikbuy's Logistics VP.

4. Continuous Improvement

The platform now conducts:

Quarterly spend reviews comparing internal rates against market benchmarks
Packaging "hackathons" leveraging spreadsheet simulations to test new approaches
Environmental impact tracking using Excel-based carbon calculators

Future initiatives include integrating spreadsheet data with ERP systems and implementing advanced analytics for dynamic packaging selection.