Warehouses, storage facilities, and distribution centers rely on accurate item master data. It dictates storage, packing, palletizing, truck loading, pricing, shipping costs, and various other factors.
The quality of data in means the same quality out. Bad data in means bad data out.
If you're feeding your WMS, TMS, OMS, or ERP system with estimates, you're setting yourself up for inefficiencies—and losing money in the process. So having the right tool for capturing measurements among other data is important.
But finding the right dimensioning solution should be simple enough, right? A measuring tape seems like a cheap, easy fix.
But is it enough? For most operations, the answer is no. So what are your options, and which one is the best fit for your warehouse? Let’s break it down.
How Different Industries Use Dimensional Data
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers use dimensional data to handle everything— from receiving, storing, picking, packing, to shipping.
Carriers and freight forwarders rely on dimensional data to load trucks properly and calculate shipping charges. Knowing the exact measurements helps them order and use the right number of trucks - not ordering too many or too few to avoid billing mistakes.
Retailers and E-commerce businesses use dimensional data to choose the boxes that fit their order profile since they have a limited range to work with. It helps them avoid surcharges, take advantage of carrier rates, and plan storage better so they know exactly how much they can fit in their warehouse.
All share the same goal— work smarter, reduce inefficiencies, and keep operations running smoothly with accurate data.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dimensioner
Every warehouse measures its SKUs, parcels, and pallets in some way to manage its operations. These measurements are typically recorded using either manual methods (measuring tape) or automated systems (static or mobile dimensioners).
- Measuring Tape – A simple, low-cost option for low-volume operations. However, it requires manual data entry and can be time-consuming and error-prone.
- Static Dimensioners – high accuracy for standard-sized items. For warehouses with a wide range of item shapes and sizes, different solutions are needed for different dimensions. Dedicated space for operation is required.
- Mobile Dimensioners – high accuracy and allow operators to scan all types of items on the go.
Choosing the right dimensioner depends on your warehouse operations, the types of items you measure, and the volume of measurements you handle daily. So ask yourself the following questions:
What are you measuring?
Are they small and uniform, or large and irregular? Do you handle individual SKUs, boxed shipments, or palletized loads?
A measuring tape can work for low-volume operations, but irregular objects and pallets with overhangs make manual measurement challenging. Finding the largest sides of non-uniform items takes more time than one might think and introduces errors. For anything beyond low-volume, cuboid-only measurements, manual methods quickly become inefficient.
For everything else that is outside the low-volume cuboid specter, consider simplifying the measurement capture with automated solutions like static dimensions or mobile dimensioning.
Consider that static dimensioners are designed for specific item types, meaning a static parcel dimensioner won’t work for pallets. If your inventory varies, you may need multiple units.
With a mobile dimensioning app you can measure everything from small irregular SKUs to full pallets and even large items like ULDs (unit load devices) used in air cargo.
How many items do you need to measure?
A smaller operation with occasional shipments might be managed with simpler methods. But in high-throughput environments handling hundreds or thousands of items, automation becomes essential.
Handling high volumes manually quickly becomes a bottleneck. Manually measuring a single pallet can take about 60 seconds. We tested it.
Do that 60 times a day, and you've wasted an entire hour just on measuring. Add worker fatigue & manual data entry in and it all piles up. So the cheapest option isn’t the most cost-effective in the long run. Relying on wrong measurements can lead to 30% increase in operational costs.
For medium to high volumes, static and mobile dimensioners cut measurement time, eliminate errors, and automate data entry—saving hours of work every day.
If you're measuring pallets or parcels in high volumes, consider the logistics of moving them to a dedicated dimensioning zone with static dimensioners. In these cases, capturing dimensions on the fly with a more flexible solution might be more efficient.
Additionally, static dimensioners are designed for specific item types—small parcels, large parcels, or specific pallet sizes. If your warehouse handles a variety of item types, you may need multiple static dimensioners to accommodate different sizes, adding to cost and space requirements.
Do you need to capture any other data?
Dimensions are a big part of item master data but it’s not the only one. Warehouses often need more than just measurements of items. Other important master data include:
- Packaging Details – Number of units per carton or pallet.
- Scanning barcodes
- Capturing information from labels
- Fragility indication
- Handling Instructions (e.g., “This Side Up”).
- Quality Control Images – Visual records for inspection and tracking.
When it comes to capturing this data with manual means, each piece of information must be captured and entered separately into your WMS. While static dimensioners tend to offer a single functionality of dimensioning.
With the mobile approach, you can capture all of the above:
- Ask detailed questions about each item.
- Create custom workflows with custom questions
- Digitize checklists
How Accurate Do You Expect the Data to Be?
Even small errors can lead to overcharges, wasted space, and shipping mistakes.
Measuring Tape – Accuracy depends on the user's experience but still introduces errors, especially with large or irregularly shaped items.
Static Dimensioners –high accuracy. Designed for specific item types. If your warehouse handles various sizes, you may need multiple units to cover different item types.
Mobile Dimensioners – high accuracy and can measure a wide range of item types, making them a more flexible solution for dynamic warehouse operations.
What Training Do Your Employees Need?
The ease of use of a dimensioning tool impacts how quickly your team can adopt it and how consistently measurements are taken.
Measuring Tape is easy to use with little to no training, but accuracy depends on the user. Even skilled employees make small errors, leading to inconsistent shipping, storage, and invoicing.
Static Dimensioners require operator training and must be set up in a dedicated area. Employees must learn how to position items correctly for accurate readings. Once trained, measurements are consistent, but the system only works for specific item types as there are different static dimensioner solutions for different item types.
Mobile Dimensioners are designed for ease of use, requiring minimal training. The system operates with simple scanning, reducing the chances of human error and making them adaptable to different workflows.
How Easy is it to Scale?
Scalability depends on cost, flexibility, and how easily a solution can handle increasing volume.
Measuring Tapes - Not scalable. Manual measurement takes time, increases labor costs, and slows down workflows as demand rises.
Static Dimensioners – Partially scalable, expansion may require multiple units for different item types and sizes, increasing costs and space requirements. They work well for consistent, standardized items but may struggle with diverse inventory.
Mobile Dimensioners – Very scalable. They can handle different item types with one system and can be deployed across multiple locations without infrastructure changes.
Do You Need Integration with your existing system?
If you have supporting software running your supply chain operations - such as a WMS, TMS or ERP system your dimensional data needs to be available instantly—not written down on paper or manually typed into a spreadsheet.
Without integration, you’re adding extra steps that waste time and leave room for human error. Imagine measuring a pallet, writing the dimensions on a sticky note, then later inputting them into your system—only to realize a number was misread or forgotten.
A static or mobile dimensioner solves this problem by automatically capturing and sending measurements directly to your system.
No extra steps, no manual data entry, no lost paperwork. If your warehouse processes a high volume of shipments, integration is not just helpful—it’s a necessity.
Conclusion
Choosing the right dimensioning solution is about saving your time, and making systems work with accurate master data. Relying on manual methods might seem cheaper upfront, but the hidden costs of errors, inefficiencies, and wasted labor quickly add up. If your warehouse handles a high volume of shipments, automation isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Mobile solutions offer the most flexibility, handling diverse inventory without requiring dedicated space. Whatever you choose, your goals should be working smarter, not harder.
