Peak season stress-tests every system in your operation. The dimensioning system is no exception, and because it sits in the critical path between packing and carrier billing, a failure at peak hits harder than it would in a slow month. Running a pre-peak checklist before volume arrives is the most reliable way to avoid problems when you can least afford them.

1. Calibration verification

Start with calibration. A dimensioning system that drifts out of calibration over time may be producing measurements that appear normal but are off by enough to cause carrier billing discrepancies. Run a calibration check with your reference standards and document the result. If the system is due for a full calibration service, schedule it before peak volume starts, not during.

Keep a calibration log. If a measurement dispute arises during peak season, documentation that the system was verified and in calibration at the start of the period is important evidence.

2. Software and firmware updates

Check whether there are pending software or firmware updates for your dimensioning system or the Cubiscan cubing software managing your data routing. Updates often include bug fixes and integration improvements. Apply them before peak volume starts, not during, and verify that the system operates correctly after each update.

3. Integration health check

Verify that the integration between your dimensioning system and downstream systems is functioning correctly. Send a test measurement through the complete chain: dimensioner captures a known reference package, the record passes to Cubiscan cubing software, routes to the WMS or TMS, and produces a carrier billing declaration. Confirm each step produces the expected result.

Check the integration for your automated warehouse shipping solution if you’re running a SLAM line, conveyor trigger timing, print and apply connectivity, and exception lane signaling should all be tested under load before peak begins.

4. Exception handling review

Exception rates tend to increase during peak season. Higher volume, more packaging variability, and seasonal item introductions all contribute. Review your exception handling process: who resolves exceptions, how are they flagged, and what is the target resolution time? If your current exception path requires a supervisor to physically intervene, consider whether that will hold up at peak volume.

Define and communicate exception handling procedures to staff before peak begins. A written process that everyone knows reduces ad hoc decision-making when exceptions pile up.

5. Packaging mix review

Peak season often brings packaging types that aren’t common in slower months: gift boxes, irregular shapes, bundled items, polybags for apparel. Confirm that your dimensioning system handles the packaging mix expected for peak. If you’re adding polybags or soft-sided packaging that your current system struggles with, address that before volume spikes.

If polybag measurement is a gap, the Cubiscan 75 Pro handles irregular items and soft goods that standard dimensioners can’t measure reliably.

6. Staff training refresh

Seasonal staff and returning part-time workers may not have used the dimensioning system since last peak. A 30-minute refresher on system operation, exception handling, and when to escalate is a worthwhile investment before volume begins. Include the exception handling procedure in the training, that’s where most problems originate.

7. Spare parts and support contacts

Confirm that you have necessary spare components on hand (replacement scale platforms, sensor covers, or other consumables specific to your system) and that you have current support contacts for your dimensioning system vendor. If a component fails during peak, knowing who to call and having parts available reduces downtime. Contact Cubiscan before peak to confirm support coverage.

Frequently asked questions