Buying a parcel dimensioner is not complicated if you know what to evaluate. The challenge is that most vendor conversations stay at the surface level: accuracy specs, throughput ratings, price. The questions that determine whether a system actually performs in your operation are more specific. Here are seven things to evaluate before you commit.
1. Measurement range and the packages you actually ship
Every dimensioning system has a measurement range: minimum and maximum dimensions it can capture accurately. Ask for the full spec and compare it against your actual packaging mix. If your smallest packages are 4 inches on a side and the system is rated for 6-inch minimum, you have a problem before the system is installed. Same issue at the large end. Evaluate the system against your real outbound data, not a hypothetical range.
2. Throughput at your volume, not the vendor’s demo conditions
Throughput ratings are often stated under ideal conditions with uniformly sized rigid cartons moving at controlled spacing. Ask how throughput changes with your packaging mix, including polybags and irregular items if those are part of your outbound. Ask what happens to throughput when exception rates are elevated. The real-world throughput number is the one that matters for your operation.
3. Irregular item and polybag handling
If polybags, mailers, flats, or soft-sided items are part of your outbound mix, ask specifically how the system handles them. Traditional laser-based dimensioners struggle with non-rigid items that deform under measurement conditions. If the vendor answer is ‘use the manual override’ or ‘those items go to an exception lane,’ that’s an incomplete solution for an operation where soft goods are a significant share of volume.
The Cubiscan 75 Pro uses machine learning to handle polybags, flats, and irregular items at workstation speed without requiring a separate exception process.
4. Integration with your WMS and carrier systems
A dimensioning system that doesn’t feed data to your WMS and carrier platform isn’t solving the problem. Ask about the integration approach for your specific WMS and TMS. Is it a native connector, an API integration, or a flat file transfer? Who manages the integration, and what does the testing and validation process look like? Integration complexity varies significantly between a static workstation system and an in-motion SLAM line component.
The dimensioning system overview and Cubiscan cubing software cover the data management and integration options available across Cubiscan’s product range.
5. Accuracy certifications and under what conditions they apply
NTEP certification means the system has been independently tested and verified to meet accuracy standards for commercial use. Ask whether the system you’re evaluating is NTEP-certified for the specific use case you’re buying it for. Certification for parcel billing use may differ from certification for freight classification use. Also ask about calibration intervals: how often does the system need to be calibrated, and what does that process involve?
6. Support model after installation
Dimensioning equipment is operational infrastructure. When it goes down, it affects your outbound workflow. Ask about the support model: what are the response time commitments, is there remote diagnostics, and what is the parts availability situation for your system? A system with excellent specifications that has a 10-day average repair time is a different value proposition than one with a responsive local support structure.
Cubiscan’s support team is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM MT, and supports calibration and service for the full product line. For specific support model questions, contact Cubiscan directly.
7. Total cost of ownership, not just purchase price
The purchase price of the hardware is one component of the total cost. Integration development, training, calibration, and maintenance contracts are the others. Get a complete picture of what the system costs over a three-to-five-year horizon, not just the list price. A lower-priced system with high calibration costs, integration complexity, and limited support may cost more over its useful life than a higher-priced system with a lower total cost of ownership.
Start the evaluation with the right questions
The dimensioning system overview covers Cubiscan’s full product range. To walk through these seven criteria against your specific operation and get a realistic picture of what fits, contact Cubiscan.
Frequently asked questions
| What is NTEP certification and why does it matter when buying a dimensioning system? NTEP certification means the system has been tested by a third party and verified to meet defined accuracy standards for commercial measurement. For carrier billing and freight classification applications, this certification means the measurement record is backed by independent verification rather than the manufacturer’s own testing. |
| How should I evaluate throughput claims from a dimensioning vendor? Ask how the stated throughput was measured and under what conditions. Throughput ratings from vendors are typically measured with uniform rigid cartons at controlled spacing. Ask how the number changes with your packaging mix, including any polybags or irregular items, and what happens to throughput when exception rates are elevated. |
| What integration questions should I ask a dimensioning vendor? Ask about the specific integration path for your WMS and TMS, whether it’s a native connector, API, or file-based integration. Ask who manages the integration project, what the testing and validation process looks like, and what ongoing support is available if the integration needs to be updated when your WMS is upgraded. |
| How do I calculate total cost of ownership for a dimensioning system? Start with the hardware purchase price. Add integration development costs, training, any required infrastructure changes (conveyor, mounting, power), and the annual cost of calibration and maintenance contracts. Project those costs over three to five years to get a comparable number for evaluating systems at different price points. |
