A distribution package protects products during transportation and can also serve as a sales container. It provides insulation, prevents damage, and increases ease of handling. The term is also used in the software industry for product releases.
A distribution package provides protection for a product throughout the distribution process. It is considered a form of secondary packaging, keeping products safe until they reach retailers and end consumers. Companies can use standardized sizing techniques to make it easier to load trucks and containers with finished goods into their distribution packs. In addition to saving space and maximizing efficiency, this can add insulation and prevent noise during transport. Packaging design tends to be more focused on space considerations and efficiency rather than aesthetics, as consumers may not see it.
Products in their primary packaging, ready for sale, are contained in a distribution package. This could include shrink-wrapped compact discs, milk cartons or decks of cards. In some cases, the distribution package also creates a shipping carrier or sales container for the product. For example, many candy manufacturers sell candy bars in cases that can be clipped directly onto store shelves to dispense individual bars. The distribution package in this case also creates an independent sales module.
Likewise, consumers can purchase products through the distribution package. Beverages can come packaged in four packs, six packs or cases, for example, assuming most consumers don’t want to buy individual units. Some stores offer discounts for customers who buy entire cases of products that normally come in packages that the store must separate for sale. It might be cheaper to buy a box of 10 chocolate bars than 10 individual ones, for example.
This packaging protects both the product and the retail packaging, which is often the part consumers will interact with. A distribution package can provide insulation to limit heat or cold loss, as well as a layer of material to prevent scratches, tears, and other compromises to the individual package. It also increases ease of handling, often with handles or straps for easy gripping, and a uniform shape designed to reduce work for truck drivers and others who may handle product along the distribution chain.
In the software industry, this term is used to refer to product releases. Historically, software has been released in boxes with disks, documentation, and accessory hardware, if applicable. Each of them formed a distribution package, providing a complete set of components to the end consumer. This terminology is maintained even for software products that can be downloaded directly. The download includes compressed files with documentation, user license agreements, warranty information, and similar materials.
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