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How to Determine the Best Shipping Option for Your Medical Cart

Posted by Greg Binversie on August 6, 2015

Your team has put a lot of time, thought and energy into designing your medical device and the cart onto which it will be installed. Everything is coming together smoothly, and as you’re inching closer to launch it’s time to think about your shipping options: drop-ship to your customers or ship to your facility.

To help guide your thought process, here are some key questions you should think about:

  • Can your device or equipment be installed onto the custom medical cart at the end user’s facility by a service tech?
  • Does the cart need to be shipped to your facility to add your device, complete final assembly or to conduct applicable testing?
  • How much assembly or disassembly is required to add your device to the cart?
  • Is your cart a storage cart that helps organize and display disposables?
  • How much warehouse space do you have available to store fully assembled carts?

Drop-Shipping to Customer Locations

If your device is not integrated into your cart (sits on top of one of the shelves), you may want your medical cart supplier to drop-ship your cart directly to your end-user customer’s location. One of your service techs can then meet the cart at the customer’s facility, un-package it, install the device on the cart and get the complete unit set up quickly.

Drop-shipping to the end-user’s location is also a good solution if your cart will house disposables such as medications or other medical supplies. In this scenario, your sales representative can meet the cart at the hospital and then stock the cart with your products in the exact manner you want them displayed.

Lastly, if warehouse space is at a premium at your facility and/or lead time is critical, having your cart manufacturer drop-ship carts to your customer can help you save space and related costs associated with storage.

Kit/Sub-Assembly Shipping to Your Facility

If your medical device must be integrated into the cart, or if installation of the device and equipment is a very complicated process, it may be best to have the cart shipped to your facility for the final assembly. In such instances, you should consider the amount of assembly/disassembly of the cart that is required to complete your final product. If you have to disassemble more than 50% of the cart to install your device, it may be beneficial for you to ship your cart to your facility.

Keep in mind that there are multiple ways your supplier can package carts for shipment to your facility. You can have the cart sent kitted as parts or as sub-assemblies rather than being fully assembled, which can make installing your device more efficient as you wouldn’t need to disassemble a full cart first.

You could also have kitted flat packs of un-assembled carts sent to your site, which would help save warehouse space or you could work with your cart supplier to set up a Kanban program, or stage finished carts for you to drop-ship to your customer or to bring in house to help better manage lead times.

When considering shipping options for your medical cart, remember that you have a lot of options. Don’t be afraid to request the method that works best for you.

Have questions about how to best ship your medical carts? HUI can make sure your custom medical cart includes custom shipping tailored to your exact process and needs. Contact us today to learn more.

5-benefits-of-a-custom-medical-cart-solution

Topics: Industry Insights


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