Shipment volumes are rising. If your business handles packages of varying size, you likely contend with gathering dimensions for those items in order to charge the correct amount of freight. Traditionally, this has been a manual task, but with rising volumes and rising labor costs, that can lead to more workers, and more expensive errors.
As a result, companies have been exploring automated measurement solutions. Zebra has created a dimensioning solution which is integrated into the handheld computers which your workers are already using. This allows you to quickly automate dimensioning without the need to add new hardware.
What is the Zebra Dimensioning Solution?
Zebra Dimensioning is a software/hardware solution by Zebra Technologies that allows users to capture the dimensions of parcels — especially for shipping, logistics, warehouse, and related workflows — using mobile computers with built-in sensors. The idea is to replace (or supplement) manual measurement and external measuring hardware with a more automated, accurate, mobile-capable method.
There are two main variants:
- Certified Mobile Parcel — this version is certified by weights & measures authorities (depending on geography), meaning the measurements can be used “legal-for-trade,” such as to calculate shipping charges or fulfil regulatory requirements.
- Mobile Parcel — this version has the same measurement accuracy but is not legally certified. It’s useful for internal operations: warehouse optimization, load planning, visibility of dimensions, etc.
Benefits of Zebra Dimensioning
- Speed & Efficiency: Manual measuring (using tape measures, etc.) is slow, error-prone, and difficult when working quickly in the field. This solution lets workers dimension parcels with a click.
- Accuracy: Especially with the certified version, good accuracy means less under-charging or disputed shipping charges; better load planning; better space utilization in warehouses/trucks etc.
- Regulatory / Legal Use: With legal-for-trade certification, you can use these dimensions to charge customers, meet weights & measures regulations.
- Cost Savings: Less manual labor, fewer errors, better shipping cost estimation, improved warehouse space usage, fewer returns/disputes.
- Convenience & Mobility: Since it’s built into mobile devices, jobs can be done where parcels are — on porch pickups, warehouse floor, parcel shops, etc. No fixed dimensioning station needed, no extra attachments.
How Does Zebra Dimensioning Compare Against Alternative Package Measurement Options?
Zebra’s dimensioning solution dramatically improves accuracy and speed when compared with manual measuring. Compared with other technology-based dimensioning solutions, Zebra offers a lower implementation cost, and much flexibility. The ROI for Zebra Dimensioning will come both from labor savings as well as a reduction in costly item measurement errors.
| Feature / Factor | Zebra Dimensioning | Fixed Stations | Snap-On Sensors | Manual Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility | ✅ Full mobility | ❌ Fixed location | ⚠️ Semi-mobile (bulky) | ✅ Mobile, manual |
| Accuracy | ✅ High, certified | ✅ Very high, certified | ⚠️ Varies, often unsure | ❌ Error-prone |
| Parcel Size Range | ⚠️ Up to ~1 m | ✅ Small to very large | ⚠️ Small/medium parcels | ❌ Limited accuracy |
| Legal-for-Trade Option | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ Rarely | ❌ No |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Simple, built-in | ⚠️ Training needed | ⚠️ Adds complexity | ⚠️ Simple, slow |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Moderate | ❌ Very high | ✅ Lower | ✅ Lowest |
| Long-Term TCO | ✅ Lower (fewer parts) | ⚠️ High maintenance | ⚠️ Medium (fragile) | ❌ High labor cost |
Applications for Zebra Mobile Parcel
There are many use cases where Zebra Dimensioning is particularly useful:
- Shipping / Courier / Postal Services — capturing dimensions at pickup or dropoff to compute correct shipping fees, reduce disputes.
- eCommerce Fulfillment — optimizing packaging, reducing oversizing or underutilizing space, ensuring accurate dimensional weight calculations.
- Warehousing / Distribution — for load planning, determining how many parcels/boxes will fit in a pallet/truck, tracking spatial usage.
- Parcel Shops / Retail Outlets — when customers drop off parcels or return items, dimensioning on site.
- Field Service / Last-Mile Delivery — mobile dimension capture during pickups, reducing need to return to facility for measurement.
Learn More About Zebra Dimensioning & Mobile Parcel
In order to learn more about Zebra Dimensioning and how it can benefit your options, please contact the Zebra experts at CSSI Technologies. We can help you arrange a trial of the technology to confirm its effectiveness in your business environment.