The problem
Every new fulfillment client has its quirks: tissue paper, a leaflet in every order, no invoices in gift orders, glass double-boxed. Writing that up for the packing bench takes the owner about 3 hours per client, and if it's vague, mistakes reach the client's customers. Taking on 2 clients a month is 6 hours of writing.
What the AI does
Keep your notes from the onboarding call and the client's own instructions. Paste them, without the client's customer data or pricing, into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a one-page packing instruction with numbered steps, a list of inserts and the rules for special products, using only your notes. You check it against the client's samples, test it on a few real orders with a packer, and pin it at the bench.
A worked example
A fulfillment warehouse in Milton Keynes takes on about 2 new e-commerce clients a month, from candle makers to a supplements brand. The owner writes the bench instructions after each onboarding call.
Before
About 3 hours per client to write up instructions: 2 x 3 = 6 hours a month
After
About 1 hour per client to paste notes, check the draft and test it: 2 hours a month
What it's worth
About $133£100€119A$192C$188 a month saved, at an assumed $33£25€30A$48C$47 an hour for the 4 hours no longer spent writing (6 hours minus 2). The free plans of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini can do this; a paid plan is up to about $27£20€24A$38C$38 a month for one person if you hit usage limits.
How to set it up
- Use the same onboarding checklist for every client: packaging, inserts, gift orders, fragile items, labels and anything banned from the box.
- Paste your notes and the client's written instructions into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a one-page bench instruction using only that information.
- Check every step against the client's samples and delete anything you didn't give it.
- Have a packer follow it on 5 test orders and fix whatever confused them.
- Send the final version to the client to confirm before go-live.
What goes wrong
- An assistant may add a sensible-sounding step the client never asked for. Only your notes and the client's instructions count.
- Rules for hazardous goods, such as aerosols, batteries or perfumes, come from the courier's rules, not an assistant. Check those yourself.
- Don't paste the client's customer orders, prices or contracts into consumer AI plans.
- Instructions go out of date. Date each one and update it when the client changes anything.