How to set up a packing station for video proof

A packing video only helps if it clearly shows what went into the box. Blurry footage, a hand covering the product, or a camera that cannot see the label all weaken your case. The good news is that a reliable packing station costs very little. This guide walks through setting one up.

Choose the camera

You have three good options:

A phone on a stand. The quickest start. Any recent phone camera is good enough. Use a stand or a gooseneck clamp, never a hand-held phone.
A USB webcam on an arm. Best for a fixed desk. Mount it overhead on a monitor arm or a camera arm and connect it to the packing PC. A 1080p webcam is plenty.
A laptop webcam. Fine for low volumes, but the angle is usually poor. Raise the laptop or tilt the screen so the whole packing area is in view.

Whatever you choose, keep one camera per station and leave it in place, so every video looks the same.

Position it overhead

The best view is from above, looking down at the desk:

Mount the camera 60 to 90 cm above the desk, pointing straight down or at a slight angle.
Frame the whole working area: the empty box, the space where items are placed, and where the label goes on.
Leave a margin around the box so hands and items don't slip out of frame.
Do a test recording and check that you can read a serial number held up to the camera.

Get the light right

Poor light is the most common reason videos are hard to read.

Use steady white light from above. An LED panel or tube over the desk works well.
Avoid a bright window behind the camera's view; it turns everything else dark.
Watch for glare on shiny packaging and phone screens. Move the light slightly to the side if labels are washed out.
A plain, light-coloured desk surface makes products and labels stand out.

Set up the desk

Everything within reach. Boxes, tape, bubble wrap and labels to the side, out of the camera's centre.
A barcode scanner on the desk to scan the order and serial numbers without typing.
A weighing scale in frame, or next to it, so the packer can note the final weight.
Numbered tamper tape or seals if you ship high-value items. A seal number on camera is strong evidence if the parcel is opened in transit.
A name for each station, such as "Desk 2", so you know where each video was recorded.

Train the packers

A few simple habits make every video useful:

Start with an empty, open box in view.
Show or scan the order barcode first.
Hold each item up to the camera for a second before it goes in, label facing the lens.
Show serial numbers and IMEIs clearly, or scan them.
Seal the box on camera, show the seal number, then apply the shipping label.
Keep hands out of the way when showing an item, and don't cut away mid-pack.

Check a few videos every day

Ask a supervisor to watch a handful of videos each day. It catches camera problems early, such as a knocked stand or a light that has failed, and it shows packers that the videos matter.

Using DispatchO at the station

DispatchO works with any of the cameras above, in the browser. At a desk PC you can pick which camera to use and name the station once; the browser remembers both. The packer scans the order with the barcode scanner, and while recording, scanning a serial number fills in the right field. The order number, date, time and packer's name are burned into every frame, and a validator can review new videos from the office.

Request a free 30-day pilot to try it at one of your packing desks.