5 key takeaways after a new edition of Webwinkel Vakdagen

Over the past few days, we attended the Webwinkel Vakdagen for the fourth time.

For us, it’s never just about being present. It’s about listening closely, understanding what’s changing, and validating what we see happening across the market. No bold claims — just clear signals that are becoming harder to ignore.

We had many valuable conversations — with visitors who were curious, skeptical, already convinced, as well as partners, customers and suppliers. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and took the time to have a chat!

Here’s what stood out.

1. Packaging is moving up the priority list

Packaging is no longer treated as a side topic. More and more companies are starting to see it for what it is: a lever for both efficiency and customer experience.

The underlying drivers are clear:

• finding and retaining packers is getting harder

• labor costs keep increasing

• customer expectations continue to rise

  
  

As a result, companies are actively rethinking how they pack:

• reducing dependency on individual operators

• improving consistency

• gaining better control over cost and quality

  
  

Two topics came up again and again: cost and preventing shipping damage.

Shipping damage, in particular, is increasingly seen as a real operational pain point. It directly impacts margins, but also creates friction in customer experience and internal processes.

Right-sized packaging is often part of the answer: less empty space, less filler, less movement — and therefore significantly less risk of damage .

At the same time, customer experience is evolving. It’s no longer about adding a logo or a print. In e-commerce, packaging is often the only physical interaction customers have with your brand, besides the product itself. That moment matters more than ever.

2. PPWR is becoming tangible

Another clear shift: PPWR is no longer abstract.

Compared to last year, we now see:

• more concrete discussions

• growing awareness of upcoming requirements

• first steps towards adapting operations

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Packaging is increasingly seen not just as a cost, but as a compliance and sustainability challenge.

The conversation is shifting:from “what works today?”to “what will still work tomorrow?”

3. Professional packaging is no longer just for large players

A notable evolution: professional packaging is becoming accessible beyond large enterprises.

Where tailored packaging used to require significant investment or complexity, that barrier is lowering. Smaller and mid-sized companies are starting to realize that a more professional approach is both feasible and financially viable.

This shift is still developing, but clearly underway.

4. Uncertainty is driving the need for flexibility

If there’s one shared sentiment, it’s this: uncertainty is everywhere.

Driven by macro-economic factors — rising costs, shifting demand — companies are more cautious than before.

At the same time, they’re adapting. Instead of waiting, they’re moving forward carefully.

And in doing so, one preference stands out: flexibility over fixed decisions.

This is especially visible in 3PL environments, where complexity is even higher:

• fluctuating volumes

• multiple customers and product types

• seasonal peaks

  
  

Flexibility is required across the board.

Not just in the packaging solution itself — being able to handle both standard flows and complex “uglies” — but also in:

• scaling operations up or down

• implementation speed

• and financial structure

  
  

This is exactly where Slimbox fits. We don’t just offer flexibility in how you pack, but also in how you invest:

• a rental model instead of upfront investment

• modular scalability

• aligned with your growth

The result: flexibility that is operational and financial — a model that delivers from day one, with a positive ROI and no long-term lock-in.

5. Experience compounds

One thing was very clear to us during the event:the experience built across nearly 100 projects is making a real difference.

We’re quicker to identify:

• where the real bottlenecks are

• what actually works (and what doesn’t)

• how to implement change on the floor

Having worked across almost every sector, we can move faster from problem to solution.

Conversations become more concrete. Less theory, more relevance.

And ultimately: faster impact.

Final note

We look back on a strong edition — not because everything changed overnight, but because the direction is becoming clearer.

We’ll follow up with everyone we spoke to — thanks for your patience.

Want to move faster? Feel free to reach out.

And yes — we’ll be back again next year.