A packing system is provided having an object to be packed which has an interface surface having coded data identifying the object, and a sensing device for sensing the coded data to generate indicating data indicative of the object identity and at least one of a position and orientation of the sensed coded data and a position and orientation of the sensing device relative to the interface surface. The sensing device is configured to transfer the indicating data to at least one of: a packing device which is responsive to the indicating data to pack the object; a computer system which is responsive to the indicating data to cause a packing device to pack the object; and a packing device which is responsive to the indicating data to determine the orientation of the object.