Choosing a warehousing solution is a very important step in your business. Choosing poorly could affect your brand and your business both reputationally and financially. Choosing the right one can impact your business in a number of positive ways, allowing you to scale and realise efficiencies.
The technology around warehousing and logistics has transformed the industry over the last decade, so it can be confusing to know what to look for when choosing a warehousing solution.
The Right Amount Of Space Now, And In The Future
You want to strike the right balance between having the right amount of storage for your current needs, and also having the capacity to scale up in line with your future needs. You don’t want to move your entire warehousing solution, with all of the work this entails, only to have to move it again in a year.
Choose A Secure Location
How safe will your stock be in the warehouse? A high level of security is vital and should include alarms, CCTV, and access control as a minimum. Even if you’re insured for losses, missing stock can cause a bottleneck in your supply chain which means you’re letting customers down and missing out on orders.
Is It Using Technology To Manage Operations?
Manual warehousing processes are inefficient and have higher levels of error than those that are more technologically advanced. When choosing a warehousing solution, ask what kind of warehouse management system is being used. While each platform is slightly different, it should:
- Scan and log stock as it arrives at the warehouse
- Assign and record the location it is to be stored
- Scanned as it leaves
An efficient warehousing system is important to your business’s success.
Does It Have Integrated Logistics?
Does the warehousing option you’ve chosen have a logistics capacity for when your products need to leave the warehouse to go to customers? What services are in place to help with customs paperwork or distributing overseas? If it doesn’t have these logistics functionalities, then what are its processes for working with third-party logistics suppliers? You don’t want to create a bottleneck in the order process when it’s time for the warehouse to release goods to the logistics company.
Location
Where your warehouse is located can have a number of consequences for your business. Ideally, it should be in a location easily accessible to major transport routes, or if you’re importing, the airport. Warehousing in remote or difficult-to-navigate areas could cause issues during the winter months and lead to longer delivery times in general.
Key Points
Don’t rush to a decision when choosing a warehousing solution. Take the time to understand what your needs are and find the best solution for these. It’s often a balancing act between cost and solution. Come and talk to us at Prestige Logistics. We have a wealth of experience providing specialist warehousing and logistics solutions to a range of companies. Our reputation speaks for itself and you won’t find a better warehousing and logistics partner for your business.