Choosing a suitable warehouse space for your business is essential to ensure effective production. It can also mitigate issues that may arise as your warehouse operations develop.
A clear understanding of your storage needs will guide you in selecting a suitable warehouse location. This will save you time and money in the long run.
Size
The size of your warehouse space has an enormous impact on your business. It can affect how much inventory you keep, how quickly you can fulfill orders, and whether or not you need to expand into a new facility.
Businesses with high inventory turnovers and special storage conditions typically need larger warehouse spaces. However, these are only some of the factors to consider.
The most crucial factor is how you plan to utilize your warehouse space. It would help if you strived for a storage utilization percentage of around 25%.
Layout
A warehouse rental near me needs to be well-designed to promote productivity and safety. It should also facilitate improved turnover, efficient order fulfillment and reduced shrinkage.
An efficient warehouse layout can also increase a facility’s overall capacity, saving you money on transportation costs. It will also allow you to store more products than your competitors without increasing overhead.
Ideally, you’ll want to create a blueprint of your warehouse space and collect measurements before making design decisions. This will help you visualize the flow of your operations and determine how much space is needed for different areas.
There are three main types of warehouse flows — U-shaped, I-shaped and L-shaped – but which works best for you depends on your capabilities and goals. Once you’ve established these, you can begin designing your warehouse layout.
Accessibility
The accessibility of your warehouse space can significantly impact your business. It can increase your reach, reduce the risk of legal complications, and improve SEO and usability.
In the United States, disabled users constitute a sizeable segment of the population. You may lose business if they cannot access your website or app.
Moreover, the law is becoming stricter about digital accessibility. The US government has filed countless lawsuits against businesses that do not comply with web accessibility standards, and you can face fines and settlements if your business is found to violate federal regulations.
Making digital properties accessible is a savvy business decision that benefits all stakeholders, including customers, employees, and partners. It also reflects your social responsibility by making your products and services more inclusive.
Security
Warehouse space is a crucial element of a successful supply chain. It must be equipped with security measures to prevent cargo theft and keep goods safe.
A secure fence around the warehouse space near me helps keep out intruders and prevents unauthorized access. Adding bright lights to the wall is also beneficial.
Motion detection can help detect unwanted movement and send a signal to your monitoring provider. This can alert you and your staff if a suspicious person enters your premises.
Security cameras can also help deter theft by recording footage and storing it in the cloud. This makes it possible to watch the video remotely, if necessary.
Cost
Warehouse space costs can be a severe financial burden for businesses. However, there are many ways to reduce costs without compromising your business.
One way is to utilize a third-party logistics provider. These companies focus on warehousing and fulfillment services for all types of businesses.
They can help your company save money by handling more of the overhead. These costs can include utilities, taxes, insurance, and more.
Another way to reduce costs is to increase efficiency. This can mean improving current warehouse space use or finding ways to improve the inventory turn rate.
The best way to determine your warehouse space needs is to analyze inventory, fulfillment services, and employee needs. This will allow you to find suitable space for your company’s goals.
