You may be creating a warehouse to store items from the business you run, be it an online or physical warehouse. Or you may be opening a warehouse that offers storage solutions to other businesses. Whatever you are doing, there are certain things you need to take into consideration your warehouse is being created. These tips can help you do it. You may have considered some, but look at the others as they could remind you of something you’ve missed.
First you need to come up with a plan. In the plans first instance you need to be looking at what kind of machinery you will need to purchase. Are you going to be storing foodstuffs? Then you may need refrigeration. Are the products going to be super heavy? Then consider a free standing jib crane. You need to know what machinery you are going to be storing because it dictates the premises you will purchase. You may think it is the other way around, but you don’t
want to find a premises only to realise it will not hold the things you need to put in it.
When looking for your premises you need to consider its previous function. If it was a warehouse before then you have no problems. But if it wasn’t you need to keep an eye on things like noise pollution. Are you going to have trucks loading over night? Are they loud? They could wake people up, in which case you could receive complaints. Are you going to be storing items of high value? Be careful. There are people who will take advantage and steal your stock. As such, ensure your premises has a perimeter or fencing or hard to breach walls. If you don’t consider these aspects of the premises then you are simply opening yourself up to potential failure down the line.
You now need to ensure the people you recruit know what they are doing. As a first timer you could likely really benefit from people who know the ropes. Don’t recruit people who are new to the industry, people who will need time and training. You can’t afford it. They will be cheaper, but your business will suffer as a result. Employ people who are good and know their trade.
At this point you should consider an inventory management system. There are many great ones out there for you to chose form. Set your warehouse out in a way that allows it to hold the most stock in the safest way. Your management system will tell you what is coming in and when it is going back out, giving you the information you need to plan everything out in the right way and manner. Things going out soonest should be closest to the door for example. Little things like this make the world of difference to your business. You don’t want to have to move lots of stock to get to something else. Be efficient and take advice from people who have done it all before.
