Logistics is an integral part of any business. If you’re managing a warehouse with a diverse range of clients, you should know how a well-planned layout can improve your clients’ performance in serving their customers.
The biggest challenge in laying out your warehouse shelving and racks is the fact that your clients have individual systems implemented, and different business models. Of course, there are ways that you can work around that but, first, you need to understand the impact of warehouse layouts to clients’ operations.
Here are two ways that a warehouse layout can affect the clients’ productivity. At the end of this article, you will find tips on how you can work together in planning the design to their advantage.
The Right Layout Optimizes the Flow of Inventory
Speed is at a premium, primarily when your clients deal with in-demand items on e-commerce platforms. Thus, the layout of their rented space in the warehouse should be in a way that your staff can quickly locate the customers’ orders.
You can then say that the layout allows for speedier pickups, more efficient packing services, and timely distribution of items.
That is why The Balance always suggests consulting clients on their objectives for the warehouse layout. Likewise, you need to know if they want to take full advantage of any available space. Besides, they may wish to arrange their inventory to improve turnaround time.
Proper Layouts Minimize the Need to Add Space
When a warehouse is appropriately laid out, space becomes maximized, and the clients’ inventory gets adequately stored. This way, you’re helping your clients’ bring down their expenses as well by keeping the need to purchase more space at bay.
Steps to Achieving an Optimized Warehouse Layout
Every system needs to be well planned, from conceptualization until implementation. Laying out warehouse shelving is no exception to this rule.
Here are three steps that you could follow when planning the layout for a new client:
As discussed earlier, your layout needs to be conducive to your clients’ business goals and objectives. During the onboarding process, make sure to allocate a significant amount of time to discuss not only your clients’ objectives but also their business model, particularly their supply and distribution process.
- Identify resources
You also need to find out what resources you can offer your clients. For instance, you have to identify what storage facilities you have, i.e., shelves, racks, pallets, etc. You can then highlight the resources you can use to align your warehouse plan with the objectives identified in Step 1.
- Put the plan into tangible form and implement it
After you finalize the potential layout from steps 1 and 2, you should then work out the plan itself in preparation for implementation. Create diagrams that your staff can use for reference.
Remember, however, that no plan is perfect. There will be some changes from time to time, usually initiated by your clients to reflect changing goals and business environments. You need to keep in mind that your initial layout should help your clients maximize storage and performance without over-utilizing available resources.
