subject: How To Zero In On The Best Warehousing And Distribution Firm [print this page] With manufacturers producing huge volumes of goods every day, it is not possible for them to store everything on their production site. Similarly, it doesnt always make sense for a business to invest in building a private warehouse because they would anyways need to enlist the services of a third party for warehousing and distribution. Based on the requirements of the manufacturer and the nature of goods to be stored, one could opt for shared warehouses or dedicated warehousing spaces. And in many cases, you could just opt for a warehouse for a limited period of time.
The main role of a warehouse is to store different items in an organized manner. When an order is received, it should be located quickly and shipped to the desired destination rapidly. On-time distribution is a critical aspect of this business and it should be honored to eliminate the risk of incurring a loss. From origin to delivery, the safety of goods is also important. This can be ensured with the help of a good racking and storage system. Apart from this, there are several other features that reflect a professionally run contract warehousing facility:
The first thing, obviously, needs to be the availability of enough space to store a high volume of goods.
Another important aspect in this case would be to have a dust free environment so that your goods are kept clean.
The use of electric cranes and hoists gives you the assurance of your packages being handled carefully and professionally. Hence, it is wise to choose a facilities provider that implements these aspects.
Then again, a facility that is maintained by cleaning it every few weeks is bound to be cleaner and safer than others that are not cleaned so often.
Apart from these points, using the best of technology to provide safe storage for goods is equally vital. Partnering with a firm that offers you CCTV monitoring, access control and monitored alarms is a veritable plus point.
Even if internal threats are tackled efficiently, there is always the risk of natural disasters causing irreparable damages. So if your warehousing and distribution provider has invested in earthquake proof racks and stacking tools, it makes sense to choose them over others. Contract warehousing needs to adhere to various safety standards, and it is your prerogative to select the best firm.
If you are an enterprise that is looking at maximizing profit, you could choose a 4PL over a 3PL logistics firms. By doing this, you can focus on strategic business decisions and expect your 4PL firm to monitor all your 3PL logistics partners.
While you must consider all these points, it is also important to zero in on a firm warehousing and distribution firm that offers you fair prices.
