2021 is definitely a year of uncertainty if 2020 is anything to go by, especially with Brexit on the horizon also. Is your business prepared for the onslaught of online purchases or still looking for ways to increase warehouse space?

Among the chief talks doing the rounds is how stockpiling of various goods from medicines to food to other goods will play out due to potential delays at borders and import tariffs being increased. This has caused an increase in warehouse space demand and questions about how it will be dealt with.

This makes the perfect time to evaluate your space available with an aim to maximise its use in preparation for increased demand, which in turn makes your warehouse more efficient and profitable as a result.

Whatever your budget is, there are always options on how to best use your space.

Pallet Racking

Every warehouse has pallet racking implemented but do they use its full potential to access more space?

Choosing the right pallet racking to best utilise space is a key operation, such as drive-in racking if for just one product requiring a first in, last out requirement. Ensuring that the racking you have is safe and secure against a warehouse racking collapse is paramount to keeping your business operating during this critical period, so checking on racking regularly and being sure that overloading them with stock is very important.

If stock levels begin to grow exponentially during this period, it should require an evaluation of your current pallet racking if it needs to be more streamlined or heightened.

Shelving

When it comes to improving organization within the warehouse, commercial shelving helps to fully utilise wall space and productivity at a cost-effective level.

Shelving also helps in being an easy installation option which benefits those with a sudden upturn in demand and a budget not accommodating to more robust storage options. Many warehouses find unused wall space around the premises that could use a quick installation that may also need to be regularly reconfigured. For this, commercial shelving offers the perfect option for temporary or long term use.

Reconfiguration

If your warehouse was designed without the foresight of company growth or change for the future, meaning that as your company grows your premises stay the same.

This undoubtedly leads to instances of stock damage and organizational structure suffering from a cramped environment over time and increased demand. By carrying out a warehouse reconfiguration you can save time and money by finding more efficient uses of space.

Reviewing current storage systems is high among the first things to evaluate to ensure they are still fit for requirements. By replacing outdated and space taking racking you can provide more space between aisles allowing more room for forklifts and picking trucks to operate without holding up the workload. By moving heavier and larger items closer to loading bays you also reduce work being disrupted due to special loading requirements, allowing more time for picking to complete their work.

For more information about how to increase warehouse space with pallet racking and commercial shelving for 2021, contact the team at Monarch Shelving.