It is all too easy to take your warehouse for granted. It’s great for storing stuff in that’s for sure, but is there more that you can glean from your warehouse? Businesses these days need to make the most of what they have. A combination of uncertain trading conditions and ever stiffer competition means that businesses need to be lean. So how can you maximise the use of your warehouse in order to get the biggest bang for your buck? Well in this article we are going to throw around a few ideas that may get your juices going.
Automation
Everyday we hear more about how AI is going to make us all unemployed. Is it likely to happen? Who knows. But what we do know is that technological advances can help us to do more with what we already have – your warehouse is no exception to this. While you may not be ready to go full on futuristic just yet, there are lots of technological options that can help you to maximise the usage of your warehouse.
EPOS Integration
For retail businesses, stock control is a huge issue. While clearly most large businesses already have some level of integration, even small businesses can benefit from integrating their warehouse with their EPOS system. This allows companies to easily replenish stock, analyse product performance, and always be certain of current stock levels.
Automated Picking Tools
Anyone who has worked in a warehouse will tell you that navigating it can be a nightmare. Automated picking tools assist workers to accurately pick orders; this is often done by mapping a route. This can help significantly reduce mistakes and can also help your staff to find the necessary item quickly and efficiently.
Warehouse Management Systems
For those who want to take their warehouse management to the next level, there is the warehouse management system. These systems help to manage all facets of the warehouse and can really take the hassle out of the process of warehouse management. This is the ultimate option for complete warehouse control.
Mezzanine Floors
If your warehouse is currently on one floor then why not go up? Mezzanine floors offer a vast range of options for businesses. They allow the creation of a totally new area, expanding your current usable space. Once installed, mezzanine floors can be used for many purposes. From expanding your warehouse to the addition of new office or retail space, a mezzanine floor is capable of making a huge difference to your commercial property.
The flexibility of a mezzanine floor means that it can be quickly designed and installed to make an instant impact. Here at Spaceway, we can help you to turn your vision into a reality, and help you create a mezzanine floor that gives your business the extra space that it needs to thrive.
Staff Leisure Areas
One last option for warehouse usage is as a staff leisure area. Many businesses are coming around to the idea of providing leisure spaces for their staff in order to increase morale and reduce costly turnover. With the right planning, anything from a kitchen to a gym and even a slide can be installed! The only limiting factor on what you can do with your warehouse is your imagination.
The introduction of some kind of specialised staff leisure area could help to make your business a lot more attractive to prospective employees. We all know that in business our people are our real asset, and by bringing them sharply into focus, you can help to foster an ideal environment to create a productive and happy workforce. The benefits of this environment will pay for the renovation many times over and is one of the best ways of improving the happiness of your workforce.