Most businesses that make or sell physical products need warehousing for temporary storage before sending out to customers or moving to other locations. Warehousing is the process of holding physical inventory for sale or distribution and doing so in an organised system. When a customer makes an order, the company, or their third-party fulfilment partner, picks and packs the items and ships the product directly to the customer from the warehouse.

Why warehousing is essential to good supply chain management

Warehousing is a key part of any supply chain. It allows both e-commerce and retail businesses to buy products in bulk and store them securely until they are sold. By having the facilities to store goods in bulk, businesses benefit from lower prices and increased profits. It also allows managers to keep on top of their stock levels, so they can keep customers informed, websites up-to-date, and know when to re-order.

Another benefit of warehousing is that businesses can store products in key geographic locations to lower delivery times and transportation costs. If a company is selling products directly to customers across the UK, Europe, or worldwide, it may be necessary to store stock in numerous locations to improve delivery times and reduce customs delays.

Warehouse processes explained…

In any warehouse, there are key processes that make stock management run smoothly. These include:

• Planning – with space being a finite resource, planning to ensure the correct capacity levels is key to a successful warehouse.
• Inbound and Outbound Shipping – receiving goods inwards and sending consignments out, either to customers or to other locations.
• Inventory Tracking – warehouses need robust inventory management systems to keep track of the flow of goods inwards and outwards, and to manage stock levels.
• Storage – when bulk goods are received, they need to be stored in an organised manner. This may include pallets, shelving and racking.
• Temperature Control – for some products, temperature control is essential. For example, food may need chilled areas to be stored in, or below zero degrees to be kept frozen.
• Picking and Packing – when an order is received, staff need to be able to find the product and pack it ready for shipping.

There are many advantages to using warehousing, and businesses that do so can see improved efficiency, reduction of costs and increased profits through bulk buying, as well as improved customer satisfaction due to speedy delivery times.

At LTS, we offer a range of logistic solutions including long and short-term warehousing in modern facilities. Our new integrated logistics facility provides a range of secure storage options from simple storage to full 360 fulfilment including returns. Being in a strategic position at the heart of the UK’s national motorway network and with an on-site intermodal rail freight terminal linking to three seaports and the Channel Tunnel, means our integrated facility is perfectly connected to serve UK and International customers.  We also have the capacity to handle large, oversized goods, as well as fragile items.  With our advanced tracking, you have real-time information about your inventory, and we also offer a range of addon services such as import and export services bulk collections and onward distribution via our own fleet.

For more on our logistics services, get in touch with our team today!