Warehousing and logistics solutions guide

Warehousing is a vital function in any supply chain related to physical goods. It affects the supply chain right from the sources of raw materials until the time an order is delivered to the customer – the end user or retail store. With the evolving storage technology and demand for it, it is important to know the basics of storage solutions and their key components.

A basic introduction to storage

Warehousing refers to the activity of storing physical goods, called inventory, in a storage facility before distributing them to a retail store or selling them to an end customer. As different products/goods are available in different sizes, they are securely stored in an organized manner in warehouse facilities, so that they can be easily retrieved for distribution when needed.

Usually, small businesses start by storing goods in their own space like home, garage, office etc. and it is only later when they are well established with the demand from a larger geographical area that they require more storage space and the assistance of a third party to undertake the storage tasks.

However, the need for storage solutions changes from business to business, however, the basic requirement remains the same.

For example, a regular retail store requires warehousing to keep new inventory ready so that there is no loss of revenue due to unavailability of products. In this case, the goods are brought from the manufacturer, stored in the warehouse, and distributed to the store when needed.

Ecommerce businesses require warehousing to keep inventory ready for delivery whenever they receive an order. This helps them meet their customers' demand within the required delivery timeline.

Key elements of storage solutions

Warehousing solutions not only refer to storing goods in a warehouse space, there are a few other elements that make warehousing one of the core functions of the supply chain in any company. Here's a closer look at the 3 key elements of storage solutions:

1. Warehouse Management– Warehouse management refers to overseeing the day-to-day operations of a warehouse. This includes employee supervision, training, equipment handling, inventory management, safety, security, surveillance, etc. Everything related to efficiently handling routine warehousing operations is governed by warehouse management. Jobs like:
   • Plan and prepare bins, racks and racks to ensure optimal use of warehouse space and effort
   • Plan and manage operations according to business size and complexity
   • Record all incoming and outgoing shipments with required documents
   • Projected size and work required for jobs