Meeting your customer’s expectations is a goal that should be pursued year-round. Warehouse managers should understand the critical importance of planning and preparing their facilities for the upcoming peak season. Whether your warehouse handles e-commerce orders, holiday shipments, or any other surge in demand during this time, Shoppa’s offers many solutions to ensure a smooth and successful operation.
Solutions for Equipment
As the busy season brings extended hours of operation, it is crucial for your warehouse to have reliable equipment. One way businesses can maximize efficiency and productivity is by exploring rental forklift and equipment options to add to their fleet while they experience extra demand. This not only facilitates increased productivity but also provides valuable backup resources in the event of equipment downtime.
Businesses should also consider keeping up with regularly scheduled maintenance. Not only does this keep your equipment up and running during peak seasons, but it also safeguards the safety of your employees and prolongs the life of your equipment. Scheduled maintenance can also allow you to catch any needed repairs ahead of time, which reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns that could disrupt your workflow.
Solutions for Automation
Accurate inventory management is vital to avoid delayed shipments, customer dissatisfaction, and potential loss of sales. Automation is a valuable investment in maintaining high levels of inventory accuracy. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) enable automated storage and retrieval of merchandise from large inventory storage systems. Automated palletizing systems, such as automated stacker cranes and shuttle-based pallet storage systems, help in handling entire pallets of goods. Intelligent conveyor systems aid in sorting inventory before it is processed through AS/RS systems.
Even if you are already utilizing automated technologies, it is essential to regularly evaluate their performance to ensure they are meeting expectations. While automation requires upfront investment, the long-term benefits in terms of cost savings and improved efficiency make it a worthwhile investment. Consult with our warehouse automation experts to find the best solutions for your specific needs.
Solutions for Labor
Market conditions have led to increased wages and labor-related challenges for the logistics industry. Warehouses are faced with the need to hire additional help or rely on intense overtime during peak periods, which can be unpredictable and challenging to manage. Assess your current labor force and determine if they are utilized as efficiently as possible. Can roles be consolidated to reduce headcount? Will additional training make your employees more effective? Can new technologies improve performance and productivity in order picking? Automation inherently reduces the need for extra labor in various tasks and can free up valuable employees to perform more hands-on tasks, particularly during peak times.
Digital Solutions
Enhancing warehouse productivity begins with digital systems. Warehouse Management Software (WMS) is a specialized software solution created to enhance and facilitate the management of warehouse activities. With real-time tracking and monitoring, warehouse managers have complete visibility of stock levels, demand patterns, and usage rates. This eliminates guesswork and minimizes errors in stock allocation and order fulfillment.
Solutions for Storage
Maximizing available space in the warehouse allows for the elimination of unnecessary transportation, reduces need for additional storage facilities, and minimizes underutilized areas. Strategically place inventory in easily accessible areas to monitor and evaluate stock levels over time. This enables determining inventory depletion rates and provides quick access to necessary items for forklift operators. Shoppas offers a variety of innovative, high-quality, and customizable racking and shelving systems that cater to warehouses and distribution centers of all sizes, creating more opportunity for inventory space.
Find The Right Solutions
Preparing your warehouse for the peak season requires a proactive approach to overcome challenges. By focusing on labor, inventory management, and automation, you can position your warehouse for success and maximize its potential during this busy period. If you are looking to improve your warehouse, our Intralogistics experts are here to help. Request a consultation or call us at 866-506-2200 to get started.