During 2020, distribution companies and eCommerce fulfilment saw a massive boom in demand. This, naturally, emerged as a result of lockdown conditions. However, many distribution firms were already aware of their critical need for efficient, accessible warehouse racking systems.
Regardless of whether a firm handles perishable goods or non-perishable items, seamless pick, pack, and dispatch are crucial to keep delivery pipelines moving. Not only should these processes be efficient, they should also be accurate. In a world where consumers are growing reliant on warehouse distribution, the need for swift, seamless, and error-free delivery has never been more important.
There are many ways through which eCommerce fulfilment teams and distribution companies can fine-tune their logistics. However, at the base level, simply using the most appropriate warehouse shelving systems available can go a long way to supporting growth and increased throughput in this section of the supply chain.
Modern Challenges for Distribution
Before we consider how bespoke warehouse racking systems could help to improve quality assurance and efficiency in a supply chain, we need to take a look at a few examples of distribution challenges likely to occur behind the scenes.
2020 presented consumer demand challenges primarily to those online stores and distribution centres in direct competition with the high street. Lockdown forced millions of people to search for everyday goods online as opposed to purchasing in shops deemed ‘non-essential’. Therefore, stock refill demands increased, as did demands on physical labour.
When stock demands grow, available warehouse space reduces and can become complex to manage effectively. Companies with fixed warehouse shelving or warehouse racking systems may not have the scope to scale with and adapt to sudden growth in throughput. While many eCommerce and distribution teams plan to grow output year on year, 2020 brought about intense growth in a very short space of time.
This sudden increase in demand can lead to warehouse bottlenecks. Many customers were left without products for weeks after ordering. Some received items that were not as expected. Stock rotation planning may have been scrapped altogether in line with sudden bottleneck issues.
Companies distributing from warehouses needed to pick and pack with more efficiency, and with greater accuracy. The past 12 months, for some businesses, have been ‘make or break’. While there is still a great deal of understanding from the customer’s side of the chain, there still needs to be proactive adaptability from the supplier.
How Warehouse Racking Systems Can Help
Modern warehouse racking solutions present more than a means to an end. Scalable, flexible, and space-intelligent installations help warehouse teams pick orders quicker, easier, and find more room for increasing levels of stock. Therefore, companies such as those running a dedicated eCommerce fulfilment centre may not have to risk losing custom or revenue through mass stock-outs. Even Amazon struggled with ‘out of stock mania’ during spring and summer 2020.
Prodek specialises in a bespoke approach to warehouse shelving and scalable stacking solutions. Pallet racking, for example, remains one of the most popular options for warehouses and distribution centres that hold mass stock in varying sizes and weights. Pallet racks are exceptional in that they are flexible from use to use and can operate at multiple storage levels at once.
We design and install a comprehensive range of warehouse racking solutions to help accommodate growing customer demands. Prodek offers industry-leading expertise in the design and provision of robust yet versatile warehouse shelving. Our experience allows us to create large-scale solutions such as drive-in pallet racking, for example, which is perfect for space-efficient, high-density pallet storage. This type of pallet storage system can be adapted to accommodate lifting equipment in a fine balance with maximising available warehouse space – Prodek ensure you get the most from every square meter.
What’s more, Prodek is primed to consider your vertical space. In many cases, even the most efficient of distribution centres fail to maximise their wall space. Mezzanine floors and storage actively create new floors and therefore extensive new storage and racking opportunities. If you simply do not have the space or manoeuvrability that you need on the ground floor, why not install a completely new one, as a first floor?
Crucially, our engineers work hard to provide versatile shelving solutions and to install steel partitions to withstand the demands of order fulfilment and dispatch with limitless growth potential. While it may be true that you are bound to the physical space of your warehouse, many businesses may be missing out on full potential of their warehouse space.
Embracing Customer Demand
The eCommerce boom of 2020 shows no sign of slowing down, with many consumer shopping habits continuing to favour the convenience online retailers offer. With lockdown in the UK slowly easing, some shops will open – but it is likely that distribution and eCommerce centres will continue to face growing demand for service quality and efficiency. We expect to see a blending process, merging eCommerce and bricks and mortar sales channels, with supply chain infrastructure evolving to accommodate both sales channels in the most efficient way possible.
Discover how you can fully maximise distribution efficiency and warehouse space, with our comprehensive range of racking, shelving, partitions, and mezzanine floors. To arrange a virtual consultation or a site visit from our experienced engineers, get in touch with our team via 0114 244 0100, or email mail@pro-dek.co.uk.
