When orders are dispatched on time and are accurate, customers are happy and more likely to place further orders. An efficient warehouse is more productive and reduces costs. If a warehouse is not efficient, there are many improvements that can be made to easily improve how the warehouse works. Here are seven such improvements:
1. Layout
A great warehouse layout minimises the average time taken to pick order items. Arrange item locations according to demand, with high-demand items nearer to packing stations. Make sure that aisles are wide enough for two pickers with trolleys to comfortably pass each other.
The warehouse needs to be tidy and easy to navigate. Items left on the warehouse floor are a safety hazard.
2. Forecast
Most ecommerce businesses are subject to seasonal demand. For example, Christmas is usually the busiest time of the year. The business needs a way to forecast peak demand periods so that enough stock is ordered to satisfy sales demands.
Use software that analyses sales history and identifies seasonal sales trends.
3. End-to-end tracking
Warehouse management software can provide complete end-to-end tracking. This starts with ordering items for the warehouse. The system then tracks the arrival of goods and allocates locations to store the received items. Pickers are guided to order item locations, and the goods are then tracked to the packing station. After the packers confirm that an order has been packed, the system monitors the dispatch process and can even link to the courier’s tracking technology to check the final destination of the order – a successful delivery to the customer.
4. Efficient stock levels
Items should not be overstocked or understocked. Out-of-stock items disappoint customers, and having too many low-demand items wastes money and results in selling them off at heavily discounted prices.
Use a warehouse management system that tracks stock levels at least once a day and identifies overstocked and understocked lines. This data can inform future buying decisions.
5. Eliminate shipping errors
Shipping errors disappoint customers and take a lot of resources to fix. Customers expect their orders to be delivered on time and to receive the exact items they ordered. Regular shipping errors reduce sales, as customers who feel let down by the service don’t make repeat orders.
6. Train staff
All staff, from managers to pickers and packers, should be well trained in how to be more efficient and productive. Training should not be a one-off process when an employee starts work. Short, regular training sessions develop employee skills.
7. Use top-quality equipment
Poor-quality or badly designed warehouse equipment handicaps staff. It’s important to have high-quality steel shelving and racking that does not easily break under heavy loads. Warehouse trolleys have to be easy to push and steer, and they must last a long time under daily heavy use.
Steely Products is here to provide high-quality equipment that increases warehouse efficiency. To find out more about our comprehensive range of material handling and storing equipment, call us today or use the contact form below.
Get a free quote