Shopping around for the perfect warehouse and distribution center can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to keep in mind, from pricing to flexibility to location and more. Here at Overflo, we take pride in providing every one of our customers with the storage and order fulfillment services they need. Here are six tips for selecting the perfect warehouse so you can make sure you work with the right company from the start.
Consider the Location
The age-old saying “location, location, location” applies to the warehousing industry just as much as it applies anywhere else. Overflo has multiple locations in Baltimore and Washington D.C., just minutes away from all piers, rails and marine terminals. Because of our convenient locations, we are able to process orders quickly and effectively, even for sea containers. When you start assessing your warehousing options, make sure you keep the location in mind and how it will affect your efficiency rates.
Ask about Delivery Zones
Distribution centers can ship nearly anywhere in the world, but there are some areas that they go to a more frequent basis than others. For instance, our trucks complete daily deliveries to Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Our next day and two-day shipping maps are much larger than that, but those are the areas we can get to same-day if necessary. If you know that you need your orders processed quickly to one particular part of the country, you will need to make sure your warehouse can accommodate that.
Think about Order Fulfillment Services
Order fulfillment services allow you to save money and process your orders as quickly as possible. The warehouse takes care of the picking, packing, shipping, and follow-up customer service – giving you time to focus other areas of your business. If you have been handling order fulfillment your own, outsourcing it to a third party logistics provider may be an affordable alternative for you. All you have to do is find a warehouse that can handle your specific needs.
To learn more about order fulfillment services at Overflo, give us a call at 1-800-626-0616 today.
Ask about Flexibility
Will the warehouse you’re using be able to accommodate expansions you may make in the future? Will they be able to handle seasonal changes in inventory levels and order processing? These are the types of questions you have to think about, not just for your current needs, but for the needs to come. After all, you wouldn’t want to move your entire inventory to another warehouse simply because you needed more room. Here at Overflo, we have over 2 million square feet of storage space, with flexible arrangements to meet your business needs.
Assess the Safety and Security
Of course, you want to select a warehouse that you feel confident about storing your products in. This requires several levels of consideration. First, you need to find out how secure the actual building is – security cameras, fire safety measures, flood prevention, on-site guards, etc. From there, you need to assess the cybersecurity of the warehouse. How well are they protecting their shipping information, inventory levels, and other data? Also keep in mind the neighborhood that the warehouse is located in and the amount of training the staff members go through before handling your merchandise. The more experience the warehouse has, the better your chances are of keeping your products secure.
Compare Pricing
The cheapest warehouse may not be the best one for you. The same can be said about the most expensive warehouse. The fact is that you can’t judge a business by pricing alone, especially when that business handles a large portion of your operations. Nevertheless, you can compare prices for a few distribution centers to make sure you aren’t grossly overpaying or underpaying for your services. As long as the prices are comparable to market standards, you should be in good shape!