If you only have a small warehouse space to work with, you may feel limited in your storage and money-making capabilities. The key here is to make the most of the space you have so you can turn your small warehouse seems much larger than it actually is. In the guide below, we will explain how to get the most out of your small warehouse space so you can take advantage of the opportunities available to you.
Expand Vertically
If there are no other ways for you to expand your storage out, consider expanding it upward. Make the most of the dead space between your shelves and your ceiling. Of course, you need to think about the equipment used to get pallets and boxes off of those high shelves. If you cannot afford to buy those or the investment simply does not make sense for your business, you may not want to install new shelving that you cannot utilize. Find out how high you can go based the equipment you currently have at your disposal and make your adjustments from there.
Organize Your Inventory
You can make your warehouse feel twice the size it actually is just by organizing your inventory properly. Your inventory should be stacked neatly pallets or in piles so that your shelving is used to its maximum capacity. Items that sell often and quickly should be stored in easy-access areas to ensure maximum efficiency. Slow sellers or items that only sell seasonally can be stored in spaces that are harder to access because you do not need to get to them as often. Rethink the layout of your inventory and see if there is a way to make more space in your small warehouse.
Use Automated Inventory Controls
There is nothing worse than clogging up a small warehouse with excess inventory. If you only have a limited amount of space to work with, your inventory levels need to be spot-on. Automated inventory controls are designed to do the ordering for you based previous sales records and demands. This system will order the exact amount of products you need to keep your inventory full without being over-stuffed. If your inventory changes or you simply don’t want to order the amount of product the system is setting you up for, you can always go in and perform manual adjustments.
Think about Efficiency
It’s important to think about storage when maximizing the use of your small warehouse, but you also need to think about efficiency. Are you cramming so much into the space that it is hard for your workers to get around? Is the excess inventory creating a safety hazard, or making it difficult for pullers to get the items they need to fill orders? All of the tips above mean nothing if your crew cannot get around your warehouse in a timely manner. This efficiency will have a significant impact your customer satisfaction, which could ultimately make or break your business. Before you start rearranging your entire warehouse to fill with more items, consider the effect those changes will have your productivity levels.
Having a small warehouse is never ideal, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel limited in your options. Follow the tips above, and you will be able to get the most out of the space you have to work with.