Top 3 Tips for Greater Warehouse Efficiency

Imagine if your laptop didn’t have storage. What if files only saved to your desktop?

How efficient would your computer be? How much work could you realistically complete?

The same questions apply to retail.

A retail store without storage is a productivity nightmare for employees. They spend more time sorting and sifting through products than generating sales.

However, a warehouse alone isn’t enough. Warehouse efficiency itself is also crucial. Safety, design, technology, equipment, and employee wellness all play a role.

Discover three ways to improve efficiency and raise warehouse production.

1. Wellness First

Warehouse jobs are laborious. Employees spend several hours a day lifting, packing, unboxing, and organizing items. Retail warehouse workers regularly lift fifty pounds without any devices or safety wearables like industrial support braces.

Since employees engage in more physical labor, they’re more prone to injuries. Increases in workplace injuries lead to more call-outs, workers’ compensation, and production loss.

Business owners can prevent losses by prioritizing warehouse employee wellness. This solution can take many forms, like wellness programs, safety upgrades, updated employee break areas, and employee wellness packets.

2. Design for Warehouse Efficiency

Warehouse design is critical for safety, which directly impacts employee wellness. It’s also integral to rapid-fire production.

Do you want your employees weaving through boxes and scaling mountains of products in your warehouse? Every wasted hour counts. Your next order of business is to implement an efficient warehouse design.

You need a warehouse layout that streamlines production while ensuring safety. First, maximize your warehouse space. Maintain enough walking room between aisles and research the benefits of pallet racking.

For quick and safe item retrieval, keep lighter items up top (like bubble wrap), heavy items on the bottom, and small items in easily accessible drawers.

3. Must-Have Warehouse Technology

Remember picturing the bleak reality of a computer without file storage? Now, imagine a computer without a mouse or mouse pad? You’d work ten-times slower if your navigation were limited to your keyboard.

Again, the same concept applies to warehouse efficiency. Without the latest tools and technology, your warehouse strategy is already at a disadvantage.

Make sure your employees have the latest product scanners for warehouse receiving and inventory management. Ensure there are plenty of scanner chargers available, especially during peak seasons.

Upgrade your warehouse computers with the latest point-of-sale (POS) system and warehouse management software. Employees need the following features to perform at their best:

• Quick product lookup
• Easy labeling
• SKU printing
• Shipping processing
• Receiving processing
• Hassle-free inventory adjustments
• Warehouse inventory reports

If you’re upgrading your warehouse laptops, buy ones with tough-durable casings; they can withstand a few tumbles on hectic days.

Improve Warehouse Production Today

Don’t treat warehouses like an afterthought. Your warehouse is an essential piece of your business model. Consider its importance to employee wellness, design, and technology.

Remember these warehouse efficiency tips as you plan and launch your dream company. Follow the blog to discover even more resources for your budding business!