What Is Warehouse Logistics?

People and businesses are shopping online now more than ever, and the expectations for order fulfillment have increased in kind. Consumers want to buy cheaper products, have them packaged safely, and get them delivered on time. Without highly efficient warehouse management, none of this would be possible.

Warehouse logistics is the foundation of efficient product storage and distribution. It ensures items stay at point A or move smoothly to point B without hang-ups and delays, saving precious time and money. But what does warehouse logistics look like practically, and how can it benefit your business?

How To Define Warehouse Logistics

Defining warehouse logistics isn’t too complicated once you define “warehouse” and “logistics.” Warehouses are places that store raw materials, machinery, merchandise, and other products until someone purchases them. Logistics refers to effectively storing, retrieving, and transporting those goods. 

Warehouse logistics, therefore, has to do with organizing, moving, and managing inventory in the warehouse space. This applies to more than just physical goods—it includes things like time management and information sharing. You can think of warehouse logistics in terms of the following:

• Planning a detailed storage location
• Organizing inventory
• Managing items during distribution

What Is Logistics Management Like in a Warehouse?

Most industries (especially e-commerce and companies with online stores) depend on logistics for success. If something goes wrong in the supply chain, it could majorly impact revenue and customer loyalty. The last thing you want is an employee packaging the wrong item or shipping it to someone else’s address.

The warehouse is where businesses receive and store their goods. It’s also where items get picked, packed, and shipped regularly. So, what is logistics management like at that level of the supply chain? Logistics management encompasses many different warehouse operations, including the following:

• Ensuring the warehouse receives shipments to restock the shelves
• Keeping track of where, when, and how items get placed in storage
• Moving or reorganizing inventory as necessary within the warehouse
• Locating goods and packaging them for shipment
• Transporting orders from the warehouse to a distribution centre or other location
• Managing inventory levels through restocking and replenishment

Common Warehousing and Logistics Issues

It’s challenging enough to manage a sock drawer, but what about managing a 50,000-square-foot commercial storage facility? The task is nearly impossible without a top-quality logistics plan. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t have one and face several warehousing and logistics issues.

Here are some common problem areas for warehouse managers:

• Security: Warehouses are often the target of break-ins and robberies due to their typically secluded locations and lack of adequate security. Staying on top of who enters and exits can be an issue at large warehouses. 
• Employee safety: Employee safety is another warehouse logistics issue many facilities face. Recently, workers’ compensation boards accepted over 200,000 claims of lost employment time resulting from on-the-job injuries. With so many moving parts and personnel in a warehouse, safety can become a significant concern.  
• Inventory management: Keeping track of inventory is the number one source of headaches for most warehouse managers. It can be tough to pinpoint a pallet of faulty electronics or know precisely when to buy a new shipment of small machine parts.

Even with a well-thought-out system, warehouse logistics can sometimes be a nightmare. Mistakes will happen occasionally, equipment will eventually fail, and things may go wrong. However, there are ways to improve warehousing and logistics.

Ways To Improve Warehouse Logistics

Warehouse logistics don’t have to be complicated and time-consuming. You can take several steps to improve warehouse operations and cut down on issues like security breaches and employment injuries. Below are some of the most effective ones:

• Use technology. Technology has become an essential component of modern logistics operations. Utilizing warehouse control systems with software, computers, and robots can help make your warehouse more efficient.
• Organize your space. A well-organized warehouse is more comfortable to work in and reduces employee injuries by helping workers find necessary items safely and easily. Shelving systems provide greater flexibility when it comes to expansion or changeover operations between shifts. The more organized your space, the more streamlined your operations will be.
• Train employees. It’s critical to properly train warehouse employees so they don’t injure themselves or damage property and merchandise. They should know about all the safety procedures, such as lifting techniques, to avoid injuries while working at height. 

Benefits of Efficient Logistics Warehousing

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees are working in the most efficient manner. That means providing the tools they need to perform their jobs as effectively as possible while keeping costs down and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. When you get top-of-the-line warehousing and logistics services, you get the following benefits:

• Accurate, on-demand inventory reports: Do you want to know how many cans of pineapple are in stock or where to find the limestone pallets? A top-quality warehouse management system can fetch that information instantly.
• Automated replenishment orders: With superior warehouse logistics, you don’t need to worry about replenishment orders. Some systems will track your inventory and automatically make those purchases for you.
• Decreased product returns: Defective or damaged and incorrect products are two of the most common reasons consumers return their purchases. Warehouse control systems can help ensure you distribute the correct item. 

Ultimately, premium logistics warehousing can help boost your business and increase revenue. You’ll be able to buy exactly what you need when you need it while minimizing shipping and handling mix-ups. 

Conclusion

Warehouse logistics is an essential part of any successful business. It enables companies to turn their goods into a profit by storing, organizing, moving, and transporting them efficiently. If you need a reputable logistics company to help with warehousing, look no further than Encore Deliveries.

At Encore Deliveries, our professionals know how challenging warehouse management can be. That’s why we offer tailor-made services to meet your needs, providing top-quality solutions with exceptional customer service backed by many decades of experience. Call us at 1-905-670-7111 or go online to get started today!