Warehousing services can be extremely beneficial to your business. They can support transitionary periods of both downsizing and expansion, offer stable prices for storage, and keep your items safe while they’re not in use. However, not all warehousing services are created equal and choosing the wrong one for your needs can lead to an influx of issues. To help you get the most out of your storage and holding needs, make sure that you evaluate your options. To do this, look for some of the following qualities in prospective warehousing services.
1. Strong Security Measures
One of the most important qualities to look for in warehousing services is their security level. Since you’re going to be storing your inventory, you want to make sure that it’s protected and kept safe. Always ask about the security measures in place prior to beginning a contract with a new company. At the basic level, facilities should have some sort of monitoring system like CCTV, onsite staff, and gated access. You can also ask for more information regarding how your inventory will be safeguarded while it’s at the facility for a stronger peace of mind.
2. Industry Specific Standards
Different industries have different standards for their inventory. When you’re trying to find the right warehousing services for your needs, make sure they can uphold the standards that are specific to your industry. For example, warehousing for office furniture and other large-scale items is a lot different than warehousing for food products or perishable items, which usually require cold-room storage. Work with a warehousing provider that understands how to best handle your products.
3. Easy to Work With
Regardless of what you need, working with someone who makes things difficult is not a good business practice to uphold. You want to find a team of professionals that are easy to work with and are dedicated to improving your overall experience. This will make the entire process more enjoyable and less stressful. Working with difficult warehousing providers not only result in headaches and frustration, but it may even lead to problems with inventory and retrieval down the line.
4. Flexible Warehousing Services
While flexibility tends to come with good customer service, it’s good practice to check just in case. Make sure you understand how your warehousing provider would handle any last-minute changes you’d need to make—i.e., in the case of overflow storage. Finding someone that offers scalable storage capabilities is a great way to ensure that you’re set up for success regardless of industry changes.
5. Quality Fulfillment Services
Before choosing your warehousing service provider, make sure that they have high-quality fulfillment services. This will include receiving, storage, and even the re-delivery of your inventory as needed. Fulfillment services can help you streamline your business’ bottom line and get the most out of your storage without having to exert extra effort. However, not all warehousing providers have the capabilities to meet fulfillment needs, so it’s an important clarification to ask.
6. Reputable Track Record
Finally, always check the experience level of prospective warehousing services. You want to make sure that the team of professionals understands what they’re doing in order to provide you with the best experience possible.
When you’re ready to partner with a leading warehousing service provider, look no further than On Point Installations. Our comprehensive warehousing services include, but aren’t limited to, receiving, storage, and re-delivery. We always take the time and effort to ensure that your products are safe throughout the entire storage cycle, regardless of the size of your project. On Point Installations provides safe warehousing for your inventory in Chicago and surrounding areas. Our primary warehouse is located just Northwest of downtown Chicago, IL with a secondary storage site near Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Both facilities are climate-controlled and operated by experienced warehouse staff. Upon receival, we’ll inspect your products for damages and cross-check with your order to assure the products received are damage free and correct. Any missing or damaged items will always be reported immediately. To learn more about how our flexible warehousing services can benefit your business, contact us today by calling 847-550-4042.