One thing that has been sorely highlighted during the recent COVID-19 outbreak is how integral our supply systems and logistics services are to the normal functioning of the country. By ensuring the safe, efficient transport of goods across the nation – be it food, construction equipment, or medical supplies – haulage firms and warehouse solution experts are helping to enable those on the front-line to keep us safe.
Furthermore, the crisis has shown the need for complete warehousing solutions across multiple sectors. With sites closed and industries hamstrung, businesses are in dire need of safe, secure places to keep their goods during the lockdown. In this blog, we’ll look at why warehousing solutions are so necessary, and how they can benefit the businesses that utilise them.
Safety and Security
One of the most obvious benefits of choosing to invest in a warehouse solution during a crisis is the simple fact of safety.
The majority of sites will not allow you to leave goods on the premises during an extended period of lockdown. Whilst this alone will prompt business to seek convenient warehousing options, those that have flexibility with their partners should still seek storage in order to keep their goods safe. Simply put, goods left on site are far more susceptible to damage or theft than those locked-up in a secure warehouse facility.
Forest Freight benefits from 24/7 security – both inside the warehouse and in the yard – ensuring that thieves are deterred and consignments are secured. Choosing a warehouse solution that is close to your site means that you can reduce the risk of harm to your goods and, once the crisis is lifted, work can continue as normal.
Consignment and Goods Management
Another advantage of choosing premium warehousing solutions during a crisis is that your goods can be unpacked, sorted and repacked – ready to ship once restrictions are lifted. While most industries are closed during the on-going COVID-19 lockdown, some haulage and logistics companies are continuing to operate in a limited capacity.
So if you cannot get your consignments on-site, or they need to be stored during lockdown, the staff at warehousing facilities can make sure your goods are properly sorted and arranged ahead of schedule. While this means very little in the short-term, it does ensure that when business continues, as usual, your goods can be efficiently sent on to their respective destinations, without the need for more downtime!
Similarly, part of most warehouse solutions is to offer palletisation, which also benefits long-term efficiency. For example, if you have goods arriving by port which haven’t been properly sorted, expert warehousing teams can palletise the shipments and make them ready for onward delivery during lockdown.
Cost Effectiveness
Unfortunately, the reality of the COVID-19 situation is that a lot of businesses will be losing money – whether it’s from goods not being used, sites being closed, or having to pay for other shipping or storage arrangements. Despite this being the case, there are ways in which choosing the right warehousing solution can be more cost-effective than the alternatives.
The biggest example is that many port facilities charge hefty fees for storing containers on-site. So if you’re stuck in a situation where you have consignments coming in – primarily by ship – the most cost-effective solution is to find a warehousing partner that can collect the goods and store them for an extended period of time.
Similarly, a lot of industries are feeling the same strain when it comes to costs. This means that, for the most part, warehousing facilities are offering fair rates for those in need – helping to get goods stored without taking advantage of the situation. For example, Forest Freight has guaranteed fair market rates for customers that require urgent warehousing solutions, as well as logistical help at all levels of the supply chain.
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Expert warehousing solutions have multiple benefits for companies that are stuck due to the COVID-19 lockdown – ranging from reducing work-related costs to improving the security of goods.
If you are at all concerned about how COVID-19 could affect your goods and require urgent warehouse solutions please contact the Forest Freight team.
