The Australian business scene has been all but boring in the past period. With opportunities that are ripe for growth at every corner, it’s easy to ignore or forget some of the pitfalls and potential threats. One of them is bottlenecking any part of your growing enterprise. From office buildings to staff and equipment, as your business grows, all departments should follow. No mega corporations operate out of a single shed with a handful of employees. When your sales and market shares expand, you need to follow up with adequate supplies. And where are you going to store and ship them from? That’s right, from a larger warehouse. Let’s go over some of the benefits that this investment provides.
1. Shipments become faster
When you have your warehouse, you are in full control and are cutting out the middle man. Outsourcing is great when you start your business, but once you get to a certain point, it’s necessary to start having in-house functions. Owning your warehouse means that your products get shipped immediately after they are bought. No more sending requests and relying on other people to do the job for you as you are in control now. You can implement any policy you feel necessary for your business and modify it to your liking. Being reactive is also much easier once you have direct access and control of a warehouse.
2. Upgraded security
Trust is built up over time. Again, when outsourcing your warehouse needs, you need to build trust over a longer period, and you completely hand in the rains of your security in the process. But, once you are in direct control of your warehouse, all your possessions are under one roof. There are no more sleepless nights as you can keep a watchful eye at any time. The general feeling will shift as you can physically see and access your security cameras at any moment to see if everything is OK. You will also be working with your logistic department and have direct reports of where each piece of goods and equipment is at any time.
3. Expansion opportunity
Think big and then even bigger! When you have kids, you don’t buy them clothes or shoes that barely fit or are a tight match. You always get a couple of sizes bigger so that they grow into it. Now, apply that same logic to your warehousing needs. It’s always a sound investment plan to buy a bigger warehouse than your current needs. With a large and reliable national warehousing service at your disposal, you can continue to expand without worrying about warehouse space and capacity for a significant period.
With plenty of room to go around, you can sprawl out and use it to your liking since you don’t have to cram everything into a tight corner. And once you go big, the cost-to-investment ratio goes up as it’s always profitable to buy in bulk. The bigger the warehouse you get, the less hassle you have along the way when you will need even more. Remember that it’s always easier to add a warehouse than it is to subtract one.
4. Lower business risk
This point is more of a summary so far that goes to highlight how important it is to own a warehouse. With security, logistics and storage all wrapped up under your roof, the overall control over your business increases. With increased control, you have more freedom to implement all the changes and upgrades you wish, without being restrained by third parties. All of this increases your company’s worth and is a good sign to investors.
To put it simply, an increase in control leads to a decrease in business risk. Without reliance on outsourced third parties, you have the reins of your business in your hands and can easily adapt to any situation. Having reliable partners or part of the company that can weather any storm creates the foundation to grow your company. A company that will later withstand any storm that may come its way.
5. Reliable information
Knowing how much you have of X and where Y makes all the difference. Doing inventory in your warehouse can be done in a flash, and again, you don’t rely on outsourced functions. With a glance, you can gain all the info you need, as it is you who manages it and control all the functions. When supplies are getting lower, it becomes that much easier to stock up. Similarly, when you have too much of anything, you can adapt to the situation and de-clutter your warehouse.
Reliable information stretches far beyond goods and onto your workers as well. You will now know how many workers you exactly need and which are best for what part. Having experienced workers that know how to make your warehouse operate without a hick-up makes all the difference in the world. Retaining workers and providing an ongoing and functioning warehouse creates an image of a prosperous business that looks toward the future.
Making any changes or advancements related to your business is always an exciting time. With plenty of opportunities to seize and capitalise on, some people can even get overwhelmed by the options. The most important step you can make is to make any change, as any change is better than none. Going with a larger warehouse for your business shows that you are ready to grow and expand, which is the goal for all businesses. And we wish you all the best in your future endeavours!