There’s no one right way to organise your warehouse that will meet the needs of every business. Floor plans, sales volume, and the size and weight of products will all impact how you organise your warehouse workflows. For this reason it’s important to take into consideration some key points.
In this Article
Define your Pick Zones
Pick zones are the areas you define in your warehouse where each product is stored. The format of a zone is totally up to you, and can specify an aisle, section of shelving in the aisle, and even a specific shelf.
The diagram below is a simple version of how zones can be allocated to products. Each product is assigned a code based on it’s aisle (A) and section (S).
In this example the order contains items in zones A01S06, A01S11, A03S45, A03S50, A03S56 and A04S72. Pick’n Pack will display the zones where each product on the order is located, so warehouse staff can optimise their travels, and won’t be lost when products move location.
Accommodate Incoming and Outgoing Deliveries
Getting your products moving swiftly in and out will go a long way to optimising your warehouse. New stock should be checked and inspected as soon as possible to verify their contents, particularly if you sell via pre-order. Promptly storing them in their correct locations will also save time and money, as your pickers won’t have to go searching for each item.
Designating a space for outgoing orders will not just keep your warehouse tidy, but assist your courier when they come to collect. They’ll know where to pick up packages if you’re busy on the phone or not around, and it will keep them on schedule, and in your good books.
Analyse your Sales Data
Keeping track of what products are selling well is not just important for ensuring you can fulfil orders, but will also help optimise your pick and pack process.
It goes without saying that your best sellers should be as close as possible to where you pack and dispatch orders from. But it’s worthwhile grouping items that are frequently purchased together in the same location for a speedy pick.
Seasonal trends and promotions can also impact an efficient warehouse operation. Prepare for any key retail dates that apply to your industry so you can meet high levels of demand effectively.
Optimise Product Placement
The less stock needs to move around your warehouse, the faster it will get out to your customers. Consider putting high demand items easily accessible from where you receive/dispatch stock. It’s great having a short walk to pick products that are popular, and if you’re frequently receiving and restocking, you won’t want to be moving them back and forth all day.
Don’t neglect to account for the weight of your products too. Heavy items near the start of the pick zone will end up being carried until the whole order is picked, taxing the stamina and morale of your pickers.
Review and Adjust
It’s not just seasonal trends that will impact your warehousing and order processing. Sales growth, improvements to eCommerce technology, or a shift in consumer behaviour can impact your processes. Collect feedback from your staff and review your layout regularly to fine tune your pick processes and adapt to the changing marketplace.
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