The demand for warehouse space is outstripping supply. Our retail world is driven by ever-increasing online sales and consumer demands for quicker delivery times. Companies need new and innovative solutions to keep up with these demands, and the best way is with warehouse racking.
Several solutions have sprung up to meet the growing demand, including mobile and on-demand warehousing. These warehouses provide the ability for businesses to scale their storage needs based on demand through a third party supplier.
These spaces can be in an existing warehouse or “mobile” warehouses – converted vans and trailers with warehouse racking. Modern demand requires warehouse space availability all over the nation because of the promise of fast delivery. Access to these warehouses has become a priority and setting up storage much be more efficient than ever.
The rise of mobile warehouses also brings with it compounding benefits regarding delivery time with the option to both deliver packages and store yet-to-be-sold items which through the course of a delivery cycle could be ordered, picked and delivered quicker than ever before.
Mobile Warehouse – The Benefits
Mobile delivery vans and trailers are a low-cost solution to the rising demand for warehouse space in an ever-evolving supply chain. They can be used to increase storage capacity in existing warehouses and used to transport goods from legacy warehouses to more densely populated urban areas.
The speed at which a mobile warehouse can be set up is another huge benefit. Allowing retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to increase storage space in as little as 24 hours and decrease it just as quickly. This flexibility gives businesses options and reduces costs – no more so than in the space itself, with mobile warehouses costing on average 50% less than legacy warehouse spaces.
The ability to store vans and trailers off-site can also save money, with businesses able to take advantage of real estate prices across a wider area than previously possible.
What Does the Future Hold?
As customers demand faster delivery, the revolution of warehouse and delivery storage will continue. Warehousing will make its way back into the heart of major cities, taking over empty retail units and any available space. But there is a finite amount of space, and that is where mobile warehousing will come to the fore, and it won’t be exclusively trucks and trailers. We could see a return to the days of barges, but instead of a traditional hold, they will be fitted with state-of-the-art warehouse racking full of goods, which will make their way into the heart of cities before disemboweling.
These “mobile warehouses” will not only deliver packages but store items not yet sold. With the increase of “Big Data” and the feasibility of predictive shipping means goods that are expected to be sold during that day will make the journey too. They are allowing customers to receive packages in record time.
These trucks and vans can also be used as return points. Customers could make their way to the mobile warehouses and return items – saving costs by reducing reliance on external shipping and being more energy efficient in the process.
There is also an opportunity for products to become more bespoke for the consumer with multiple inter-connecting storage facilities and efficiencies in delivery; the potential for customization is vast.
Final Thoughts
The rise of mobile warehousing is an exciting time for those in the logistics business. Same day delivery, driven by e-commerce and big data is now the norm, and those that can meet those demands will find opportunity aplenty.
Mobile warehousing provides an answer to storage needs, you just need the proper shelving to accommodate it.
