Most businesspeople know that a third-party logistics (3PL) company provides outsourced logistics services for all or part of a business’s supply chain. These functions include public warehousing, distribution, order fulfillment, transportation management, and any other services needed to move goods to where they need to go.

But did you know that there are four different types of 3PL providers? Knowing the differences between each one will help you select the best one for your business.

First, let’s start off with the official definition of what a third-party logistics company is.

Federal legislation passed in 2008 legally defines a 3PL as “a person who solely receives, holds, or otherwise transports a consumer product in the ordinary course of business but who does not take title to the product.”

This guide explains the different types of 3PLs and the services they can provide your company based on its logistics requirements.

Standard 3PL Provider

A standard 3PL handles basic logistics services. These are defined as public warehousing of your goods, picking and packing them, and distribution.

Standard providers perform a small range of logistics services and typically offer them at a low rate.

However, logistics is not a core function with these types of 3PLs. Therefore, they are not the best solution for businesses looking to partner with a logistics provider who can offer comprehensive services or cost-saving solutions.

Service Development 3PL Company

A service development 3PL has an enhanced infrastructure, advanced automated equipment, and warehouse management technology to provide a greater range of services than a standard 3PL.

The warehousing facilities are designed to safely and securely store all types of goods, including raw materials, finished products, food products, and refrigerated goods.

This type of 3PL firm has the technology in place to perform all sorts of business functions related to supply chain management.

In addition to basic logistics services, other functions include a wide range of processing services, such as custom packing, assembly work, inspection, bulk mailing, folding, bundling, labeling, advertising kit preparation, stretch wrapping, etc.

Other services offered include contract trucking, import and export, packing services, and more. Additionally, service development 3PLs offer value-added services to meet the customized needs of their clients. These may include specific packing requirements, cross docking, and tracking.

However, businesses looking for even greater logistics services and solutions, or customized transportation management may not be the best fit for these types of providers.

Customer Adapter 3PL Business

A customer adapter 3PL completely manages all of a company’s logistics activities. In other words, a business has the 3PL take over its total logistics operation and the 3PL uses its existing infrastructure and technology to perform the functions.

Although the cost is higher, the services are comprehensive for handling the supply chain from beginning to end.

Among the vast array of services provided are procurement, warehousing, distribution, order fulfillment, order processing, shipping management, transportation management, tracking and tracing, cross-docking, customized functions, and much more.

Customer Developer 3PL Provider

A customer developer 3PL provides the most comprehensive oversight of a company’s supply chain functions. Usually, the 3PL integrates itself into the company and evaluates current processes to identify opportunities to enhance effectiveness and efficiencies.

This type of logistics provider has complete control to change the current supply chain process or add new specialized logistics solutions to it.

Businesses using these types of logistics providers also can expect comprehensive reporting. Regular data and matrix reports are generated that supply information on freight data, inventory management, cost accounting and control, etc.

However, businesses must be willing and comfortable with giving over complete control of their logistics operations to a customer developer 3PL.

About Brendamour Warehousing

Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services is a public warehouse that offers 3PL services. We are a service development 3PL company whose functions also cross over to the customer adapter type of third-party logistics providers.

At Brendamour, we offer comprehensive logistics services, as well as customized services and solutions.

Consider us your partner in finding innovative solutions to your logistics needs. Contact Brendamour to learn more about the warehousing, distribution, logistics, and other services we offer to meet the needs of your business.

A successful business is one that has found the perfect balance between keeping costs down while achieving high customer satisfaction. There’s definitely a science to it, and data is certainly at the forefront, providing the analysis business owners need to deliver value to customers while growing the bottom line.

One thing that all successful businesses have in common is focusing on their core competencies. That’s why most outsource their warehousing, distribution, and logistics to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. In doing so, they have discovered the ways a 3PL can reduce their costs of doing business while increasing customer satisfaction.

A Comprehensive Logistics Analysis

Third-party logistics companies just don’t provide a service. They form a partnership with you and are equally dedicated to reducing your company’s costs. When hiring a 3PL, it first performs a comprehensive analysis of your supply chain to determine where savings are hidden.

Some areas where Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services often finds opportunities to save costs for businesses are:

• Order fulfillment, by automating the process;
• Shipping, by consolidating orders;
• Distribution, by switching to more efficient and less costly transportation methods;
• Supply chain, by shortening it to eliminate redundant administrative tasks, reduce fuel usage, and minimize disruptions within it.

More Efficient Warehousing

Public warehouses are typically more efficient than in-house storage because they are equipped with the latest in warehouse management equipment and technology. And a more efficient working warehouse reduces the number of times an order is touched.

At Brendamour Warehousing, our advanced warehouse management system  better connect the entire supply chain, from suppliers to carriers to customers. These systems have been proven to better control costs.

Expedited Shipping and Lower Costs

Third-party logistics providers have a proven record of expediting shipment of your goods and lowering distribution costs. This is accomplished through well-established shipping networks and the implementation of a variety of transportation management tools and strategies.

Some of the mechanisms Brendamour has in place to lower your costs and enhance customer service are:

• Load consolidation to reduce your logistics costs.
• Diverse shipping methods, such as partial truckloads or multi-drop truckloads, to meet your customers’ delivery expectations.
• Strategies to reduce shipping costs and fees.

Partner with Brendamour

When looking for the best 3PL, look no further than Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services. We have the best warehouse facilities for your goods, the latest technology and equipment to perform the most efficient order processing and order fulfillment functions for your business, and optimal shipping networks to deliver the highest service to your customers.

Our comprehensive 3PL services are adaptable to your business and scalable to meet your company’s supply and demand needs. This flexibility also allows us to quickly respond to the fluctuating demands of the market, your business, and the customers your business serves.

For a more customized look at how we can lower your costs while increasing customer satisfaction, contact Brendamour Warehousing for a free consultation. In no time at all, your company will enjoy lower logistics costs and better service to your customers.

One great thing about businesses is their uniqueness. You could have two companies selling the same type of product, yet they are vastly different from each other. It’s that difference that should be taken into account when evaluating a third-party logistics (3PL) provider to handle your warehousing, distribution and other logistics needs.

Taking some time to determine what you need from a 3PL to meet the unique circumstances of your business, its products and/or services, and its customers will result in a successful partnership.

These four key questions will help you identify the best 3PL for your company.

Question #1: Is Your Product Easy to Distribute?

This is where size, weight, and shape matter. Take a look at your product from a packing and distribution viewpoint. Consider things like:

Is your product oversized or undersized?
Is it an awkward shape or require fragile handling?
Is your product perishable or need to be maintained at a certain temperature at all times?
Does your product need to be assembled, bundled, or require special packaging before distribution?

Since distribution capacity differs among public warehouses with distribution and logistics services, it’s important to select a 3PL, such as Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, that can accommodate any special distribution needs your product may have.

Question #2: Where Is Your Product Being Distributed?

Currently, your business might require only local or regional distribution, but take a look into that crystal ball to see what the future may hold.

How will your distribution routes change as your company expands?
Will you need cross-country distribution?
Will you be selling your products in other countries?

For most businesses, the market areas they begin with are either modified or increased to respond to product demand. Logistics providers have different distribution routes, so it’s important to select a third-party logistics company at the onset that can handle both countrywide and international distribution.

More importantly, you want a 3PL who has strong partnerships with transportation networks so it can effectively achieve your distribution goals. For example, Brendamour Warehousing distributes throughout the United States, as well as internationally. What’s more, our distribution network spans to all modes of transportation, including train, plane, ship, and truck, to get your goods where they need to go in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

Question #3: Does Your Business Conduct International Trade?

While you might not be selling your product internationally, your business still might have international connections.

For example, does your business work with manufacturers or other suppliers from foreign countries? If so, you need to outsource your public warehousing and distribution needs to a logistics provider who handles international trade needs.

At Brendamour Warehousing, we have the knowledge and foreign trade zone designation to process international imports and exports. With us, there are no barriers to your domestic and international sales.

Question #4: What Are Your Customers’ Needs?

Whether your end customer is a retail store, a big-box store, a small boutique, or an individual ordering direct from your website, each customer has different needs. As such, you need a public warehouse that can handle these diverse needs.

With regards to your customers’ requirements, consider:

How much product will your customers need each month?
Are your customers limited to how much product they can handle at one time?
Do your customers have special requests, such as inventory-related, how they receive your product, etc.?
Do customers have seasonal demands or peaks in sales at certain times of the year?
How quickly can your business respond to increased demands?

Brendamour Warehousing Is Your 3PL Solution

When you partner with Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, you have a full-service 3PL handling all your logistics needs. Our history of excellence in public warehousing, distribution, and logistics speaks volumes to the extra care we take when handling your goods.

With Brendamour, you have a 3PL that can handle your product’s special needs, as well as the special requests of your customers.

Contact us to learn how we can enhance your company’s distribution and deliver value to your bottom line.

Are you currently handling your own logistics? You’re not alone. Most businesses start out managing their own warehousing, order fulfillment, order processing, and distribution. But more often than not, there comes a time when your business gets to the point where you have to outsource your logistics to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider.

From a business standpoint, it makes sense to use a public warehouse with 3PL services since warehousing, distribution, and logistics are not your company’s core activities. So why use valuable capital on them?

But how do you know if your business has reached the point where it would be better served by outsourcing your warehousing, distribution and other logistics services? We’ve put together these three key signs that indicate your business needs a third-party logistics provider.

Sign #1: You’re getting behind in processing orders.

If your business is getting backlogged filling orders on a regular basis and mistakes are occurring, it’s a sign you need help with your order processing and order fulfillment functions. Sure, you can add more staff, but consider this: Is adding more expenses to a non-core business function something that will help your business be profitable?

A 3PL already has the resources you need and can transition your processes over to theirs in a few days. As an example, Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services has a highly automated system for order fulfillment and order picking. It’s designed specifically to get orders prepared for shipping quickly and accurately.

As your company grows, your order processing and fulfillment will become even more challenging, so it’s best to have a 3PL in place to seamlessly and effortlessly handle that growth.

One of the many advantages of outsourcing to a third-party logistics company is its scalability. It can easily scale up and down as your business dictates and you pay only for the amount of services you use.

Sign #2: It’s difficult to handle peak seasons.

Just about all businesses have busy seasons, but it’s how well they are handled that determine their profitability. Many companies go the traditional route of adding additional staff and renting out storage space. But what happens during the slow seasons when you can’t justify those added business expenses?

It takes a lot of time and resources to continuously hire and lay off staff and negotiate short-term rentals. A less cumbersome and efficient solution is using a 3PL because you only pay for the warehouse space you need and the services you use. It’s the ideal scenario for dealing with peak and slow times of the year.

A public warehouse with distribution and logistics services, like Brendamour Warehousing, has the expertise and technology to quickly and seamlessly adjust resources when product movement is in high demand and to scale back when demand is less.

Sign #3: Inventory issues are slowing down order processing.

Out-of-stocks, mislabeled inventory, damaged goods, too much inventory. Your business has probably experienced just about all the inventory mishaps that can occur. But if inventory issues are disrupting operations, it’s time to look into a public warehouse with logistics services.

When shopping around for a public warehousing and distribution solution, be sure to ask about the functionality of its warehousing management system (WMS). Not all systems are as sophisticated in offering you the best in inventory management.

We’re proud to say that Brendamour Warehousing has the most technologically advanced warehouse management system. Besides allowing us to accurately and efficiency inventory your goods, it gives you 24/7 Web-based, real time access to your inventory levels. You can also submit orders and receipts, track orders, and see shipping status at any time of the day and from wherever there is Internet access.

We’re Here When You’re Ready

When your business is ready to transition to a 3PL, we hope you consider Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services. We have a proven track record for utilizing the latest in technology and applying industry best practices to provide you with the best in warehousing, distribution and logistics services.

Contact us to learn how we can optimize your current logistics processes and provide an even greater positive experience for your customers so you can focus on the core aspects of your business.

A warehouse management system (WMS) keeps track of the storage and movement of your goods within the facility. If you want to know where a particular product or shipment is at any given time, all you have to do is check the warehouse management system.

That is, of course, if the storage facility, whether in-house or third-party, is using a state-of-the-art warehouse management system.

In fact, the capabilities of the warehouse management system should be a top deciding factor when updating an in-house system or choosing a public warehouse.

WMS Functionality

A WMS monitors, controls, and optimizes the daily functions related to warehousing and distribution. Very basic functions pertain to moving and storing goods within the warehouse, such as receiving goods, stock put away according to bin utilization, locating goods, and shipping.

But when choosing a public warehouse, you want one with a more sophisticated WMS that can handle additional functions to better manage your supply chain.

In addition, you want a public warehouse with a modular WMS so you can select the functionality you need for your specific business processes and have the option to expand functionality as your business dictates.

More advanced WMS functions that will help your business stay competitive or expand globally include:

• Advanced shipping notifications from vendors to automate the receiving process;
• Inventory control;
• Order processing and management;
• Multiple picking methods;
• Inventory management and record keeping;.
• Cycle counting;
• Operating strategies that reduce errors and omissions and speed up distribution;
• Optimization strategies to streamline your goods throughout the entire supply chain to increase customer satisfaction and reduce costs;
• Automated data collection;
• Comprehensive accounting systems, including activity-based costing and billing.

Brendamour Warehousing Utilizes an Advanced WMS

Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services has the most advanced warehouse management system available.

Because we are a public warehouse with a full complement of third party logistics (3PL) services, our WMS controls order fulfillment and processing functions, such as assembly work, picking, custom packing, bundling, labeling, and other special needs.

In addition, our WMS is capable of handling all aspects of inventory, shipping, and order tracking in the most efficient and cost-effective way, while ensuring speed and accuracy.

Our WMS Commitment

At Brendamour Warehousing, we are committed to providing efficient and accurate handling and inventory of our customers’ goods. That’s why we continue to upgrade our WMS as new technology is developed.

Our WMS also utilizes other technologies, such as bar code scanners, radio frequency identification (RFID), automatic identification and data capture, and mobile computers, that more efficiently handle the flow of goods and produce reports valuable to your business operations.

Our technologically advanced WMS is web-based, so you can submit orders from anywhere at any time, and access your real time inventory whenever and wherever you choose.

Our warehouse management system also provides a seamless link between order processing and logistics management. It is designed to make it easy for you to do business with your customers around the clock.

Our ultimate goal is to minimize order fulfillment times and costs so you can better serve your customers. We do this by:

• Maximizing warehouse space to reduce your warehousing costs.
• Ensuring requirements, such as first-in, first-out, proper material handling, etc., are being met.
• Helping you cut expenses by minimizing overstocks.
• Preventing lost sales by ensuring there is enough inventory on hand to meet demand.
• Warehousing popular or bundled products in an area that allows for speedier picking, packing, and shipping processes.
• Utilizing the best picking method based on the volume of your fulfillment.
• Reducing cycle times so you can enhance service to your customers.
• Carefully handling your goods when they arrive in our warehouse and when they are shipped so they arrive to the end customer in good condition.
• Utilizing task interleaving to achieve maximum productivity.
• Furnishing you with useful data so you know how long your goods are warehoused, the suppliers who provide them, and your peak demand seasons.

Get the Brendamour Advantage Today

To benefit from the added functionality a public warehouse with a sophisticated warehouse management system can provide to your business, simply contact Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services.

We have the technology you need to boost your customer satisfaction levels, remain competitive, and lower your business costs.

A supply chain is made up of a lot of components, all of which must work in perfect unison to achieve the end goal. Reputable third party logistics (3PL) providers know all too well how to make many parts work together effectively because they do it every day to ensure goods are received, inventoried, warehoused, processed according to order specifications, and distributed to multiple sites and locations around the world.

Whether your business handles the entire supply chain strategy in-house, or outsources certain parts to various vendors, a 3PL can enhance your supply chain team, ensure it is performing at the highest level, and deliver the highest ROI possible to your company.

7 Key Components to a Successful Team

What makes a successful supply chain team? The team members themselves must have the right mix of skills, character traits, personalities, and work styles. Then, the company itself needs to give the team members a well-defined mission, the proper supply chain structure to carry it out, and the freedom to do what it takes to succeed.

A 3PL can help the team carry out its mission by strengthening the supply chain and providing options to improve processes and reduce costs. In short, a public warehouse 3PL can help businesses large and small run an effective and efficient supply chain.

What a 3PL Brings to the Team

The best 3PL for your company is the one that has the logistics services you need to gain a competitive advantage, make your supply chain more convenient, and help your company operate more effectively and efficiently.

For many businesses, the supply chain encompasses many different team members located in various geographical areas. They typically have day-to-day tasks to perform for many other companies as well.

For example, your goods may ship from your warehouse, but from there, you rely on carriers who are shipping hundreds of thousands of other companies’ goods by air, rail, sea, or road, to get yours to their destination on time and in good condition.

Any disconnect in any part of the supply chain process means your team fails in its goal.

That’s where a 3PL like Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services comes into play. We make sure everyone involved in your company’s supply chain stays connected throughout the entire process.

The services and expertise we bring to the team make a difference by:

• Demonstrating areas where the team can unlock value in the supply chain.
• Ensuring problem-solving and decision-making take place with the end customer in mind.
• Providing the expertise we gained from working with those who deal with supply chain concerns every day.
• Fostering innovation.
• Helping your company expand its global footprint.
• Providing expertise in structuring, gathering, and analyzing warehouse management system data.
• Implementing measures to enhance customer relations.

Putting the Team Plan into Action

The execution of the supply chain process needs to excel despite challenges, like changing production schedules, weather, fluctuating capacity, and other influencing factors. This is an area where an experienced 3PL, like Brendamour Warehousing, can ensure supply chain execution remains on track.

In particular, we can:

• Create and implement measures for gathering and reporting the status of your inventory at all points along the supply chain.
• Review capacity planning and integrate multimodal strategies to prevent costly out-of-stock situations.
• Identify and implement improvements to the supply chain process.
• Create a low-cost transportation network to ensure reliability, better service, and reduced costs.
• Develop industry and internal benchmarks and measure performance against them.

Boosting Your Supply Chain Team with Brendamour

At Brendamour Warehousing, we understand the whole supply chain and the many complexities that go along with it. In working with your company, we evaluate your existing supply chain strategy, or for new businesses, design a supply chain plan based on your needs.

For example, if your business already has a supply chain process in place, we can complement your team by connecting members and their functions in a more efficient and effective way.

If your business is looking to outsource its entire supply chain or any parts of it, Brendamour offers a wide range of warehousing, distribution, order processing and fulfillment, and logistics services to address your company’s needs.

Our 3PL services help your business harness the power of your supply chain team to ensure your company succeeds. Let us show you how we can help your company build an effective supply chain team. To get started, simply contact Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services for a free consultation.

 

Is your warehouse space filling up fast?
Are you facing a maxed out warehouse, looking for any nook and cranny to use for storage?
Do you always need auxiliary space for new products or seasonal goods?

Granted, the economy is rebounding and a bigger warehouse makes sense in these situations. But while your first instinct may be to build a new warehouse or lease a building, you might want to consider another, more cost-effective option: Public warehousing.

Public warehouses, particularly those with a wide array of logistics services, allow businesses to expand their warehouse space without increasing their warehouse footprint.

Plus, outsourcing to a third party logistics (3PL) public warehouse, like Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, provides additional benefits.

In-House Versus Outsource Warehousing

Building a bigger warehouse, expanding an existing one, or leasing a suitable building comes with expenses that will exist even when there are times when sales don’t justify those expenses. Such expenses include:

• Facility expenses to operate the building, including mortgage or lease payments, utilities, insurance, security, waste removal, grounds management, etc.
• Staff expenses to manage the warehouse and perform all tasks associated with moving product in and out of the warehouse.
• Handling expenses to handle goods, such as expenses to purchase, maintain, and fuel equipment, and initial investment and upgrade costs for a warehouse management system, automated equipment, and other equipment.
• General administrative expenses to handle the additional volume of payroll, ordering, training, etc.

The rate of utilization is key to the bottom line and a real risk factor when expanding your in-house warehouse space. But with a public warehouse, certain expenses are eliminated and a payment structure is established where you pay only for the amount of space in use.

In addition, you have the option of using a public warehouse simply for storage or having the entire logistics and distribution operation handled from the 3PL warehouse.

Brendamour Public Warehousing Benefits

Because Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services offers a full complement of logistics services along with its warehousing and distribution, your business can attain substantial benefits not realized with other warehousing options.

Among these benefits are:

Better Warehouse Technology because we invest in advanced technology, equipment, and systems. We stay on top of the latest technological developments in the logistics industry because we know it’s these improvements that increase capacity and put you above your competition in the marketplace.

With sophisticated warehouse technology and our automated equipment, we can provide flawless order fulfillment, and move your goods faster, more accurately, and inexpensively, with virtually no product damage or errors and omissions.

Plus, our warehouse management system compiles a great deal of information so you know where your goods are at all times and what your inventory levels are so your entire supply chain is optimized to its fullest.

Improved Productivity because warehousing, logistics, and distribution are the core functions of our public warehouse. We utilize best in class methods and equipment for moving goods along the supply chain. These practices allow for greater efficiencies without increasing labor.

Faster Inventory Turns that are driven by demand. After all, inventory that turns 24 times a year has a lower storage cost than inventory that turns six times a year. With faster inventory turn rates, your business will realize fewer inventory touches, increased customer service and customer response rates, and fewer returns.

Advanced Management of SKUs that are optimized to changes in inventory and storage layout. This allows us to expand the number of products stored in a cubic foot of storage area, thus lowering your warehousing costs.

High Return on Investment with savings across the board in warehousing, distribution, and logistics compared to performing these processes in-house.

If you’d like to learn more on how Brendamour Warehousing may be a better option than building a new warehouse, simply contact us to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

We always welcome the opportunity to help businesses expand in the most cost effective and efficient way.

We’re all familiar with bar codes and the ease in which they provide valuable information about a product when scanned. Without a doubt, their use in retail environments enhance the customer experience.

But did you know bar codes are also used in public warehouses? Besides providing the type of product and its price, bar codes allow your goods to be tracked throughout the entire warehousing and distribution process.

For your business, that means improved accuracy of inventory counts to prevent overstock or out-of-stock situations, two very costly occurrences for your company.

A Bar Code Labeling System Makes Perfect Business Sense

If your company is still using a paper-based process to track inventory, you’re probably seeing a lot of inventory inaccuracies due to transcription errors. In addition, your company is probably spending a big chunk of time and money on manual data entry.

In a warehouse setting alone, just think of all the hands required to inventory and move finished goods, and all the opportunities for errors to occur if done manually.

For instance, you have the lift truck and palletizer operators recording incoming product information. Then there’s order processing staff keeping track of inventory being pulled to fill orders. Add in the shipping operators writing case codes. Finally, you would need someone to key all this manual information into your company’s database, sometimes not until several days later.

A bar code labeling system, on the other hand, automates the process and removes the risk of errors occurring, delivering 100 percent inventory accuracy. It also reduces data entry time that can be spent on other important business tasks.

Case studies have shown that a bar code system improves inventory management and increases the accuracy and efficiency rate of company operations.

The Benefits of Using Bar Codes for Data Collection

Automating data collection by using bar codes is an investment that starts paying off immediately with these benefits:

• Improved and streamlined data collection operations.
• Immediate entry of inventory data in the company’s database, so the real-time status of inventory is known.
• Ease in gathering information about an order, including items and their quantities, allowing for accurate counts on inventory.
• More detailed information about your goods, including when they were made, the specific contents on a pallet, and where they were shipped.
• Enhanced ability to track and trace inventory.

Public Warehouses Provide Immediate Integration

With a public warehouse third party logistics provider (3PL), such as Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, there’s no need to start from scratch building and installing a new system. Establishing a bar code system can be done through our warehouse management system (WMS), so it does not impact your current enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

The only changes required are on the warehouse floor, where functions like bar code scanning and labeling of inventory on pallets, cases, etc., are implemented. This allows your company to know where your inventory is stored in our warehouse, how much is left, when it is moved for picking to fill an order, when the orders are processed, and when your goods are loaded in a truck for distribution to customers.

Unlike a manual system that takes days or weeks to track goods, bar codes allow for up-to-the-minute tracking and traceability of your goods as they travel to their end destination.

See How Easy Bar Coding Warehousing Can Be

No matter your type of business, operations efficiencies are essential for remaining competitive and expanding into new markets. One way to streamline processes is through the use of bar codes in the warehousing, logistics, and distribution areas.

By eliminating manual data entry and transitioning to automated data collection, your business will realize significant savings, improved customer service, and a better utilization of staff.

To learn more on how an automated bar coding system can improve inventory management and help your business operate in a more efficient manner, contact Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services.

You’ll be amazed at the difference our warehouse management system can make when combined with automated bar codes.

Like most businesses around the world, you probably have a sizable amount of goods stored in a warehouse. Whether you’re using a public warehouse or an in-house facility, goods that sit in storage can impact your company’s bottom line if the warehouse space is not used efficiently. There are three main areas where warehouse space can impact your company’s net profits. See where your business stands in warehouse efficiency and follow the tips to improve the effectiveness of how you store your goods.

1. Warehouse Setup

Organizing goods based on their usage is key to efficient warehouse storage capacity. It involves much more than just accepting pallets, crates, and boxes and placing them in whatever space is available to fit them. Rather, warehouse setup needs to reflect order and product activity profiles.

Serious production time is lost when workers have to search a warehouse to find products to fill an order, or move around pallets, crates, or boxes to get to those needed for multi-order batch picking. An ineffective storage setup also increases the risk of damage to goods and errors in filling orders.

Tip: Leave the storing of your goods to a public warehouse. Your business will realize savings from highly efficient warehouse storage and order fulfillment processes.

For example, Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services is a third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse that is equipped with highly advanced equipment and complex computer systems to configure the most efficient layout of your goods within our facility. This takes into consideration various picking and packing strategies, including order lines, order mix, and order size, so the most efficient storage method is utilized.

2. Working Capacity

Working capacity is how much storage a space can hold based on the configuration of the physical space and inventory characteristics, such as the size and shape of items. Most businesses think their storage facility is running at full capacity when in reality, it’s probably around 60 to 80 percent. Failure to run a warehouse at full working capacity costs a business money, especially if a second facility is purchased or rented to handle overload from a warehouse that isn’t even at working capacity.

Tip: Outsource your storage needs to public warehousing experts who specialize in calculating and meeting working capacity. They know how to accurately configure the storage lanes in a warehouse for efficiency in storing inventory based on numerous factors, including the number of different items, their size, volume, and picking requirements.

Brendamour Warehousing uses a very sophisticated warehouse management system that collects the right kind of data and analyzes it to produce extremely accurate utilization reports of your storage area within our facility. We also use warehousing methods, such as floor-stacked bulk storage and customized racking systems to maximize the amount of square footage of your goods. The perfect balance between space utilization and operation productivity ensures full working capacity, delivering savings to your business.

3. Warehousing to Picking Strategy

When it comes to locating, pulling, and packing products for distribution, a warehouse that is aligned with picking strategies operates more effectively. Picking strategies are based on the most common way customers order your goods, such as high and low volume products, the number of units, and the percentage of order lines that require full or broken cartons, single units, full pallets, or any combination of these options.

Knowing your product activity allows you to warehouse to picking and packing, reducing your costs by running an efficient operation.

Tip: Third party logistics (3PL) providers provide both warehousing space and order fulfillment functions. They are equipped with a warehouse management system and automated equipment to identify your order profiles and arrange warehousing and picking methods based on these profiles.

For example, as a 3PL, Brendamour Warehousing performs comprehensive order management and order release approaches, such as single order picking, multi-order batch picking, zone, wave, and order consolidation. What’s more, our expertise allows us to provide your business with a picking strategy that is highly optimized for cost savings.

We are equipped to implement a variety of pick lines depending on your products’ type and volume. They include automated and manual systems, such as straight line, serpentine line, branch and pick zone, pick to conveyor, automated storage and retrieval (AS/AR), automated conveyors, and automated carousels, and pick-to-light.

Go With Brendamour, the Warehousing Pros

At Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, our business is your business. More specifically, we’re all about performing effective warehousing, distribution, and other logistics functions to improve your company’s bottom line.

Learn more on how we can maximize your company’s bottom line with our warehousing, distribution and logistics services. Contact us today to see what an effective and efficient public warehouse space can mean to your business!

Inventory is a puzzle that very few businesses get right. Too much inventory and it’s costing you money. Too little inventory when you need it also costs you money. But accurately managing inventory doesn’t have to be so puzzling. In fact, when you store your inventory in a public warehouse, like Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services, you can say goodbye to inaccurate inventories and enjoy the savings to your bottom line that inventory accuracy brings.

It’s All in the Warehouse Management System

One way to eliminate inventory inaccuracy is by implementing technologies like automated bar coding systems. Working in conjunction with these technologies, Brendamour’s web-based warehouse management system goes deep with features that ensure an accurate inventory of your goods by providing real-time inventory counts.

By tracking each piece of your inventory, you reduce errors in ordering too much or too little inventory. It allows your business to account for each and every item, whether it was sold, returned, or still in inventory. You’re also able to better manage counts and distribution, providing you with a fairly reliable inventory forecasting tool that helps determine which customers are ordering your goods most and how often.

Organized Warehousing

If your company warehouses inventory in-house, take a look at the storage areas. Are they overcrowded and unorganized? If so, your inventory is probably suffering. No doubt, goods are at risk for damage due to overcrowded areas and thrown out without adjusting inventory counts. And the lack of organization is probably making it difficult to take accurate counts, let alone accurate picking of orders.

At Brendamour Warehousing and Distribution, your inventory is well cared for in a well-lit, organized area on customized racking systems to accommodate the type and size of your products, maximize square footage to save you money, and ensure more accurate order picking.

In addition, our fleet of modern hydraulic lift trucks and the well-trained and experienced personnel who operate them, ensure your goods are moved with care, eliminating handling damage.

Improving Your Processes

Another way to ensure an accurate inventory is to evaluate your processes and procedures. Inventory accuracy starts with clearly defined processes that involve contributions from all internal departments within the business that impact inventory, as well as third-party vendors whose functions affect inventory. In examining your business processes, look for areas where errors can occur that impact inventory counts and brainstorm ways to reduce or eliminate them.

Once you’ve established an inventory process that incorporates seamlessly into your other business processes, be sure to document them with a procedure to ensure employees and outside vendors follow the process to maintain inventory integrity.

A public warehouse can easily streamline your company’s processes and procedures through its automated warehouse management system that tracks inventory and manages inventory levels. This reduces paperwork, which can bog down the process and create errors and omissions.

Look for third-party logistics (3PL) providers, like Brendamour Warehousing, that have a web-based system so you can authorize as many employees as you like to access the inventory management system from anywhere at any time. With such a system, monitoring inventory is a much easier and less cumbersome process.

Automatic Compliance Monitoring

Public warehousing utilizes automated equipment and systems to receive, store and distribute goods. Their processes and procedures complement those of their customers and set even higher standards for handling inventory, as well as tasks that specifically involve or relate to inventory.

Because the process is automated, compliance to inventory procedures is much easier and provides accountability. Less time is spent tracking inventory accuracy per employee, organization and third-party vendors.

Physical Inventory Counts

Year-end inventory counts are commonplace in many businesses, but a public warehouse facility can make the process less tedious and ensure it does not interrupt regular business functions. For example, Brendamour has the trained staff to perform cycle counting on any frequency your business prefers. This service provides a backup inventory check to identify any discrepancies, resolve them and put process enhancements in place to ensure they don’t happen again.

Flexible to Changes

Businesses need to constantly evolve to compete in the global marketplace, which is why business processes may need to be revisited periodically. That’s where the web-based warehouse management system comes into play in making the changes effortlessly.

As a 3PL public warehouse, Brendamour Warehousing, Distribution & Services is designed to be flexible to meet the ever-changing needs of businesses. Whenever your processes and procedures are revised, they are easily updated into our automated systems and put into practice immediately.

Get the Goods on Brendamour’s Inventory Accuracy Plan

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to inventory accuracy. Let Brendamour work with your business to build a reliable inventory accuracy plan for your goods. Contact us today to learn about our warehousing and inventory management systems. With Brendamour as your 3PL, your business will achieve higher levels of inventory accuracy than ever before!