How to Choose the Right Storage System Provider
Choosing the right storage solution for your business is an important and individual choice. Depending on your specific requirements, you could need a simple solution like a new shelving system or a more complex, comprehensive warehousing solution and getting it right is crucial. While the equipment itself is of the utmost importance, finding the right supplier–that is, the right company who can address your storage needs—is a big part of the puzzle as well. Here are a few tips for choosing the right people!
Communication and Analysis
All businesses are not created equal, and when it comes to choosing someone to help with your storage, you need a company that recognises this fact. A quality storage company will assess your business individually and analyse its needs. Not only will they be skilled in identifying the kind of solution you need, they should be adept at communicating the reasons for their recommendation. There’s nothing worse than a company that swoops in, tells you vaguely what you need and then swoops back out again without taking the time to answer your questions. If you have trouble communicating with them in the initial stages of your business dealings when they’re trying to make the sale, imagine what they’ll be like when you’re trying to get an answer about a problem!
Support
This is especially relevant for companies with fragile or unusual products to store. When it comes to glass or other fragile items, correct storage can mean the difference between a huge loss and a successful sale. Make sure that the company you choose has the capacity to analyse the engineering of the equipment and space as well as the specifications of the products themselves. You shouldn’t trust anyone less than an expert in the field, so it’s crucial they show you they know what they are doing, especially with tricky storage solutions.
Equipment
Another consideration is the equipment the company provides. Make sure you are confident that the product they’re providing–be it overhead storage systems or pallet racking–are of the highest quality, backed by a guarantee by the company. Your product is your business’s livelihood, so having it stored incorrectly or in sub-standard equipment is tantamount to giving them carte blanc to treat it with disrespect.
The company you choose to provide your storage solution, whether that solution is some basic shelving or pallet racking or an entire warehouse with third-party logistics included, can have a big impact on the success of your business. Efficiency, productivity and quality control are all contingent to some degree on the quality and reliability of your storage system, so take the time to ensure that the company is a good one.