Optimizing Your Warehouse
Efficiency is at the heart of success, especially in construction. Many construction operations have to utilize warehouses for logistics and other purposes. This is a large expense, so it is important to optimize the space that you have to get the most out of it. Here are some tips that are sure to help you get the most out of your space.
Wherever your business is located, space comes at a premium, and this means that you need to utilise every square foot that you have and put it to the best use possible.
Typically, materials and equipment that you use most often will need to be easily accessible, while some of your permanent space may be needed for meetings with potential clients and even as a showroom to help promote your business. Office space is also important, and while every construction business has its own demands and its own requirements that need to be met, there are some general rules and tips that you can follow in order to help ensure that you get the most from the space that you have.
Purchasing Property
Buying property requires considerable capital investment, and not all businesses have the cash flow to be able to invest in this way. Compromising on location, building size, or even the dimensions of the building means that you may end up buying a property that is not fit for purpose. This can lead to compromises in working practice, or a compromise in the property that you do buy, and both will cause problems with business processes further down the line.
Leasing Commercial Property
An alternative to buying is to lease property. This does not have the same initial investment requirements, but lease agreements can be restrictive. Ensure that you are permitted to conduct the work you need to perform from the premises that you lease, especially if it will be multi-purpose and include meeting areas, storage and warehousing, and even the use of machinery and other equipment.
Whether a business opts to buy or lease, it is vital to consider future requirements. Business needs change over time, and this means that property and space requirements can also change.
Office And Admin Space
There’s a lot of administrative work that goes on behind construction projects, as well as administrative work related to the running of the company. Everything from human resources and payroll to marketing requires office space, while document and invoice storage is also important.
If your construction business regularly deals with clients and potential clients in face-to-face meetings, then a meeting room or even a showroom area could help generate additional conversions for the business. While many construction companies meet on-site or at clients’ properties, showcasing your work while inviting clients to your centre of excellence could forge partnerships with some of your biggest future clients.
Warehouses And Storage
One consideration that should definitely be at the top of the list is that of storage and logistics. Materials, tools, plant machinery, vehicles, and other equipment are all necessary for the successful running of your business, and different projects will require different items. Having suitable storage available means that you don’t have to rent equipment that you won’t need regularly, allows you to buy specialist machinery so that you can stay one step ahead of the competition, and even enables you to buy materials in bulk to enjoy discounts and reductions in material costs.
Outsourcing Considerations
Rather than buying or renting enough space for a showroom, offices, warehouse, and logistics centre, you can utilise any space you already have and outsource your logistics and warehousing requirements.
By using a third party logistics provider, you can enjoy access to property in a convenient, central location, without the need to invest heavily in new property. You can also increase or decrease the amount of space that you require easily, and an outsourcing company like Howard Tenens can also help ensure that all of the equipment, machinery, materials, and other items from your warehouse are delivered when and where you require them.
Making Use Of Your Space
Buy or lease the front-office space that you need, including office space and meeting rooms, but consider alternatives such as third party warehouse and logistics solutions for storage and delivery purposes. These can be customised to meet your needs, and using a logistics provider means that you can concentrate your efforts on the core aspects of running your business.
Source: http://aec-business.com/making-the-most-of-your-commercial-space/
