How to Make the Right Choice and Know When to Upgrade 

Are you just drifting along when it comes to your storage? If your warehouse setup seems to be working well enough, or you experience issues that all other business owners must be dealing with, there’s no point in changing things, right? Wrong! The wrong type of storage can cause all kinds of issues, and this starts with using industrial pallet racking systems when you should be using shelving or vice versa. So here is what you need to know about these two different types of storage, along with how you can spot if yours is not working for you right now.

Racking or shelving?

First of all, what is the difference between racking and shelving? They can look pretty similar at first glance, so it’s normal to be unsure of this! It’s easiest to think about them in the following ways:

• Shelving is normally used for smaller, lighter items that you want direct access to. These items are going to be picked up and put back by hand.
• Racking is designed for heavier, bulkier goods. These are most often stored on pallets and need to be moved using forklifts or other equipment. This is why you often see it referred to as pallet racking.

How to know if your storage isn’t working for you

It’s important to reassess your storage every so often. Here are some things that you should bear in mind!

You have scaled up your operations

If you have expanded your product range or you are fulfilling bigger orders, then your storage needs to grow with you. Pallet racking is a good option for bulk shipments that are too big to be handled by humans without any assistance.

Your stock is hard to find

If your team members are picking stock by hand and it is hard to find, then you may benefit from some new shelving. Units that can be adjusted mean that you can change them to suit what you have in stock at that time.

You have a lot of vertical space

If you have lots of vertical space, then pallet racking may be the best choice for you. You can take full advantage of all the room in your warehouse, and thanks to the items being securely stored before being accessed by forklift, you won’t have to worry about them getting in the way.

Your small items are getting lost

If you have a lot of small items of stock, it is so easy for them to get lost. Keeping them all together in shelving units designed for quick access means that your team members will be able to see where they are at a moment’s notice, along with how much you have.

What to do next

If you think that the time has come to update your storage, get in touch with a trusted supplier today!