HOW DO I START AN E-COMMERCE WAREHOUSE SHIPPING SERVICE?

 

Starting an e-commerce warehouse shipping service does not mean you should have an in-depth knowledge of the logistics. All you need to work on is better planning on how you can run a business smoothly. 

 

Warehouse and shipping are the crucial elements in the e-commerce business. Timeline and accuracy will affect customer satisfaction and will also set a rate of return policies. All that is required is efficiency. None of this can happen if the warehouse has not been set up properly, to begin with. Over the years, there are some critical steps to learn from to start an e-commerce warehouse shipping service.

 

 

DETERMINE THE SPACE

The first thing to start is how many cartons and items are you planning to carry from one point and then multiplying the average. The storage space is the essential one because you will likely be using the storage and shelving systems to make the most use of your space.

There are too many warehouses that work only on the storage space they need without taking into account other operations. Once the storage space is calculated, you will have a better idea on what to add to this space. 

 

You need to consider the following:

Receiving (this will include unloading, quality checks, and labeling)

Storage (work on the extra storage to predict the growth)

Forward staging (make space for at least one day’s worth of orders)

Shipping (This will include not just pack and ship, but also quality control, labeling, and breaking down larger pallets)

A separate area just for the returns and dead stock.

 

MAKE AN EQUIPMENT LIST

Having an equipment list is more essential than you think. E-commerce warehouses and centers have basic goals like Maximizing the space, increasing the efficiency in goods, improved visibility.

Storage: the Storage equipment will have a hold on everything right from the large warehouse shelves to racks of small bins.

Material Handling Equipment: It is a broader category that will include transport equipment, storage, and positioning equipment.

Packing and Shipping Equipment: This will have all that is needed to assemble, pack and label the orders to prepare them for shipping.

Barcoding Equipment: In the current world, the equipment piece will require a category of its own. Barcoding equipment will include barcode readers as well as printers, labels, and e-commerce software.

 

OPTIMIZE PICKUPS

Once you have a proper layout established, a labeling system, and the required equipment, you can think of the pick paths in the warehouse.

There are different methods for picking- batch picking, wave picking, and zone picking. You should be able to see which picking works best for your shipping service.

The orders should be fulfilled in a way that the smaller items are picked from one area before moving to the next.

Items that are ordered and purchased together should be stored close to each other.

 

STAFF TRAINING

Training is not just any kind of training. When it comes to setting up a warehouse and shipping service, the employees should have the skill to work systematically and quickly. With proper training, the resources will be fruitful when employees work in speed, efficiency, and fewer mistakes, and most importantly, a safer work environment.

 

GOOD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 

There are a lot of things to offer in this category. Here are some basics you should definitely look for:

Receiving and Inventory control (door-to-door)

Pickup/Pack/Ship management (increases the workflow and betterment in scheduling plans)

User-defined reports (reflecting your own KPIs)

Important Key alerts

Easy integration 

Scalability

　

And most importantly, keep trying.

 

LEARNING- BABY STEPS

It is a rare occurrence for e-commerce to blossom right at the word Go. Even if the business starts perfectly, there will always be hurdles in the beginning. There are new products, technologies, and business models that do not work in today’s time.

Make honest mistakes and try to learn from those mistakes.