With growing digitalisation, people have embraced online shopping. Gone are the days when people would go to the retail store to buy things. Today, you can easily find whatever you need over the internet. This is known as the e-commerce market. With this new market avenue, businesses need a safe place to store more goods, such as e-commerce warehousing. They store the goods in these warehouses for safety while awaiting shipping. How do they use pallet racking to ensure everything is in order?
What’s pallet racking?
Pallet racking refers to a material storage system that stores goods on pallets. However there are various types of pallet flow racking systems, but all serve the same purpose.
These racks have become essential for manufacturing facilities, modern warehouses and retail centres. These racks help increase space for storing goods horizontally. There are different types of pallet racking systems, and they include:
VNA or very narrow aisle pallet racking systems– These systems ensure the maximisation of warehouse floor space. They are perfect for that because they work well in narrow automated rails. This pallet racking helps improve workers’ movement and devices in warehouses.
Gravity pallet racking– They use slopes to transport high-density goods.
Push-back pallet racking systems– They utilise depth for storage options.
Selective racking systems– This kind of racking can be configured, reconfigured, assembled, disassembled, and relocated as per the warehouse requirements. It comes with adjustable shelving systems that utilise warehouse heights. Such a system saves a lot of floor space.
Pallet racking systems are a real gem in the online retail sector. So, what are the benefits of these systems?
Benefits of pallet racking systems in the e-commerce industry
Pallet racking systems have a lot of benefits. They include:
Increases bulk storage capacity
A lot of goods are ordered through online retail businesses. So, many companies have to store goods to ensure they are ready to dispatch when needed. It means they need a safe space to store goods and save on costs. Companies can use the pushback racking system as it has a static structure. It can move along the rails, increasing the storage space. Using drive-in or drive-through pallet racks, bulk storage in each row reduces the aisles needed to reach products.
Helps optimise warehouse space
When businesses use pallet racking systems, they can build vertically. This saves lots of space for accessible inventory and workflow. Online retail companies can use pushback racking systems to increase storage capacity for high-density products and SKUs. Utilising drive-in or drive-through racks will also save you space by reducing the number of aisles within the warehouse.
This allows easier implementation of different inventory control methods and inventory management tactics. It doesn’t matter whether it is first in or first out; the right systems are crucial. Getting the most efficient and supportive infrastructure within the warehouse is vital. When using pallet racking, digital tracking and automation is easier to incorporate in the warehouse.
Improves warehouse safety
Recently the fulfilment of orders in warehouses has gone up. This has led to high rates of injuries among warehouse employees. A 2020 study has shown that for every 100 full-time workers, 4.6 injuries were recorded among warehouse workers. To mitigate this, busy warehouses can benefit from pallet racking systems. It can help reduce clutter, streamline workflow and remove hazards that can lead to injury.
Allows warehouse customising
Utilising pallet racks allows easier and quick access to inventory. When installed, warehouse clutter gets reduced. This makes it easy to traverse and complete even the most demanding tasks. It’s easier to customise the pallet racking, but it depends on the inventory, shape of space and timeline. If all this aligns, it becomes easy to integrate the systems with the warehouse infrastructure.
Also Read: How Pallet Rack Frame Capacity Works?
In the e-commerce sector, goods require storage before dispatch. Business owners have to find systems that are cost-effective and can improve safety. The utilisation of pallet racking systems makes it easier as it is applicable in all sectors of the e-commerce industry. Its application is indisputably the best thing that has happened to this sector.
