How to Choose a Warehouse Partner

Over the last decade, the warehouse space has seen a dramatic operational shift. Lineage Logistics surpassed Americold as the largest public refrigerated warehouse in North America. Meanwhile, Preferred Freezer Services, VersaCold, and large segments of Burris Logistics merged under the mantle of Lineage and other larger warehouse groups. 

All of this comes as e-commerce is driving a warehouse demand boom. To keep pace with that demand, the U.S. will need to add 330 million square feet of new warehouse space by 2025, according to a report by CBRE. As more companies merge and new foreign-based warehouses enter the market to offer their services, knowing which third-party logistic (3PL) warehouse is best for your business can be difficult. In this blog, we’ll break down what factors you need to consider and how to choose a warehouse partner to meet your specific needs.  

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Warehouse Site

Effective supply chain management is critical to business success today. It’s not so easy with rapidly changing market dynamics like rising transportation costs, material shortages, and new regulatory requirements. However, choosing the right warehouse site can help you navigate the complexities of supply chain management so you can focus on what’s most important — your product and meeting customer expectations. When choosing a warehouse site, it’s important to consider: 

Location 

Do you serve a particular region of retailers or customers? Do you serve customers overseas? Is the warehouse close to your production facility? These are all important questions to factor into your warehouse search. Look for a provider that is close to major transport hubs, such as highways and airports, to cut down on lead times and shipping costs. 

Technology 

Accurate inventory management is vital to reduce spoilage, better manage inventory holding costs, and effectively run fulfillment needs. Choose a warehouse partner that has a modern warehouse management system (WMS) that enables real-time inventory tracking. Make sure the WMS system is connected to an online portal that you can access at any time. Even better, research whether the provider uses drones for inventory-related tasks. Instead of an employee checking inventory manually with a ladder, drones do the job safely, faster, and more efficiently.

Storage and Docking 

This may seem like an obvious one, but how your products are stored is one of the most important factors to consider. Do you need racks, shelves, open yard, or cold storage? Will you need a mix of storage types for your different products? If you need rack storage (for use with pallets), how far is the curb from the rack? We recommend at least 3 inches to prevent product damage from forklift use and to improve employee safety. If you’re using cold storage, does the warehouse use traditional ammonia-based systems to keep their refrigeration system cool? Ammonia-based systems are more hazardous to the environment. 

In terms of docking, look for a warehouse that offers loading and unloading areas integrated into the warehouse to speed up handling time and reduce the need for detours. This may be more cost-effective. If you need cold storage service, it’s best to find a warehouse that uses inflatable shelters. These shelters encircle the truck when it is connected to the entrance, so your products are not compromised by outside conditions such as rain or heat. 

Capacity 

Can the warehouse meet your current inventory needs? What if your business increases and you need more storage space? Can the warehouse scale as your operations grow? Additionally, your product may be impacted by seasons (an example of this is fruit producers). Can the warehouse accommodate those fluctuations? Make sure you choose a provider that will meet your needs now and in the future. 

Additional Services 

You may need more than just storage for your business, especially those in the e-commerce space. You may need packaging and shipping, too. Find a warehouse provider that offers full-service order fulfillment, such as order receiving, inventory management, pick and pack, and tracking. If you produce frozen or refrigerated products, you may need tempering or room freezing and chilling services as well as USDA inspections. 

Keep in mind that order assembly, stretch wrapping or kitting, pallet module building, and dock loading assistance are special services only available at select warehouses. 

Security 

There’s nothing worse than your product being susceptible to theft or fire. The right warehouse partner will have proactive security measures in place, such as fencing, cameras, alarms, and sprinklers.

Why Consider Progressive Logistics as Your Trusted Warehouse Partner

For over 20 years, Progressive Logistics has offered both dedicated and public/shared warehouse space. Our 500,000-square-foot facilities are modern and efficient. They are also AIB, SFQ, organic, and sanitation-certified. We offer a range of services, including e-commerce fulfillment, real-time product tracking and control, labeling and stamping, stretch wrapping, hand-stock loading and unloading, and more. Here’s what makes us different from other warehouses:

• We’re strategically located in what’s known as the Crossroads of America. We’re near six major U.S. highways with direct east-to-west coast access. Nearly 70% of the U.S. and Canadian population can be reached from our warehouses in Indianapolis in one day. We’re also minutes from UPS Superhub and FedEx Express Hub for advanced global distributions. 
• We use the latest technology. We offer scalable and customer-tailored logistic solutions in partnership with Cadence WMS. With us, you can track your inventory and shipments in real time, all from a 24/7 customer portal. We also utilize drones to speed up inventory management. 
• We prioritize your experience. We focus on the logistics so you can focus on what’s most important — your product. If you call, we’ll actually answer. We use automation and the latest technology to make us more efficient, but we also believe in human interaction. Our staff is always available to answer your questions.

Our new sister company, PL Cold, now offers 38,000 pallet positions in a new 300,000-square-foot refrigeration and frozen warehouse in Greenfield, Indiana. It’s right next to Progressive Logistics’ main temperature-controlled ambient warehouse so that customers can meet all their storage needs in the same warehouse complex. PL Cold has a 73,000-square-foot refrigerated dock and 40 dock doors to facilitate fast and efficient unloading and loading of containers. It utilizes a synthetic freon that replaces hydrofluorocarbons with a refrigerant that does not degrade the atmosphere. 

If you’re looking for a trusted warehouse partner with experience and a personal touch, Progressive Logistics might be the right choice for you. Get in touch and book a tour of our facilities.