Warehousing sits within the logistics operations and supply chain sector, but the businesses that rely on it span almost every industry you can think of. From food producers and online retailers to hospitals and manufacturers, third-party warehousing has become an essential part of how modern businesses operate.
Whether you’re a small start-up business or a long-established large-chain corporation, there’s no denying the benefits of outsourcing your warehousing duties. From helping keep your stock neat and tidy and streamlining your shipping processes to providing unmatched protection for your goods, there are many ways business owners can make the most of our warehousing services here at FDC Holdings.
However, businesses operating in some industries benefit from warehousing more than those operating in others. In this post, our logistics specialists reveal which industries benefit most from warehousing services, and why your business can’t afford to miss out.
1. Manufacturing
Manufacturers – whether it’s those who combine pre-existing parts to produce a new product or produce the parts themselves – have pretty complex warehouse requirements.
Working with a professional warehousing team, you’ll be able to maintain sufficient inventory levels and keep your production line running smoothly. Raw material buffer stock, component kitting, and finished goods holding prior to distribution all need to be managed efficiently, and a single breakdown in that chain can bring a production line to a halt.
2. Retail
These days, many high street retailers are operating as dual-purpose warehousing, stocking inventory for in-store shoppers while also locally filling online orders via in-store pickup or direct shipping.
With all your other duties and limited space, it’s easy to fall behind. But outsourcing these duties will help you stay on top of your game. From streamlining complicated processes and providing additional storage space to ensuring safe stock management, investing in warehousing services is a no-brainer for brick-and-mortar retail businesses.
Returns management is another significant pressure. Online retail return rates in the UK regularly exceed 20%, and handling that volume of returned stock without a dedicated space quickly becomes unmanageable. A warehousing partner can receive, inspect, restock, or quarantine returned goods on your behalf, keeping your inventory accurate.
3. E-commerce
E-commerce businesses operate under intense pressure to fulfil orders quickly. Same-day and next-day delivery expectations are now standard for many customers, and meeting those expectations without the right infrastructure in place is extremely difficult.
Pick and pack fulfilment services are at the heart of modern e-commerce logistics. Outsourcing to a professional provider removes the need to manage warehouse space, staff, and equipment yourself, freeing you up to focus on growing your business. A warehouse management system (WMS) also ensures that every item is located, tracked, and dispatched accurately, reducing errors and the costly consequences that come with them.
4. Food & drink
Many companies operating in the food and drink industry – particularly food and beverage manufacturers – make use of warehousing services to keep their goods safe and reduce potential losses.
With items needing to be kept at certain temperatures and shipped at specific times, outsourcing your warehousing duties to experts, like ourselves, ensures that perishables are kept fresh and arrive at their final destination ready to be handed out to customers. A specialist provider will also stay on top of batch tracking and expiry date management, reducing the risk of waste and ensuring that nothing reaches the shelf past its best.
Seasonal volume spikes are another challenge unique to this sector. Demand can double or triple around Christmas, Easter, or summer, and having a warehousing partner with the capacity to flex with those peaks means you never have to turn down orders or leave customers waiting.
5. Healthcare & pharmaceuticals
Of course, healthcare facilities may not have large inventories or warehouses, but this isn’t to say that they can’t or won’t benefit from warehouse storage.
Pharmacies, GP surgeries and hospitals all supply and administer medicines that need to be kept at a certain temperature, and investing in warehousing makes it much easier to manage the storage requirements of such products. In the pharmaceutical sector, medicines and medical devices often need to be stored in line with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines, covering temperature monitoring, stock traceability, and handling procedures.
With an offsite team managing your inventory, you can be sure that all your stock is suitable for use, as they’re always on top of expiry dates and stocking shelves full of new products, and expend all your time and energy caring for your patients.
6. Wholesale & distribution
Wholesalers can benefit massively from outsourcing their warehousing duties.
Any large wholesaler will know how difficult it can be to balance the inventory and shipping speeds whilst also maintaining their order accuracy, but a warehouse management system makes these processes much simpler. From helping manage the most complex of supply chains and maximising inventory deployment to much quicker order shipment and reduced labour costs, wholesale distributors will thank themselves for investing in a WMS. Some WMS features will also protect your equipment, help you stick to tight maintenance schedules and optimise your warehouse layout to minimise the risk of accidents and injury.
If you ask us, it’s a no-brainer!
Interested in warehousing services for your industry?
There’s no denying the benefits that warehousing can have for your business, and it isn’t strictly for the businesses listed above.
Here at FDC Holdings, we’ve been helping our clients – who operate in various industries – get on top of their warehousing duties for over 40 years, and would be more than happy to assist with yours, too!
To find out more about our warehousing services, or for a competitive quote, get in touch with our friendly experts today by calling 01772 695 695 or emailing enquiries@fdcholdings.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
You can also read more about selecting the right warehouse space and the advantages of pallet delivery for food and perishable goods on our blog.
Warehouse Services – Frequently Asked Questions
E-commerce and retail businesses tend to benefit most from pick and pack services, as they deal with high volumes of individual orders that each require accurate picking, packing, and labelling. Food and drink, pharmaceutical, and wholesale businesses also make frequent use of pick and pack fulfilment, particularly where product variety is high and order accuracy is critical.
Warehousing falls within the logistics and supply chain management industry, a sub-sector of the broader transport and distribution sector. Warehousing businesses provide flexible storage solutions, inventory management, and order fulfilment services to companies across almost every other industry, from retail and manufacturing to healthcare and food production.
Absolutely. Third-party warehousing isn’t just for large corporations. Small and growing businesses often benefit most from outsourcing their warehousing, as it lets them access professional-grade storage and fulfilment infrastructure without the capital investment of owning or leasing a dedicated facility.