Today’s e-commerce and retail landscape is characterized by high speeds and volumes. Since 2020, the average parcel delivery speedÌýÌýto meet the expectations of demanding customers. And in 2023, online sales in the United StatesÌý, nearly doubling since 2019. Efficient material handling and warehousing are key to keeping up with online orders and quickly getting them out the door.
Yet, with various challenges from labor shortages and space constraints, many businesses in the industry experience slower order processing. Luckily, ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï has multiple solutions to help you boost efficiency and improve your operations.
Let’s take a closer look at some material handling and warehousing challenges in the retail and e-commerce industry:
If you’re dealing with any of these challenges, ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï is here to help. We have the equipment and know-how to optimize material handling and warehousing operations.
E-commerce material handling involves a lot of activities, from unloading trucks when products arrive at your facility and moving items to storage to packing orders and shipping goods out to customers. With the following equipment available at ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, you canÌýspeed up your order fulfillment processes, leading to happier customers and more money in your pocket:
With attachments to easilyÌýlift and move loadsÌýaround your facility,Ìýe-commerce forklifts are the workhorses of any distribution center or warehouse. Beyond helping to improve material and product movement, these machines can reduce your dependence on manual labor for tasks requiring lifting and stacking heavy loads.
Also known as pallet jacks, pallet trucks areÌýessential for effortlessly moving pallets. Though similar to forklifts, these pieces of equipment are more compact and easier to maneuver. They’re better suited to light to medium loads across short distances, such as speedily moving pallets within a staging area.
Unlike forklifts with vertical reach and pallet trucks that only operate at ground level, order pickersÌýcan reach from side to side. If you’re dealing with space limitations in your facility, these are go-to machines. They let your team quickly access inventory, even in narrow aisles, so you can get orders out faster.
These are heavy-duty machines with high lifting capacity for the heaviest shipping containers. Container handlers are ideal for large distribution centers and facilities that regularly deal with high volumes of shipping containers.
Warehousing operations must keep products safe and organized until they’re ready to ship out. The rightÌýwarehouse solutions from ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹ÏÌýcan protect products from damage, boost productivity and maximize space:
A well-chosen racking system is essential forÌýoptimizing vertical storageÌýand improving material and product flows. From selective racks offering instant access to single pallets to drive-in racks that allow forklifts to enter the rack structure to retrieve items, our experienced team will help you pick the perfect option for your facility.
We offer aÌýwide range of dock equipmentÌýthat help create a safer work environment and quicker loading and unloading processes, such as barrier gates and guide rails. We also provide steel loading ramps and platforms to further increase safety and efficiency.
ÌýA high-performing conveyor belt is one of the best machines forÌýboosting your facility’s overall productivity. Whether you opt for a basic system with a flat roller bed or a more complex model such as a modular conveyor, you can achieve a faster assembly line, cut labor costs and enjoy higher profit margins.
Forget expensive freight elevators — vertical lifts are a much simpler and more cost-effective way to move products between floors, levels and other hard-to-reach spots. We offer cost-effective material and scissor lifts, helping you keep your operation running smoothly without draining your budget.
As the retail and e-commerce market evolves, there are some shifts in how material handling and warehousing businesses carry out operations. Here are four emerging trends that are set to transform the industry:
Warehouses and distribution centers are increasingly adopting automation technology to take on repetitive and time-consuming tasks traditionally handled by humans. From boosting efficiency, productivity and accuracy to reducing worker turnover and labor costs, warehouse automation offers many benefits. WeÌýoffer various automated solutionsÌýat ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), goods-to-person systems, pick and pack stations, and more.
With the rise of smart technology like artificial intelligence (AI), more companies are using data analytics to track inventory, reduce errors and anticipate demand. This makes it easier to keep the right amount of stock on hand and fulfill orders quickly and accurately. Along with physical automation equipment, we also offer intelligent execution software that integrates with AMRs, monitors inventory and provides real-time data for item replenishment.
Sustainability is becoming a major concern for facilities operating in the e-commerce and retail industry. One green practice is using energy-efficient handling equipment, like electric forklifts, that create minimal pollution. We have aÌýwide range of electric forklifts, helping your business be more eco-friendly.
Though safety has always been a top priority, technological advancements have made warehouses and distribution centers much safer working environments. With robots for handling heavy lifting and working in dangerous areas, you protect your team and inventory. This means lower insurance costs, less downtime and a more reliable workforce. Sensors and AI also help prevent accidents like forklift collisions. Beyond embracing automation, a warehouse site survey conducted by our experts can help you identify hidden safety risks before an accident happens.
ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, 1490 Woolsey Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80915, USA
10100 W Montebello Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85307, USA
ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï - Material Handling Division, 2921 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84119, USA