We’re not exaggerating when we say this—relocating a warehouse is a monumental task with lots of moving parts and logistical challenges. The key to coordinating a smooth warehouse move is plenty of preparation to minimize the complexity of the transition.
But fear not—your favorite Sydney removalists have come up with 8 tips to help make your warehouse move as smooth and painless as possible.
1. Pick the Right Space for Your New Location
It’s important to choose a location that will provide room for your business to grow. A good rule of thumb is to find a place that can accommodate projected business growth over the next 5 – 10 years.
You should also think about any issues you have with your current warehouse and the layout of the new facility. Are there problems with your current layout that inhibit workflow or cause bottlenecks with distribution? Does your potential location have the ability to solve those problems?
Another consideration—make sure the height of the new warehouse will house your current racking system…or be prepared to leave your old racks behind and purchase new ones for the new location.
If you aren’t confident configuring a racking system for your new location, take heart—there are several professional warehouse racking design companies who will create a custom design plan for your new space and tell you exactly what racks or shelving to buy to maximise functionality.
2. Consider Employees
Odds are your warehouse will be operating as you prepare for the relocation. It’s important to take into consideration your employees and their workday. How many hours will be allocated to prepping for the move? How many will be spent accomplishing routine warehouse tasks?
Determining the number of man hours required to successfully complete the move will keep you from overworking your employees. You may find it necessary to hire temporary help to ensure a smooth transition.
3. Go Through Your Inventory
It’s important to inventory all your stock so you can ensure it arrives at the new location. Organize items by category and pack them accordingly.
This is a great time to sort out any old, discontinued, or expired stock. Relocating from one warehouse to another is expensive and time consuming—why spend more time and money moving items that are obsolete?
4. Make a Thorough Plan
It’s important to plan the entire relocation from start to finish. It’s likely that most personnel will experience a temporary shift in roles and responsibilities, so communication amongst staff and employees is key…and the earlier, the better.
Costing is also important and setting a cost plan and budget can prevent any unexpected surprises. Take into account whether you’ll need to purchase new racks or shelving for the new facility and what estimated labor costs will be for setting up the new warehouse and operational systems.
5. Think About Upcoming Deliveries
As moving day approaches, think about whether you want to receive deliveries before or after the move and schedule accordingly. Receiving deliveries post-move reduces the amount of product you have to transport from one location to the next…but, if the idea of checking in several deliveries on top of settling into the new place is…well, unsettling…you may prefer to have the items delivered prior to the relocation.
6. Make Sure Permits Are in Order
At some point in our lives, we’ve all been held hostage by red tape. Avoid the stress of wondering whether permits will be issued in time by starting the process well in advance of your move. Make sure you have the correct building, occupancy, fire, and any other permits in order weeks in advance.
7. Don’t Forget the Basic Moving To-Do’s
Because a warehouse move is so logistically challenging, it’s easy to overlook all the little things that need to happen during a move. Remember to advise customers and companies who send deliveries of your address change, forward your mail, and schedule the transfer of electricity, phone, and internet services.
8. Hire Professional Movers
We acknowledge there are some moves that employers can tackle themselves—a warehouse move, however, is not one of them.
Yes, professional removalists increase the overall cost of the move, but the time and money you save by hiring an experienced team of warehouse movers makes the expense well worth it.
This is especially true if your business uses complicated or specialised equipment that must be disassembled and expertly packed prior to the move.
And so…
Don’t let the idea of relocating your warehouse overwhelm you. While it is a big move, it is absolutely doable with proper planning and the right removalist team.
If you’re planning a warehouse move, we hope you’ll contact us at Holloway Removals. As one of Sydney’s best removalist companies, we have an expert team of movers who can make sure your racks, inventory, and equipment are efficiently packed and safely transported to your new location.
Contact us for a custom quote. We’ll provide you with everything you need and nothing you don’t.
After all…it’s your move.