Warehouse for e-commerce: how to choose a suitable size?
Polish e-commerce market has been developing at full speed and this results in a rising amount of warehousing space adapted to online sales needs. The question is what metric area to choose for the e-commerce warehouse? What to pay attention to when adapting it? See below for explanation.
Why e-commerce warehouse size matters?
The surface area of the warehouse for e-commerce primarily influences the number of goods to be stored before shipping to the final customer. But there is more than that. The metric area of the e-commerce warehouse substantially influences the price of using it. This is why the decision on the suitable size should not be rash – on the one hand you ought not to limit the surface area too much only to reduce expenses, but on the other – rental of a too large building means redundant costs.
Metric area of the warehouse for e-commerce – you need more space than a traditional warehouse
As experts suggest, warehouses for e-commerce may require as many as three times bigger surface area than the ones intended for „traditional” lessees[1]. The reason behind it is simple: e-store customers expect their goods to be delivered as soon as possible. In effect it is necessary to precisely arrange the space and divide it into zones.
A typical e-commerce warehouse is not only composed of a goods storing zone or loading/unloading zone. You often need to take the following into consideration:
- receipt and release zone, where packages for target customers are collected by couriers,
- return zone – the place in which goods returned by buyers are stored. They need to be repacked and entered into the warehouse register,
- added service zone – for example intended for labeling, repacking or customizing goods,
- packaging storage zone – unit packaging in which you put completed goods in, and other accessories for packing, e.g. fillers, take much space. They thus require a specially designated zone.
Additionally you need to consider the rest and refreshment facilities, as well as gates and loading docks.
What determines the required size of e-commerce warehouse?
Make choice of the e-commerce warehouse metric area dependent upon the following:
- line of business – it will determine the specific products storing system. Specific solutions (and surface area) are required when you sell clothing, and other solutions must be adopted when you focus on distributing car tires or electronics;
- current sales volume – the warehouse must provide you with a permanent access to goods which customers buy. It is important that you calculate how much you currently sell, and what you order and how often you place these orders at distributors’. Based on these data, you will be able to estimate the amount of storing space with ease,
- future sales volume – your e-shop is likely to „spread wings” soon, which will translate into increased warehousing needs. When choosing the surface area, particularly when signing a long-term agreement with a lessor, it is advisable to take this into account.
There are obviously other factors which can determine selection of the metric area. It is therefore advisable to contact logistics center experts to invest in the optimal-size surface area.
[1] Raport Cushman&Wakefield, Jak ugryźć e-commerce w magazynie, 2019
