The U.S. supply chain experiences its fair share of challenges. That being said, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on unique and unexpected difficulties across the country. A variety of factors have increased costs and impacted performance up and down the supply chain. Fortunately, logistics professionals are rising to the challenge by developing innovative solutions.
One of those solutions is the growth of mobile warehousing and storage. By allowing for warehousing options that are cost-effective and manageable in real time, mobile warehousing has become an important tool for supply chain professionals.
Understanding Mobile Warehousing
Mobile warehousing is any form of mobile facility used to store goods. These storage options are not permanent buildings found in a static location. Instead, they are secure storage options that can be moved at a moment’s notice.
Mobile warehousing takes many forms. In some cases, it involves pre-loaded trailers packed with goods and ready to go. In other situations, it could involve barges full of seasonal items ready to ship. Containers are another common option for mobile warehousing.
What’s important is that mobile warehousing offers valuable flexibility. These options can be quickly moved to where they are needed, providing companies with storage in real time.
Benefits of Mobile Warehousing
There are several benefits that come with the use of mobile warehousing. One of the primary benefits is the speed of delivery. These options are most helpful when they are stored farther away from the traditional facility where loading originally occurred. When mobile warehousing is used closer to the point of delivery, it can greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to complete last mile delivery.
Mobile warehousing could be especially valuable for last mile logistics when used as a hub in large cities. For some companies, this option could replace the need for a costly, static facility. The benefits of a system which relies on mobile warehousing are significant for high-volume goods.
Furthermore, the savings that come with mobile logistics could allow a company to become competitive in a geographical area where they had previously been locked out of.
In addition to handling deliveries, temporary warehousing could be a creative option for serving as a hub for returns. With the appropriate schedule, the same mobile warehousing used for deliveries in the morning could be also used for returns in the afternoon, for example.
Low costs are at the center of these benefits. Temporary warehousing, which has long been a low-cost option, has spiked in price in recent years. Mobile warehousing could replace the use of temporary warehouse storage in many situations. This is especially true for high-volume seasons like the holidays.
Other Innovative Solutions
Mobile options are not the only innovative way to manage a warehouse. Relying on flex workers to fill your temporary labor needs is another great option. These workers could provide experienced help when you need it while allowing you to avoid unnecessary labor costs when you don’t.
HapiGig is a great option for connecting with experienced warehouse flex workers. Our platform connects carefully-vetted warehouse workers with facilities in need of short-term help. If you are curious about how we could help your facility, reach out today.