Warehouses are facilities that typically require a lot of energy to operate and often produce a significant amount of waste. As environmental friendliness becomes increasingly important for all types of companies, many are looking for innovative ideas to improve warehouse efficiency.
Better space utilization is one of many innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency, which also include recycling, buying secondhand, implementing energy efficiency measures and greater adoption of electric power.
SEE ALSO: The 2 best options available for marking warehouse floors.
The innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency presented below are not only effective in reducing pollution, but in many cases also help to reduce costs, so their adoption is of great business interest beyond reducing the environmental footprint.
Serviap Logistics offers installation, refurbishment and relocation services for warehouses in Brazil, Mexico and the United States, including the supply and installation of items such as collision barriers, floor markings and racking. Contact us at for more information.
Design and construction
From the outset, it is important to consider the layout of the facility and avoid the most common mistakes in warehouse configuration. Innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency often emphasize planning above all else. With a more efficient layout from the start, you can maximize production with minimal energy consumption and use resource-saving materials from the outset.
Innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency preach the importance of avoiding double trips and arranging racking and aisles so that large-volume goods have less distance to travel and better access for loading and unloading.
Going forward, consider building facilities so that the works can go both upward and outward. This allows for more space in a smaller physical footprint, which in turn saves on carbon footprint. Planning ahead also allows for the incorporation of key facilities, such as loading stations for electric forklifts or recycling containers for pallets.
Energy efficient lighting
Obviously, a warehouse must have excellent lighting to avoid accidents. Switching to energy-efficient lighting is an increasingly viable option among innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency. Using LED lighting is not only an excellent way to control energy consumption, but also a significant money saver.
Another option to consider may be the creation of skylights and windows, so that the warehouse can have free natural light that not only saves costs, but also improves the mood and health of workers. Because people feel and work better when they have natural light.
Finally, it is also important to make employees aware of energy-saving measures and ensure that everyone adopts small but important measures. For example, keeping equipment turned off when not in use also saves energy.
3. Use of electrical machinery
One of the key components of a warehouse are forklifts, machines that are used daily for loading and unloading goods. Traditionally powered by diesel or gasoline, innovative ideas to improve warehouse efficiency are increasingly focused on electric forklifts.
These trucks have a longer service life than traditional trucks, which translates into significant energy and cost savings, even if the initial outlay is higher. It is important to invest in servicing and maintaining the equipment to prolong its efficiency and durability.
In addition, electric forklifts produce no emissions, making them far superior to gas- or diesel-powered machines for warehouses with limited ventilation. Even better, they are also perfectly suited to warehouse environments that must be sterile to house goods such as fresh food.
4. Biodegradable packaging materials
By 2023, most innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency have the elimination of plastic packaging as a priority. With growing concern about single-use and forever plastics, the more this material is avoided, the better.
An environmentally friendly store will prioritize sustainable packaging. Fortunately, there are a number of readily available alternatives, from glass to wood to fully compostable or edible packaging.
Doing so is a way to act with social commitment and reduce waste that ends up in nature. When packaging is more efficient, it is lighter, and the cost of shipping also decreases. As with many of these innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency, minimizing waste is good for the environment and good for the budget.
5. Innovative ideas to improve the efficiency of warehouses: computer programs
Automation is the big trend in innovative ideas to improve warehouse efficiency. The organization and optimal control of deliveries are indispensable for saving resources, both in warehouse operations and in the coordination of maritime transport.
Innovative software automates orders, facilitates work and automatically generates shipments. This avoids energy losses, improves the efficiency of existing routing and reduces double routing. All this reduces errors and all associated energy costs and waste.
As innovation advances with automated warehouses, it is even possible for some warehouses to be fully automated and therefore operate as dark warehouses without lighting. This offers enormous possibilities for energy and lighting cost savings.
6. Innovative ideas to improve the efficiency of warehouses: energy
Solar panels are a key source of sustainable energy. State-of-the-art warehouse managers have demonstrated the importance of installing them to save electricity. Installing solar energy can be costly, but in the long run it will save a lot of money.
Thermal energy can also be harnessed in warehouses. A lot of heat is generated in a working day, and by using phase change material (PCM) it is possible to store some of this heat and release it when needed outside peak hours. Insulation also plays a key role here, to trap and retain as much heat as possible.
Greening a warehouse takes time. While these two innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency come with a hefty price tag, they will yield big savings in the long run and protect companies from volatile energy markets.
7. Recyclable pallets
Pallet racking for warehouses is a system that typically uses a wooden or plastic pallet as a base material. Both can be recyclable, which is a key parameter for innovative ideas to improve warehouse efficiency. Wood has traditionally been more popular, but both have advantages.
It is perhaps surprising that many warehouses with a recycling culture purchase plastic pallets. This type of material can be recycled on many occasions, making it an excellent choice for sustainability. This is an example of how plastics can be used positively.
Warehouses that continue to use wooden pallets should always recycle them. Fortunately, this is also relatively easy to do. Wooden pallets are cheaper, but they are more susceptible to damage, whether from daily wear and tear, insects or weather factors.
Serviap Logistics offers warehouse picking services
At Serviap Logistics we help you with the assembly of warehouses in Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Our services include the supply and installation of elements such as collision protection, floor markings, labels, shelving and signage.
We count some of the world’s largest companies among our satisfied customers and partners, covering a wide range of industries such as automotive, e-commerce and wholesale, among others.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help you create or improve your warehouse operations, contact us at. And if you were interested in this article on innovative ideas for improving warehouse efficiency, check out the rest of our coverage.
