High-quality long-term storage solutions are important for businesses to consider. They enable you to safely and efficiently store away any essential items – paperwork you’re required to keep, hefty equipment you need but don’t use often, your seasonal products, bulk orders you can’t store on premise, and more.
Depending on the type of business you’re running, different storage solutions might be better suited for your needs. A startup might benefit most from self-storage solutions like garages, while an established company will find the best long-term option to be third-party logistics and warehousing.
Let’s dive deeper into the world of long-term storage and see which option is best suited for your business.
Self-Storage Vs. Traditional Warehousing Vs. 3PL
Whether it’s short-term or long-term, a good storage solution should enable you to store, manage, and track your entire inventory efficiently. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll have three unique storage options, and the best one for you will largely depend on the size of your business:
- Self-storage;
- Traditional warehousing;
- Third-party logistics (3PL).
Self-storage is the most popular option for startups since it’s the most affordable, or better said, free. You’d be storing things in your garage, home, or at your place of business. While it can be a good solution for starting out, long-term self-storage isn’t always the best. It’s inefficient, leaves too much room for miscalculations and errors, and isn’t scalable.
Traditional warehousing involves renting a storage unit or buying a piece of land and building your own facility. You’d be in complete control of your inventory, but you’d need to hire your own staff, buy the necessary equipment, obtain licenses, and more. You’d also be running the risk of outgrowing or never fully growing into the space you have.
An additional point to keep in mind when exploring your traditional warehousing options is that industrial rents have increased by 4.2% since the pandemic started, while vacancies decreased.
Usually regarded as the best option is third-party logistics (3PL). The 3PL involves outsourcing logistics to industry experts who handle warehousing, inventory management, and fulfillment orders. You’d enjoy all the benefits of traditional warehousing without being responsible for running the entire operation by yourself.
In other words, 3PL companies are logistics specialists that offer comprehensive services and one-stop solutions for your entire supply chain. They have everything you need for proper long-term storage – adequate space, experienced staff, all the necessary equipment, and advanced inventory tracking technology.
The Benefits of 3PLs
Partnering with a 3PL company can make finding the right warehousing solution for your business easier. With the right provider, you’d enjoy an abundance of benefits that can help set your company on a path to success. Discover some of the reasons why 3PLs are the perfect solution for long-term storage.
Cost efficiency
When you opt to use a third-party logistics company for your long-term storage option, you won’t have to make additional investments in building and maintaining infrastructure, handling transportation for your fulfillment orders, or hiring staff.
What’s more, as logistics specialists, 3PLs can optimize product storage and deliveries, saving you money on shipping and significantly cutting your overhead costs since they’ll provide you with the exact solutions you need.
Access to industry experts and the necessary resources
3PLs cover all your storage requirements – they have storage and logistics experts on deck at all times, ensuring your inventory is taken care of efficiently and professionally. Even if you need long-term storage solutions in foreign markets, 3PLs will have your back as the staff is experienced with all international compliance regulations, transport documentation, import and export rules, and more.
Over the long-term, your storage needs may change, meaning you’ll require different resources. 3PLs will already have those resources available to you and you won’t need to purchase them yourself.
Flexibility and scalability
Your storage and warehousing needs are constantly changing as your business grows and develops, so 3PLs offer the utmost flexibility and scalability. As your business expands, 3PLs can provide you with extra space without fuss, allowing you to scale up with ease. Even if your business is downsizing, you can quickly scale down when you’re partnered with flexible 3PLs.
Enhanced safety and security
Partnering with 3PLs for long-term storage solutions enhances your company’s safety and security. Whether you’re storing important, sensitive documents, expensive products and equipment, or anything in between, 3PL experts will keep an eye on your inventory, ensuring everything’s in perfect order at all times.
Not only do 3PLs provide excellent insurance for your stored items, 24/7 security teams, and surveillance cameras that keep an eye on your inventory, but they also provide you with just the right storage conditions to ensure everything is in great order. They monitor the warehouse temperature and moisture levels and keep your inventory protected from any environmental damage that could harm it.
The JRC Advantage
JRC is the leading dedicated services company that provides you with advanced short and long-term storage solutions that are customized to suit your unique needs. Contact us to learn how we can help your company find the best long-term solution that improves your efficiency and saves you time, money, and effort.
