With the rise of omnichannel amid a lack of warehouse space and staff , it ' s vital for businesses to optimise every aspect of warehouse operations
WRITTEN BY : SEAN ASHCROFT
The rise of e-commerce – and omnichannel in particular – is impacting highstreets across the globe , and the race is on for retailers and third-party logistics ( 3PL ) providers to secure more warehouse space and capture a share in this growing market .
In the UK alone , warehouse space has increased by 73 % since COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2019 . Yet warehouse capacity is increasingly difficult to come by . Plus , there are ongoing warehouse staffing issues – a problem that pre-dates the pandemic but is now more pronounced than ever .
The shortage of both warehouse space and staff comes at a time when businesses are seeking to service increasingly high customer expectations . In an omnichannel world , speed and accuracy of delivery is everything , with the average consumer expecting products that are not only made to order and easily returned , but that also arrive when expected .
126 May 2022