Ecommerce Warehouse: What Is It and How to Find One?

Ecommerce businesses rely on ecommerce warehouses. Varied in size, location, and design, these warehouses offer physical spaces to store and manage the products sold by ecommerce retailers. Find out more on how vital these warehouses are to the supply chain and where to locate one.

Before understanding the purpose of an ecommerce warehouse, it’s important to know what an ecommerce business does. Ecommerce retailers buy and sell products that are available exclusively online, through an app or website, without customers having to visit a physical store.

Ecommerce businesses sell a wide range of physical products online. Examples include subscription boxes, electronics, and clothing. Home goods and electronics are also sold on ecommerce websites. Customers simply place their orders online and the goods are shipped to them.

What is an ecommerce warehouse?

The entire process occurs without the customer having to visit a physical store. But retailers need a space to house the goods that customers buy online—here is where ecommerce warehousing enters. These vast spaces store the retailer’s merchandise and handle order fulfillment.

The warehouses may be owned and run by the retailer or managed by a third-party fulfillment provider or 3PL.  Ecommerce warehouses offer numerous benefits to businesses at any stage of growth and size. Utilizing a warehouse is more expedient than storing products in a home garage, for instance.

What are the benefits of ecommerce warehouses?

Ecommerce warehouses are located across the country. This is advantageous for ecommerce retailers, since they can choose where to store their inventory. When products are closer to customers, shipping times are minimal, orders are received faster, and customer satisfaction increases.

Merchandise is organized when stored in an ecommerce warehouse. Organization is streamlined in these facilities due to real-time inventory tracking, shipment tracking, and trained labor forces who pick and pack with accuracy. The technology in ecommerce warehouses enhances customer experiences.

Growing businesses value time, which equals money. Delegating the order fulfillment process to a reliable ecommerce warehouse frees up a retailer’s time so they can focus on marketing and innovations. The time savings often offset the cost to utilize an ecommerce warehouse.

An ecommerce business can go awry without the services of an ecommerce warehouse. For example, inventory can become lost without the warehouse’s advanced management system. Incorrect orders may be shipped, and space can run out, especially in home garages or in-house storage.

What are different types of ecommerce warehouses?

Diverse ecommerce warehouses offer a variety of services to meet retailers’ unique business needs. Fulfillment centers, for example, store the retailer’s inventory, pick and pack merchandise, and ship orders. Most commonly, ecommerce retailers outsource fulfillment to a third-party logistics provider.

On-demand warehousing is another viable solution. Businesses rent warehouse space for short periods, which is invaluable when sales fluctuate due to seasonal demands. On-demand warehouses, however, don’t usually handle fulfillment; rather, these warehouses outsource it to a company that does.

Other warehouse types include consolidated warehouses that combine shipments from multiple suppliers and cooperative warehouses jointly owned by several businesses. Smart warehouses utilizing AI and robotics technology to enhance efficiency are also available.

How do businesses find an ecommerce warehouse?

Retailers must examine several factors before deciding on an ecommerce warehouse. The size of the business, the available capital and resources dedicated to a logistics strategy should be considered. A small startup that plans to scale fast ought to look at ecommerce warehousing.

Storage needs differ between ecommerce businesses due to the varied nature of the products they sell. For instance, retailers selling steaks or ice cream rely on specialty warehouses capable of storing cold or frozen goods at a safe, desirable temperature.

The location of the warehouse is equally important. Retailers with local customers meet their needs by partnering with an ecommerce warehouse in the area. However, when customers are located across the country, it’s advisable to choose warehouses that are in proximity to the customer base.

For example, an ecommerce retailer in San Diego with customers nationwide may have to fulfill orders in New York or Maine. Choosing a strategically located warehouse, such as in the Midwest, can cut down shipping times and reduce shipping costs.

When possible, visit a potential warehouse to asses its security measures, operational efficiency, and overall condition. The best ecommerce warehouses utilize technology to streamline operations and remain well-organized; they are also run by expert management. Meet the staff to improve the quality of customer service.

Online directories and listings can point businesses to ecommerce warehouses. Industry-specific directories deliver more targeted search results; they provide options that cater to specific warehousing needs, such as climate control and other special services. Networking and referrals are also useful.

Ecommerce retailers hunting for a reliable on-demand warehouse should look no further than OLIMP. We connect you to our vast network of warehouses across North America. Whether you’re an ecommerce business on the east coast or west, our services are designed to meet your business needs.

We provide flexible short-term or long-term ecommerce storage solutions, ideal for last-minute warehousing needs or seasonal fluctuations. In addition to convenient warehousing storage, OLIMP has warehouses in our network that provide cross-docking services and pallet rework. Our friendly managers provide you with customized warehousing solutions to suit your business.

Discover specialty warehouses through OLIMP. Businesses turn to us when they need cold storage warehouses, HAZMAT warehouses, and dry or frozen facilities. We also accommodate your needs for bonded and military authorized warehouses. Some of the warehouses in our network include equipment, like clamp trucks.

With no minimum storage terms, abundant warehousing space, and thousands of warehouses to choose from, it’s no wonder businesses partner with OLIMP to fulfill their ecommerce warehousing needs. Our warehouse rental options are flexible, designed to serve your business even as demand fluctuates.

OLIMP makes it easy to find the right ecommerce warehouse space anywhere in the country. Simply fill out our online booking form and be connected to a manager who can offer warehouse solutions. Visit us online today and find a warehouse in a prime location when you need it.