What To Consider When Purchasing Warehouse Equipment

Thinking about rigging out your warehouse with brand-new equipment? New equipment can be a breath of fresh air for your company. It can take a while for you and your workers to become accustomed to it, but before long, it’ll become such an integral part of your warehouse that you’ll wonder how you ever made do without it.

But to get the most out of your warehouse equipment, you need to first choose the right kind for your business and warehouse’s needs. Here's what to consider when purchasing warehouse equipment so you make the decision that best facilitates your business's growth. This is known as data driven procurement. 

The Size

The first thing you need to decide is what kind of equipment you need. Once you know that, the next step is to determine how much floor space you can spare for the equipment in question. Warehouses often face massive amounts of congestion. Machines, shelves, and employees take up a lot of space, and the more that you pack inside, the more cramped your warehouse will be. Too much stuff can make your warehouse challenging and unsafe to navigate.

If you're short on space, look for machines that are compact or modular (meaning they serve multiple purposes or you can arrange them in different ways). You might also want to look into increasing the size of your warehouse by reworking the layout or installing mezzanines.

QOL Features

Some people prefer simple machines. They do one thing (and one thing only), and all you need to do to control them is press a button or two. But nowadays, most business owners are looking for versatile, high-tech equipment.

A piece of equipment with many QOL features may seem overcomplicated at first, but even though this means there's more to learn about and remember, it also means improved production, accuracy, ease of use, safety, and more.

You can get stretch wrapping machines with incredible technology that allows for remote monitoring and control or ones that speed up production by using techniques such as concurrent stretch wrapping. You can also get robotic machines that basically control themselves—there are robotic stretch wrappers, packers, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and more.

Used vs. New

The next thing to consider when purchasing warehouse equipment is whether you want to buy new or used. If you're working with a tight budget, purchasing used equipment instead of new equipment can be tempting. It's cheaper and more eco-friendly, after all, and you might find a great deal on newer models.

But oftentimes, the downsides of used equipment outweigh the benefits. Used equipment is more likely to break down and won’t be as productive as new equipment due to outdated technology. This means heftier maintenance costs along with lower production rates, accuracy, and quality compared to new equipment. Old equipment is better in the short term, but new equipment will be cheaper and more profitable for your business in the long run. Sometimes, splurging is worth it.