It’s hard to switch on the news without seeing stories about a lack of goods and issues with transportation. We probably all underestimated how much we value tomatoes and peppers until we couldn’t get them. It’s not clear whether the issue is adverse weather conditions, storage or in fact a wider issue of the supply chain which is also being impacted by the war in Ukraine. What is evident is that the movement of goods around the UK has a direct impact on the profitability of our businesses. This is why we cannot underestimate the importance of our warehouses.
Supply chain and logistics
Being able to source goods and have them to our doorsteps in a timely manner is perhaps something we have all taken for granted. It was evident in the run-up to Christmas 2022 that the conflict in Ukraine, the cost of living and strike actions by Royal Mail were having a huge impact.
“So where do our warehouses fit in all of this?”
Supply chain management is a strategy that facilitates the production, sourcing, and delivery of goods. The logistics element is when businesses work out how they will ensure their products are in the hands of their consumers in a timely manner. It is critical therefore that warehousing facilities are fit for purpose and well maintained at all times. A warehouse must ensure goods are kept clean and dry which involves developing a well-conceived property maintenance plan that minimises stock loss or damage. It means that property maintenance must be carried out on schedule rather than in a reactive fashion. However, if situations occur such as unforeseen, weather, events or leaks, equally it is critical that businesses are able to call on a proper maintenance company that has the infrastructure and skill set to react quickly.
Dilapidation works.
It’s not just property maintenance that The Complete Property Group helps businesses with, sometimes it is dilapidation works. We’ve talked about dilapidation charges and works in a prior blog. This kind of work will come up when a commercial business such as a warehouse comes to the end of a lease and needs to be made ready for the next tenant. We were engaged by our client in Portsmouth on one such project where our brief was to transform a warehouse space back into a good as new condition. We used the schedule of dilapidations that the client gave us to carry out renovation works on internal areas. The result was a fully functional warehouse in space, ready for a new tenant to use to facilitate their business. You can read more about this in our case study.
A warehouse, therefore, is much more than a building that houses goods. It is a critical part of the UK supply chain and a key ingredient for the success and profitability of businesses. Having a well-conceived maintenance schedule and a relationship with a professional property services company is essential. Your warehouse is an asset that must be protected and maintained as it is the gateway to your distribution and key to supplying your market.
Get in touch today if you would like a conversation to develop a maintenance plan for your warehouse.