The need for a storage facility is an integral part of a business’s life. It only indicates that the business is growing which in turn means that you’re going in the right direction. However, as with any business decision, settling on a storage option is not an easy decision to make. It requires a lot of thought and a great deal of knowledge regarding what’s out there in the market which is why this guide is what you need. Filled with the unembellished facts about storage solutions, it’s guaranteed to help you figure out what you want.
Shelving Systems
One idea, often the go-to for most businesses is purchasing a shelving system. Among the many perks, what stands out is the variety of available shelving systems in the market. Depending on your needs, you can pick between an industrial shelving system and regular office shelves. While the choice for office shelves mainly depends on shape, color, and space, there are many factors that go into the process of deciding on an industrial shelving system. After all, storing office supplies is much less challenging than storing paperwork and inventory in a warehouse.
Industrial shelves come in four types. The first is a steel shelving. It’s the lowest in terms of cost and is quite sturdy, but it’s not recommended if you’re working with goods that need good airflow. The second type is a wide span shelving. It’s mainly for heavyweight items because of its size and weight capacity. The third is a convenient low-budget option, the rivet shelving. Fourth, wire shelving, which is considered the best in terms of airflow because of the spaces between the wire mesh. It all goes back to your needs and the type of items you intend on storing.
Commercial Shed
This storage solution is self-explanatory. There is nothing to add regarding how a shed operates. It’s an empty space for storing goods, but it splits into two types: custom and standard. On one hand, you can look to purchase or rent an empty warehouse or storage shed, but you’ll have to keep in mind that you might end up paying a lot more for space that you don’t need or that doesn’t suit you. On the other hand, you can commission the design and build of your own commercial sheds to suit your exact needs without paying a dime more than you should. Of course, within your custom shed you can add the shelves of your choosing, or no shelves at all if you have no need for them. Better yet, you can add bays, personal access doors, windows, and much more to your design.
The Cloud
If what you’re looking for is a place to store your paperwork, then you might want to look into digitizing your paperwork and storing it online. Granted, the process will take long at first, but once your past documents are uploaded, you can keep your current data online, too. As for the matter of data security, there are many cloud storage solutions out there that offer AES 256-bit encryption which can take millions of years to crack, and that’s if you’re using a supercomputer. Not to mention, you can always encrypt your own documents and upload them online or keep them on a hard drive, but don’t forget to back up your data to avoid permanent data loss.
Self-Storage Companies
What if we could tell you that there is no need to fully commit to storage space? There are many companies out there that rent storage units for individual and business use, and the best part is that the leases are short-term. Of course, you can renew your contract whenever you need, but if you have no need for permanent storage and only happen to need a storage facility every now and then, short-term renting is much more of a cost-effective solution. Another remarkable advantage is that you won’t need to worry about securing your storage unit since that’s part of what you’re paying for.
As you must have noticed, choosing a storage solution for your business highly depends on your needs, budget, and the type of inventory or items you want to store. For some businesses, buying a permanent storage location is the best way to go. For others, a short-term rental would save them the hassle of having to commit to a long-term location while barely using it. Then there are the businesses who would completely benefit from a change in their business management system itself. Before you make your final decision, carefully weigh your options against your needs. Remember to take the future into account, as well.