Want to supercharge productivity at work?
Every business that expands and grows eventually comes up against the same problem. At some point in their growth journey, the office becomes cramped. Inventory builds up. Equipment accumulates in every available nook and cranny.
This is the issue:
Clutter, mess and disorganisation have a severe adverse effect on productivity. Messy workspaces are slow and frustrating places to operate. It makes scaling your operation a near-impossible task.
Solution? Storage unit solutions and services can have a massive, positive effect on the way your business runs. Storing surplus inventory, seasonal stock and rarely-used equipment offsite can free up valuable workspace and allow you to focus on what actually matters most.
Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Businesses Are Turning to Storage Units
- Productivity Boosts from Offsite Storage
- How to Select the Best Storage Solution
- Using Storage to Work Harder for Your Bottom Line
Why Businesses Are Turning to Storage Units
Right now, the self-storage industry is experiencing phenomenal growth.
The Self-Storage Almanac tells us that the self-storage industry is worth $44.3 billion. The business storage segment is a significant driver of that.
Why? Well, business rates for commercial real estate are high. Warehouse space is higher still. Storage units offer a flexible and affordable alternative that simply makes sense.
Consider this…
E-commerce merchants need somewhere to house their inventory. Contractors need a place to store their tools and equipment. Service businesses simply accumulate paperwork, documentation and sundry supplies at a rate of knots.
Purpose-built storage unit solutions and services for your business can offer solutions to all of these pain points. Need storage units in Arizona or anywhere else in the US… the options are plentiful.
Smart business, right?
Productivity Boosts from Offsite Storage
External storage does more than simply store your excess inventory and equipment. It fundamentally changes the way that a business operates day-to-day.
This is what happens when all of the clutter is neatly stored in a storage unit:
Employees Work Smarter
Clean workspaces mean more productivity and less distraction. When every item has a place and excess inventory is neatly tucked away in a storage unit… employees are able to focus on their work.
Research proves time and time again that disorganisation, clutter and mess increase stress and negatively affect concentration. By using a storage unit to store all non-essential items, a business creates space and opportunity for productivity to flourish.
Operations Run Smoothly
Can’t find that all-important document from two years ago? Good luck if the filing cabinets are buried under last year’s seasonal stock.
External storage units allow for the proper organisation of business operations. Archive old, no-longer-needed files. Store seasonal stock during the off-season. Keep backup equipment within easy reach but out of the way. Suddenly, operations run like clockwork.
Scaling is Achievable
As a business grows and scales up, operators are faced with a choice. Find a new, larger (and more expensive) premises to work from… or find alternative solutions.
Storage units offer that alternative solution. According to Mordor Intelligence, the business segment of the self-storage industry is growing at 5.8% CAGR.
The smart businesses are realising this.
Instead of signing a longer commercial lease or renting warehouse space, businesses can simply scale their storage requirements as and when they need month-to-month. Need more space to cope with the holiday rush? Add a unit. Slower season? Scale back down.
Businesses that can do this enjoy significant competitive advantage in terms of cash flow and overheads.
How to Select the Best Storage Solution
Offsite storage is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Picking the right storage option for your needs is highly dependent on the individual circumstances of a business.
Consider these important factors:
Location
This is important. The closer a storage unit is to your everyday business operations, the better.
Any time spent driving back and forth is time lost. Search for facilities that are local to the office or warehouse premises. Easy access to highways is a definite plus. Some businesses even strategically locate multiple smaller units rather than one large one at a distance.
Security
Assets are stored in storage units for safekeeping. As such, security is not a consideration. It is a requirement.
When considering a facility, look out for:
- 24/7 surveillance camera systems
- Alarms on individual storage units
- Controlled access to the facility
- Well-lit surroundings
The piece of mind alone will be worth any small premium in the cost.
Climate Control
Not every item is the same when it comes to storage. Electronics, documents, pharmaceutical supplies and some retail goods can be damaged by excessive heat and humidity.
Climate-controlled units offer temperature regulation for a premium. When choosing a facility, factor this need into the selection process. A broken fridge monitor because your tech inventory overheated? Not worth the savings.
Access Hours
A more often-overlooked element is the access hours available at each facility. Can business owners and staff access the storage units outside normal working hours?
Emergency inventory requirements, last-minute shipments arriving at night, weekends… these things matter more than first meets the eye.
Facilities that can offer 24/7 access provide significant operational flexibility to the businesses they serve.
Using Storage to Work Harder for Your Bottom Line
Storage units are not just to simply hold stuff. Smart business owners and operators find ways to make them actively work harder for the bottom line.
Consider these ways:
Build an Inventory System
Know exactly what is in your storage units and where. Shelves, labels and a simple tracking system goes a long way.
Time spent looking for lost items is time and money wasted.
Take pictures of the contents of each unit. Make a list. Keep it digitally and ensure it is up-to-date at all times.
Rotate Inventory Regularly
Storage rotation is particularly beneficial to seasonal businesses. Keep current stock easily accessible. Rotate older, seasonal stock as required.
This simple approach means that the main workspace is optimised all year round without any negative impact on product availability.
Use Storage for Business Continuity Planning
Savvy business owners and operators know to store all critical backup equipment and emergency supplies in storage. In the event of a disaster at the main location, operations can continue.
It’s this type of forward planning that differentiates successful businesses from those that limp along from day to day.
Use Storage for Marketing
Businesses often use storage units to keep promotional materials, event supplies, trade show equipment and more neatly stored and ready to deploy. Being able to jump in the truck and offload whatever you need makes these marketing operations more effective.
Nothing else to trip you up before the next big push.
Wrapping Things Up
Storage unit solutions and services can offer one thing to businesses that money simply cannot buy. Space. Space to breathe and more room to grow.
The maths is simple. Less clutter in your business operation means more productivity. Better, more efficient organisation means smoother operations and more productivity. Flexible storage options mean easier scaling without a sharp rise in fixed overheads.
The self-storage industry is the solution to the issue because people and businesses have things. The self-storage industry prospers because smart business operators see the opportunities presented by using storage units to supercharge productivity at work.
Here’s a simple reminder of the points above:
- Strategically choose locations for ease of access
- Prioritise security and climate control requirements based on inventory needs
- Build systems and organisation to track everything
- Use storage to plan for the future and stay productive
Whether you’re storing seasonal inventory, archival documents, or freeing up space for expansion. The right storage solution can become a real competitive edge in business.
Businesses that recognise this opportunity will outperform and outcompete those that become weighed down by their own clutter.
And here’s one final thought:
Jumping in and giving it a shot requires minimal investment. Most self-storage facilities offer month-to-month leases with no minimums or long-term commitment. Test the waters. See what offsite storage can do to the way your business runs every day.
Really is that simple.
