Warehouse space – what is it?
A warehouse is an organizational and functional unit where a company's inventory is stored . Currently, it plays a particularly important role due to the growth of the e-commerce sector. This space should not only be managed and operated by experienced employees but also equipped with appropriate technical resources . It encompasses the following areas:
- communication;
- utility;
- transshipment;
- acceptance and issuance;
- auxiliary;
- component.
The size of the warehouse space has a significant impact on the overall scope of employee responsibilities. Larger warehouses employ, in addition to warehouse workers, dispatchers, packers, and forklift operators, a manager or dispatcher may also be employed.
Types of storage spaces
Warehouse spaces differ in terms of construction, height, and purpose, among other factors. Therefore, they come in several forms:
- open warehouses without external walls, mainly used for storing large goods, e.g. vehicles;
- semi-open warehouses in the form of shelters with partially covered external walls – they ensure the flow of light and air while protecting the stored goods from various weather conditions;
- Closed warehouses equipped with external walls that provide protection against weather conditions – they allow for the control of humidity and temperature inside the warehouse.
Storage heights are divided into low-bay, medium-bay, and high-bay warehouses . In low-bay warehouses, goods—usually larger—are stored at a maximum height of 4.2 meters from the floor . In medium-bay warehouses, this height can reach 7.2 meters , while in high-bay warehouses, goods are stored at much higher heights . Storing inventory at heights of up to 25 meters allows for full utilization of the warehouse space. In addition to commercial and production warehouses, there are also special storage spaces . Special warehouses store, among other things, explosive and flammable materials, fruit, or goods requiring refrigeration, such as certain medications or food.
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Appropriate organization of storage space
The warehouse and transport infrastructure should enable, above all:
- efficient work of people employed with little effort;
- appropriate customer service;
- reducing corporate costs;
- maintaining stocks and storing them rationally.
There are various methods for arranging inventory in a warehouse, including the fixed storage location method, the free storage location method, and the ABC method of picking . The first method assigns each item a specific location, while the second method utilizes any available space . The third method divides inventory into three groups and focuses on storing items with the highest turnover rate near the receiving and issuing areas . The organization of warehouse space and the items within it plays a crucial role in the entire logistics process and significantly impacts employee efficiency.
Warehouse space in Poland – what determines its price?
The price of warehouse space in Poland depends on several factors. One of them is location – warehouses located in attractive areas, such as near large cities, highways, or airports, are usually significantly more expensive. The size of the warehouse space also matters – the larger the square footage, the higher the purchase or rental costs. Orange offers warehouse space in several parts of Poland, including towns such as Pabianice and Połczyn-Zdrój . These include both smaller spaces and larger ones, with land areas of up to 12,500 m² and warehouse buildings measuring 308 m². If you're interested in this topic, also check out the article " Commercial Real Estate Market – A Guide ," which provides a bird's-eye view of this sector. Selling land and real estate for investment is our specialty. Check out our offer and ensure your company never runs out of warehouse space again – a properly designed warehouse is key to success.