Online sales are exploding.
Your customers now expect next-day (or same-day) delivery – every time.
A slow, old-fashioned warehouse kills margins and loses customers fast.Here’s how to design a modern eCommerce warehouse that’s fast, accurate, and profitable.
1. Get the Layout Right First
| Layout Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Goods-to-Person | Items come to the picker (robots, shuttles, conveyors) | High-volume, small items |
| Person-to-Goods | Pickers walk or ride to the stock | Smaller sites or bulky/special items |
Golden rule: Put your fastest-moving items closest to packing.
This one change alone can cut picking time by 30–50%.
2. Use the Right Automation (You Don’t Need Everything at Once)
| Technology | What it does | Typical ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyors & Sorters | Move and sort boxes automatically | 12–24 months |
| AS/RS or Shuttles | Dense storage + super-fast retrieval | 2–4 years |
| Pick-to-Light / Voice | Lights or headsets guide the picker | 6–18 months |
| AutoStore / Robots | Cubes or bots bring items to the picker | 2–3 years (huge labour saving) |
| WMS Software | Real-time stock & order control | Immediate |
Start simple (WMS + pick-to-light), then scale as orders grow.
3. Nail Inventory Management
Real-time stock visibility is non-negotiable.
- RFID or barcode scanning = 99.9% accuracy
- ABC slotting: A-items near packing, C-items at the back
- Set automatic reorder points – no more surprise stock-outs
- Cross-docking for hot items – straight from receiving to shipping
Result? Fewer returns, happier customers, less cash tied up in slow stock.
4. Speed Up Order Fulfilment
Popular methods that actually work:
| Method | How it works | Speed boost |
|---|---|---|
| Batch / Wave Picking | Pick many orders in one go | Up to 2× faster |
| Pick-to-Carton | Pick straight into the shipping box | Saves a whole packing step |
| Click & Collect | Dedicated BOPIS zone for in-store pickup | Customers love it |
| Same-Day Zones | Fast-lane packing area for urgent orders | Meet those tight cut-offs |
Don’t forget returns – give them their own fast-processing area so stock gets back on sale quickly.
The Pay-Off
A well-designed eCommerce warehouse delivers:
- 50–100% more orders per day with the same team
- Error rates under 0.2%
- Next-day delivery as standard
- Lower rent (you fit more in the same building)
- Happy customers who buy again
Ready to Build (or Upgrade) Your eCommerce Warehouse?
2h Storage Solutions designs and fits out fast, modern eCommerce warehouses across Yorkshire and the North East.
We handle everything:
- Free site survey & layout design
- Pallet racking, mezzanines, automation-ready storage
- Conveyors, pick-to-light, shuttles, robots
- Full project management – one point of contact
- Ongoing inspections and support
Stop losing sales because your warehouse can’t keep up.Call us today for free expert advice and a no-obligation quote.
Tel: 01937 585057
One smart redesign can double your capacity and slash your costs – let’s make it happen.
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