How to double your warehouse efficiency

Objective: To increase productivity and reduce staff turnover at an e-commerce client’s warehouse to ensure the warehouse has sufficient manpower, improve working conditions, and maintain uninterrupted warehouse operations in the face of growing order volumes.

Reason: The number of online orders increased due to seasonal demand, requiring a rapid response to changes. High staff turnover and poor working conditions made it difficult to maintain the required productivity and service quality, causing delays in order fulfillment and reducing customer satisfaction.

The first step was to form a dedicated project team, which included experienced specialists in warehouse logistics and personnel management. The group was tasked with quickly recruiting personnel, ensuring delivery of people to their place of work, providing them with housing, food, clothing and quickly adapting them to work in the warehouse.

To ensure a quick response to the client's needs, temporary work places were created directly on the customer's warehouse premises. On-site teams allowed GRADUS specialists to closely interact with the client and effectively manage warehouse operations. The on-site teams included specialists such as a stationary manager, HR specialist, coordinator, recruiter.

One of the significant measures was the involvement of mobile teams to perform urgent and large volumes of work. Teams of 80 people were organized, who worked on a rotational basis. Shifts were distributed as follows: 40 people worked during the day, and 40 people worked at night, with each shift lasting 12 hours. The work schedule was 6 days with one day off. Their tasks included unloading and loading goods, sorting and picking orders, and other warehouse operations.

The onboarding process for new employees was simple and effective. The staff was trained in basic work processes and safety precautions so that newcomers could quickly get into the work rhythm. The shift work method ensured flexibility and stability in warehouse management, which allowed for a quick response to changes in work volumes.

The selection and training of new employees was an important stage in the implementation of the project. GRADUS ensured the creation of comfortable working conditions, including organizing meals and accommodation for employees, and also supplied the staff with all the necessary tools for work. As part of the project, three canteens and two dormitories for warehouse workers were equipped, which significantly improved working conditions and helped reduce staff turnover. Many shift workers decided to stay for the next shift due to the improved working environment.

Increased productivity: productivity standards were revised and in the second month productivity was 85%, from the second to the tenth month 95%.
Increase in the number of permanent staff: due to improved working conditions, the number of permanent employees increased significantly.
Customer satisfaction: the client noted a significant improvement in the quality of warehouse operations and a high degree of professionalism of GRADUS employees.