Warehousing & Distribution

Whether it’s finding the perfect location and building a warehouse or distribution center from the ground up or managing an existing facility, Ryder warehouse management solutions include designing and implementing processes, equipment, and technology platforms to help you improve efficiency and customer service levels. We hire and train personnel, which can include your current warehouse employees who know your business best, to ensure that your goods flow smoothly and inventory arrives when and where it’s needed. This includes flexing your labor needs during peak season with temporary workers.

Through integration with your current warehouse management systems (WMS) or implementing our WMS and technology platforms that drive actionable analytics and data, we create a culture of continuous improvement. With end-to-end visibility and an optimized supply chain, you will be better equipped to speed products to market, drive growth, and focus on what matters most – your customers.

Ryder employs more than 350 supply chain engineers, offers over 100 million square feet of managed warehouses, and operates over one million linear feet of packing lines. We have the expertise to manage both simple and complex operations, and offer omnichannel fulfillment throughout our distribution centers. Whether you’re in manufacturing, retail, wholesale, or e-commerce, Ryder’s warehousing solutions have you covered.

Dedicated Warehouses: These warehouses are for a single business to store products onsite. They are best suited for organizations that need a high-volume, reliable storage solution that is customizable.

Dedicated warehouses provide companies with complete control over their storage and shipping operations. Its advantages include transparent pricing and direct control over performance metrics. Dedicated warehous provide a better understanding of costs and access to specialized services that may not be available to public or multiclient warehouses. These include e-commerce fulfillment, bulk packing, inspection services, returns processing, and reverse logistics.

There are some disadvantages: overhead and maintenance costs can be higher. If the market suddenly takes a turn or demand slows down in the off season, expenses will remain the same.

Multiclient warehouses: These are spaces used by multiple businesses to ship and store their wares. They are considered more cost-effective because multiple companies using the space share rent and labor expenses. They are also useful for businesses that have storage needs that change seasonally or have fluctuating demand.

If an organization wants to expand without fully committing to its own dedicated facility, a multiclient warehouse is a useful solution for their warehousing logistics. There are other advantages. Contracts are often shorter and more flexible, and it’s ideal for companies that need multiple smaller distribution locations that are smaller, rather than a single, larger facility. Multiclient warehouses also benefit from management companies that oversee them and provide valuable analytics and inventory control.

Some of the disadvantages include competition for space with other businesses and the potential that your systems may not be compatible with the facility’s program.

A warehouse and a distribution center serve distinct purposes within the supply chain. Each plays a vital role in the storage and movement of goods, but with different focuses and functionalities. Ryder is a leading provider of both warehouse management and distribution management solutions.

Warehouse: A warehouse primarily serves as a facility for the storage of goods. It is typically used to store products for a longer duration, such as excess inventory, seasonal goods, or slow-moving items. Warehouses are often strategically located near manufacturing plants or major transportation hubs to facilitate efficient storage and distribution. They are equipped with shelving, racks, and other storage systems to organize and store goods effectively. Additionally, warehouses may offer value-added services like packaging, labeling, and quality control.

Distribution center (DC): A DC is more focused on the rapid movement of goods through the supply chain. Its primary function is to receive goods from suppliers, process orders, and distribute products to customers or retail locations quickly and efficiently. Distribution centers are strategically positioned to optimize transportation routes and reduce delivery times. They are designed for high-volume, fast-paced operations, with advanced automation and technology to streamline order processing, picking, packing, and shipping.

Depending on the needs of the supply chain, businesses may utilize both warehouses and distribution centers to optimize inventory management and order fulfillment processes.

Cross docking is a method for distributing products more efficiently without needing to store them in warehouses for long periods of time. Incoming goods are received and sorted at a cross docking facility and then loaded directly onto outgoing trucks for shipment. A cross docking system allows companies to move products directly from the receiving dock to the shipping dock. This streamlined method saves space and eases manual handling in the distribution center. Cross docking requires close synchronization of all outbound and inbound shipping movements and reduces the cost by decreasing stockpiling. Cross docking also involves re-packing, inspection and labeling.

Ryder provides cross docking solutions at strategic locations across North America. Our cross dock facilities help companies to nearshore operations, as well as speed products to market. Whether you’re looking to sort and route products destined for different locations, or consolidate products from different origins, cross docking facilitates distribution center (DC) bypass and direct-to-store deliveries, we have you covered.

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software application designed to streamline and optimize the operations of a warehouse or distribution center. It serves as a centralized platform for managing and controlling various warehouse activities, including receiving, put-away, picking, packing, and shipping.

WMS software provides:

1. Real-time visibility into inventory levels, locations, and movements, enabling efficient utilization of warehouse space and resources.

2. Automates and optimizes warehouse processes, such as inventory tracking, replenishment, and order fulfillment, to improve accuracy, productivity, and operational efficiency.

3. Can integrate with other business systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and transportation management systems (TMS), to facilitate seamless data exchange and coordination across the supply chain.

Overall, a warehouse management system plays a critical role in enhancing inventory management, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction while driving operational excellence in warehouse operations

Yes, Ryder is leading the industry in innovation and technology, piloting and implementing warehouse automation where it makes sense. At Ryder, we’ve extensively examined warehouse robots, goods-to-person technology, drones, wearables, and other technologies and disruptive trends to determine how they support smart warehouses, and deliver the most value to our customers while helping them stay ahead of their competitors.

Four types of innovative technologies most applicable to creating and supporting a smart warehouse have been prioritized:

1. Robotics and automation

2. Sensors and automatic identification tools

3. Wearable and mobile technology

4. Drones

When implemented correctly, these four technologies solve the 5 key attributes Ryder has identified that define a smart warehouse:

1. Automate as it makes sense economically

2. Remain nimble with space, staff, and software

3. Scale instantaneously in response to needs

4. Provide 100 percent real-time visibility

5. Use a web centric approach to run the business and provide a customer centric experience

When it comes to warehousing solutions, you can trust Ryder for making innovative, smart, and economical decisions for the storage and distribution of your products.