If you own a business with inventory and shipping needs, you may need to work with an efficient transportation service provider to meet your customers’ demands. Use this guide to learn more about the differences between cross-docking and warehousing so that you can determine which is best for your company.

Cross-Docking

Cross-docking involves sending packaged and boxed products to an outbound transportation service. This distribution center will handle the delivery, eliminating the need for your company to make every single delivery. The items are temporarily stored so that they can be sorted with other companies’ products. Then, the cross-docking company will group goods bound for nearby destinations and ship them toward the location together.

The lack of long-term storage makes this method a cost-effective way to ship goods. Additionally, since one business usually handles the shipping logistics, cross-docking reduces the number of people involved in the process, further lowering costs.

Warehousing

You can also store your products in a warehouse, and leave it to the warehousing team to ship them to your customers. Instead of packing it yourself and adding a label, you can send the order to the warehouse, and they will fulfill it for you.

This shipping method works well for businesses with a diverse product base or companies who need to keep large quantities of inventory on hand for different sales cycles. Warehousing is also beneficial if you have seasonal products or need intermittent storage. Transportation services that provide warehousing offer short- or long-term storage and will only charge you for the space you use.

If your company needs cross-docking or warehousing services, contact the reliable team at Hawaii Transfer in Waipahu. Since 1931, these professionals have helped Oahu businesses of all sizes ship their goods to customers across the Hawaiian Islands. Learn more about their advanced warehousing management system online, or call (808) 677-3111 to speak with a specialist about your company’s shipping needs.