Published on: 14 January 2020
Last Updated on: 21 January 2020
It is a fact that the agricultural sector is of massive importance to the whole U.S. economy. It is thought to be worth over $1 trillion to the country each year and is a major employer. Of course, it also gives us the food we need to survive! As such, agriculture is extremely important to the USA and is a popular sector for entrepreneurs to open a business.
Although you may have been successful to date, you might currently be struggling with how to move your business up to the next level. This is an important step as it will stop you from stagnating and allow you to generate more revenue. This is true whether you own a farm or run another kind of agricultural company. The below should help if you are looking for a few tips on how to do this.
Erect new buildings to house stock or animals
For the agricultural sector or business, sustained growth can only come about by having enough of what customers want to buy. Sometimes though this can be seriously limited by the existing space you have to work with. For example, you will struggle to grow beyond a certain point if you have only limited space to house stock or your harvested crops.
Investing in new buildings so you can carry more products to sell and thus increase profits makes good sense. Over time, this investment will pay for itself due to the increased sales it allows. Of course, if you are a farmer then putting up new buildings can give you more space to store machinery or give you somewhere suitable to house more animals. Many businesses will opt to use fiber-reinforced concrete when doing so due to the extra strength and durability this gives any new structure.
Network, network, network
As with any other sector within a business, networking is a great way to stimulate growth in your agricultural organization. This could be on a B2B level where you attend offline networking events to forge new connections or use online platforms like LinkedIn to do the same. Of course, you can also network on a B2C level at things like agricultural trade shows or public events. By engaging in this kind of activity, you are helping to build your brand and showcase to people what you can offer. This can really help you to generate more leads, more sales, and more revenue in the future. If this is not something you usually like to do, it really is worth giving it your best shot.
Set specific goals
Many people who own a business in the agricultural sector will fail to grow it due to being overly generic in their aims. Merely saying I would like to have a bigger or more successful business this time next year is not specific enough. You need to set out realistic and achievable goals that will ultimately produce the growth you desire. Whether it is trying to develop one new product to launch, setting up a farm shop or revamping your website to attract more visitors, setting specific goals can really help. Getting a proper plan in place of not only what you want to do but also how you will go about it is crucial.
Think about digital marketing
Whatever goals you set people to need to know you exist before you can grow. By far the best way for many agricultural businesses to go about this is by using modern digital marketing methods. From farming consultants to machinery manufacturers or feed producers, these ways of getting your brand out there can prove very effective. Top of the list for many is using social media platforms. Free to set up and simple to use, they provide an easy way to reach more people globally and to show what you offer. Methods like email marketing and PPC ad campaigns are also effective when done right.
Take action to stimulate growth
In many ways, helping your agricultural business to grow is no different than doing so in other business sectors. The key is to maximize what you have to sell and making sure that your marketing efforts bring more people in to buy from you. The agricultural sector is of huge importance to the entire U.S. economy.
Planting new crops that could prove popular or bringing new products on-board to sell is also worth considering in order to get to where you want to be. The most important part is to have a clear idea of where you are headed so you can take your first steps toward reaching there.
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CMMS has changed the way businesses track assets, manage work requests, scheduled maintenance services and manage their inventories. The system not only organizes but it also simplifies and automates all your maintenance operations to the advantage of your business. They have proved to be a very solid investment for businesses because of what they stand to offer.
Unlike in the past when such systems were seen as a luxury by organizations, this mentality has recently changed. Every business strives to have the system installed in order to streamline its operations and be able to compete with the rest. The incorporation of CMMS software into a business' operations introduces the organization into a new world of great possibilities.
Regardless of how solid a system is, it at times needs improvements. The same notion applies to CMMS. In as much as the system promises to deliver improved productivity but if the system is implemented properly, its potential can still be harnessed. This article will elaborate on the different ways CMMS can be improved in order to maximize its returns on investment.
Examining your asset management facilities:
Asset management is one critical area in any organization which requires special attention. A well-configured CMMS system should be able to guarantee that all your assets are kept in check. There are a number of advantages associated with running an asset management facility including the possibility of your team making the right and most importantly informed decisions regarding asset repairs and maintenance. Besides that, the facility can also help give statistics on the number of times a machine has broken down which can then allow you to perform preventative maintenance on the same to avoid recurrent costs.
To improve ROI on your CMMS you need to properly configure the facility. Instead of having a few personnel tracking the health of equipment, you can opt to involve as many machines as possible through all your departments so that you can make the most. This is supported by the fact that research has revealed that in order to extend the lifespan of an asset, you need to increase the frequency of asset management professionals entering into the system.
How well are you tracking both your orders and inventory assets?
The best part about CMMS is that it will allow you to track both your work orders and inventory assets from anywhere. This is made particularly possible by the fact that the system manages to keep all this information in one centralized location thereby granting you access to the same on a need basis.
When your workforce is properly managed, it will increase efficiency in as far as your work orders are concerned, reduce incidences of being offline and ultimately improve on your productivity. Make it your priory to perform routine checkups of your team's daily work orders to keep them on track and ensure that everything is flowing seamlessly. Remember that systems are managed by individuals and how effective you'll be at running your CMMS is ultimately how profitable you'll turn out to be.
The beauty of it is that you do not have to do all these monitoring of work orders and inventory assets from your office. Even when outside the office, you can still manage to track the orders and ensure that your employees are adhering to the set standards.
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Imagine you're on the edge of your seat in the middle of an action-packed, spellbinding movie. After a few climactic scenes, the main character makes a frantic phone call. He then cracks open a can of soda.
Nothing about this scene seems out of the ordinary. The character is simply quenching his thirst after a big police chase or a kung fu brawl.
That is until some familiar brand of soda appears on the can in a big, bold, unapologetic font.
Talk about a plot twist.
But product placement in movies is nothing new. Old school marketing techniques show how far companies will go to advertise. They'll even go as far to pay directors and producers to feature them in films.
There have been great instances of advertising that worked well in films. But there have been plenty of others that were so shameless and unnatural, we wish we could forget them.
Here are 6 of the silliest, most cringe-worthy moments of advertising in movies.
1. Starbucks (You've Got Mail):
'You've Got Mail' may be the first film to portray online romance. Given that it takes place in 1998, AOL was practically its own character in the film. Without it, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's characters would have never "met" and fallen in love.
But AOL wasn't the only company to get prime ad space in 'You've Got Mail.' At the beginning of the film, Tom Hanks quips about the obscurity of Starbucks.
His character's snarky commentary doesn't serve much to the plot. But it does help to give the audience somewhat of an introduction to his character. All while appealing to pretentious coffee drinkers like his character in the process.
2. Designer Brands (Sex and the City):
Curious which movies with the most product placement made our list?
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the 'Sex and the City' film featured dozens of fashion labels. After all, fashion was a constant theme throughout the hit TV series.
The series has long appealed to women in the 20-30 age bracket. So, when it went to the big screen, tons of the biggest fashion labels came calling.
You better believe Louis Vuitton and Chanel made a handful of cameos throughout the film. But some other products made the cut, too. Nike, U-Haul, Apple, and Marie Claire are just a few of many brand name drops in 'SATC'.
Producers and creator Darren Starr were clearly not ashamed.
3. Reese's Pieces (E.T the Extra-Terrestrial):
Not all instances of product placement in movies are bad. Certain films have done it so subtly we hardly pick up on the smell of advertising.
Steven Spielberg's 'E.T the Extra-Terrestrial' is undeniably one of those movies. Who could forget when Elliot entices E.T by scattering Reese's Pieces around the woods and back to his house?
Hershey's certainly cashed in when E.T became a box office hit. But this was back in 1982. So, can product placement still hold merit today as an advertising technique?
The technique may actually be more effective than ever before. You can discover more about the different ways this technique continues to work.
4. Popeyes Chicken (Little Nicky):
Whereas E.T is a good example of subtle product placement, Adam Sandler's 'Little Nicky' is not. It's one of several Happy Madison comedies that wasn't well-received by critics. But it gained a cult following for its ridiculousness and quotability nonetheless.
In one scene, Adam Sandler, who plays the kindhearted son of Satan, learns how to eat with the help of a talking dog. What does he learn to eat with?
Popeyes fried chicken. And the large takeout box of it sits in the center of the shot. Even a big K-mart bag makes a small cameo, as well.
The scene concludes with Nicky proclaiming how awesome Popeyes chicken is. Not subtle in the least, but the scene is something fans continue to quote to this day.
5. "I Will Not Bow to Any Sponsor" (Wayne's World):
Is it any less shameful when a movie calls itself out on its attempts to advertise?
Few films are able to make fun of themselves about their blatant attempts to advertise. But the first 'Wayne's World' film provided a plot where it was possible to do so.
Wayne and Garth sell their public access show to a big-time TV producer. In the build-up to the climax, the producer confronts Wayne and Garth about their contract. They agreed to air an interview with the show's new sponsor, but Wayne insists otherwise.
What follows is a satirical scene of obvious advertisements all surrounding Wayne's opposition. While opening up a box of Pizza Hut, Wayne proclaims, "I will not bow to any sponsor."
Wayne goes on to explain that he doesn't believe in "selling out" while holding a bag of Doritos and drinking a Pepsi. Garth also gives his two cents on the idea of selling out while clad in Reebok gear from head to toe.
6. Heineken (James Bond Franchise):
The character James Bond has always had an affinity for dry martinis. This trait has inspired fans of the franchise to become martini drinkers for decades. But over the years, James Bond has dabbled in other commercial alcoholic drinks.
In 1997, the famous film franchise partnered up with the Dutch beer company, Heineken. Heineken has advertised the James Bond films since 1997's 'Tomorrow Never Knows.' The ads have always been over the top, contributing to the promotional side of the Bond franchise.
But Bond himself never drank the Dutch beer until 2012's 'Skyfall.' In one scene, while James Bond is in bed cuddled up with his latest love interest, he drinks a Heineken.
For any fan who has ever wished to be like James Bond, this scene is definitely inspirational. At least that's the kind of association Heineken had intended to portray.
The Power of Product Placement in Movies:
If you've ever watched a movie and noticed an advertisement, you may have reacted one of a couple of ways.
You may have hardly noticed or didn't care all too much. You could've felt preyed upon as a consumer or felt the ad ruined the experience. Or, you may have thought to yourself, "Wow. That was actually a great instance of advertising."
Product placement in movies allows companies to reach a worldwide audience. Depending on how big the film is, these audiences can reach into the millions.
When characters we love use certain products, we're more inclined to buy them. But there are other lots of other innovative and clever ways to advertise in movies - and beyond. If you're in need of some inspiration, check out more advertising news and ideas.
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Welcome, warehouse wizards and storage enthusiasts, to a world where storage solutions become extraordinary! Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey as we unveil the secrets to transforming your warehouse into a space of efficiency, organization, and, dare we say, a touch of magic.
Imagine a realm where every inch of your storage space is optimized to its fullest potential, where inventory is easily accessible with a mere flick of a wand (or swipe of a finger), and where productivity soars to spellbinding levels.
In this blog post, we will delve into innovative techniques, cutting-edge technologies, and practical strategies you manage and optimize storage in your warehouse. So gather your wands of ingenuity, don your capes of efficiency, and get ready to unlock the secrets to maximizing space utilization and streamlining warehouse operations!
The Importance Of Optimizing Storage In A Warehouse
Efficient storage management is not just a matter of convenience; it plays a crucial role in the success of any warehouse operation. The optimization of storage space holds numerous benefits, including:
Maximizing space utilization: Warehouses often face the challenge of limited space. By optimizing storage, you can make the most of the available space, allowing for increased storage capacity without the need for expansion. Utilizing every square foot effectively ensures that inventory can be stored and accessed efficiently, minimizing wasted space and reducing the risk of overcrowding.
Streamlining inventory management: Efficient storage systems enable better organization and categorization of inventory. With optimized storage, items are logically arranged, labeled, and easily accessible, facilitating streamlined inventory management processes. This reduces the time spent searching for items, eliminates errors in picking and packing, and improves order fulfillment speed and accuracy.
Enhancing workflow efficiency: An optimized storage layout enables smooth workflow patterns within the warehouse. By strategically placing items closer to high-traffic areas or frequently accessed zones, you can minimize travel time, reduce congestion, and increase overall operational efficiency. This translates to improved productivity, faster order processing, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Preventing damage and loss: Proper storage optimization includes considerations for the safe and secure handling of inventory. By utilizing appropriate storage solutions such as racks, shelves, or automated systems, you can prevent damage caused by improper stacking, mishandling, or environmental factors. This reduces the risk of product loss, minimizes inventory shrinkage, and protects the overall value of stored goods.
Cost savings: By optimizing space utilization, you can avoid unnecessary expenses associated with expanding or relocating to larger facilities. Additionally, streamlined inventory management reduces the risk of overstocking or understocking, optimizing stock levels and minimizing holding costs. Lastly, improved workflow efficiency enhances labor productivity, reducing labor costs over time.
Safety and compliance: An optimized storage system promotes a safer working environment by reducing clutter, eliminating obstacles, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. By implementing proper storage techniques and utilizing safety features such as guardrails, signage, and designated walkways, you can mitigate the risk of accidents, injuries, and potential liability issues.
Top 3 Ways To Optimize Storage In Your Warehouse
Now that we understand the importance of optimizing storage in a warehouse, it's time to unveil the top three strategies that will help you unlock the full potential of your storage space. These strategies will guide you toward achieving maximum efficiency, organization, and productivity.
1. Efficient Space Planning
Efficient space planning is a fundamental step toward optimizing storage in your warehouse. By carefully analyzing and organizing your available space, you can make the most of every square foot, effectively utilizing the area to its maximum potential.
Here are some vital considerations for efficient space planning:
Evaluate layout: Start by assessing your warehouse layout and identifying areas where space is underutilized or inefficiently used. Look for opportunities to rearrange shelving, racks, and workstations to create a more streamlined and accessible flow.
Categorize inventory: Classify your inventory based on the frequency of use, size, weight, and other relevant factors. This allows you to allocate appropriate storage space based on the specific needs of each item. Consider implementing an inventory management system to aid in categorization and tracking.
Optimize aisles: Optimal aisle width is crucial for efficient movement within the warehouse. Strive for a balance between aisle space and storage capacity. Narrower aisles can maximize storage density, while wider aisles facilitate ease of navigation and equipment maneuverability.
Implement clear signage: Clear and visible signage plays a vital role in efficient space planning. Labeling storage areas, shelves, and sections helps employees locate items quickly, reducing time spent searching and minimizing errors.
2. Utilizing Vertical Storage Solutions
One of the most effective ways to optimize storage in your warehouse is by harnessing the power of vertical space. Vertical storage solutions make efficient use of the height of your facility, allowing you to store more items without expanding your floor area. Here are key strategies for utilizing vertical storage:
Vertical racking systems: Install vertical racking systems, such as pallet racking or cantilever racks, to stack items vertically. These systems provide sturdy support and can accommodate various types of inventory, optimizing space utilization.
Mezzanine floors: Mezzanine floors effectively double your storage space by utilizing vertical height. They are ideal for storing smaller or lighter items.
Vertical lift modules (VLMs): These compact units consist of vertically arranged trays that store and retrieve items with the push of a button. VLMs are particularly useful for storing small to medium-sized items and optimizing picking and retrieval processes.
Carousel systems: Carousel systems, also known as vertical carousels or lift modules, consist of rotating shelves or trays that bring items directly to the operator. These systems minimize travel time, increase picking efficiency, and maximize storage capacity in a compact footprint.
Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS): AS/RS solutions combine advanced technology and automation to optimize vertical storage. These systems use robotic cranes or shuttles to retrieve and store items, maximizing storage density and streamlining operations.
Modula Inc. revolutionizes inventory management with its vertical storage solutions. Their efficient products, like the Modula Vertical Lift Module (VLM), optimize space in warehouses worldwide. Contact them for tailored storage solutions and expert guidance.
3. Implementing Inventory Management Systems
Implementing an inventory management system is a crucial step in optimizing storage and streamlining warehouse operations. These systems provide real-time visibility into inventory levels, locations, and movement, enabling better control and efficient utilization of storage space.
Here's how implementing an inventory management system can enhance storage optimization:
Centralized inventory tracking: An inventory management system allows you to centralize inventory tracking, providing a comprehensive view of your stock levels across various locations. You can easily monitor inventory movement, identify slow-moving or obsolete items, and make data-driven decisions to optimize storage allocation.
Demand forecasting and planning: Advanced inventory management systems often include demand forecasting capabilities. By analyzing historical data, sales trends, and market insights, these systems can help you forecast future demand accurately. This enables proactive inventory planning and optimization, reducing excess stock and ensuring adequate storage space for high-demand items.
FIFO and lot control: For businesses handling perishable or time-sensitive goods, implementing inventory management systems that support First-In, First-Out (FIFO), and lot control is essential. These features ensure proper rotation of inventory, minimize waste, and prevent expired or obsolete items from occupying valuable storage space.
Real-time alerts and notifications: Inventory management systems can send real-time alerts and notifications when inventory levels reach predefined thresholds. This ensures timely replenishment and prevents stockouts or overstock situations, optimizing storage space by maintaining optimal inventory levels.
Barcode or RFID integration: Integrating barcode or RFID technology with your inventory management system enables seamless tracking and accurate identification of items. This streamlines picking, receiving, and inventory reconciliation processes, reducing errors and improving overall efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Optimizing storage in your warehouse is not just a mundane task but a transformative journey that can have a significant impact on your overall business success. It requires strategic planning, efficient use of space, and implementation of advanced systems.
By embracing warehouse optimization, you can maximize storage capacity, streamline operations, and improve overall efficiency.
So, don't wait any longer—start implementing these strategies today to transform your warehouse into a well-organized and highly productive space!
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