5 Must-Haves in an Alaska Warehousing Partner

Moving goods and inventory around Alaska can feel like a challenge. Remote locations, a limited highway system, seasonal challenges, and other regional hurdles can all complicate Alaska logistics. However, the right Alaska warehousing partner can add significant ease to your warehousing activities, including your deconsolidation, pick and pack, distribution, and storage functions.

If you’re looking for an Alaska warehousing provider to assist with moving your goods and inventory where they need to go, we’ve assembled a list of must-haves. By choosing a partner with all of these capabilities, you’ll find a warehousing provider who can simplify and streamline your Alaska logistics, saving you time, hassle, and money.

#1: Willingness to Scale Up or Down with Your Needs

One of the major benefits of outsourcing your warehouse logistics services is flexibility.

For example:

• You might need to move a van-load of goods one week, and the next, you might need to move an entire container load.

• Or, if you’re building up a backstock to get through the winter months, you might need some temporary, seasonal storage space.

As you vet warehousing providers in Alaska, ask about the pricing models, contract terms, and potential scalability of their services. Providers who are able to accommodate business spikes and seasonal fluctuations will add the most value. They’ll be able to deliver increased capacity as you need it—and you won’t have to pay for services and storage space you don’t need year-round.

#2: The Ability to Service the Entire State of Alaska

It’s relatively easy to get freight to an Alaska port. However, some providers in Alaska can’t go beyond the port to offer delivery and distribution services in Alaska.

When choosing your Alaska warehousing provider, look for someone who can service all locations within the state. That includes both the population hubs like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau and the state’s more removed areas like Ketchikan, Nome, Homer, Valdez, Bethel—and beyond.

It may take a combination of multiple modes—barges, trucks, and planes—to get your goods and inventory to their final destination. Look for a provider with access to all Alaska freight modes, so you can count on a single provider to get the job done. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself cobbling together a solution with multiple carriers, which can cost you significant time. It can also create inefficiencies, which will cost you money.

#3: Alaska Delivery Services That Go Beyond Curbside

In addition to finding a provider who can service the whole state, consider looking for a warehousing provider who can do more than just curbside delivery. Services like inside delivery, assembly, and installation can add ease and simplicity to your logistics.

For example, if you’re sending new retail displays to a few stores, a provider who can also handle installation can 1) deliver the display, 2) unpack it, 3) assemble it in place, and 4) take the packaging debris away when the crew is done. And all of it can be arranged with a single phone call.

If you don’t need these services now, consider whether you might need them in the future. Choosing a warehouse logistics provider with additional capacities can give you the runway to expand your business when new opportunities appear.

#4: Expert Packaging Services to Protect Your Freight in Transit

The right packaging is essential to protect your goods and inventory as it travels to its final destination in Alaska. This is especially true since Alaska freight travels long distances—and may need to be transferred between modes (i.e., truck to plane to truck).

Make sure your Alaska warehousing partner has the expertise and equipment to palletize, shrink wrap, and band your items—whatever is required for safe transportation to its final destination.

When you work with an experienced Alaska warehouse logistics provider, they’ll know exactly how to protect your goods from potential damage. In a state where inclement weather, remote destinations, and multiple modes are common, expert packaging is a must.

#5: The Ability to Be Your One-Stop Alaska Freight and Logistics Provider

Why juggle multiple providers for ocean freight, air freight, supply chain management, storage, warehousing, and distribution? Instead, consider looking for a one-stop solution to assist with all of your freight and logistics needs.

• Choosing a one-stop provider means significantly less coordination on your part. Instead, an all-in-one freight and logistics provider can manage all the pieces for you: getting your freight to Alaska, picking it up from the port, deconsolidation, repackaging and distribution, storage, and more. With an all-in-one freight provider, you’ll connect your business with all of these capabilities quickly and simply, saving you time and hassle.

• Additionally, working with a single provider makes it easier to streamline your logistics. When you have one provider overseeing your logistics, they’ll be perfectly positioned to spot (and eliminate!) any inefficiencies. That means getting freight in your customers’ hands faster, lowering your carrying costs. It also means cost savings for you, boosting your bottom line.

When you’re looking for an Alaska warehousing provider, consider looking for one that can handle:

Including air freight, ocean freight, and over-the-road freight to all areas of Alaska

Including curbside, inside, and white glove service

Including deconsolidation, product return, pick and pack, and storage

Fixtures, displays, equipment, office & industrial equipment, and more

An all-in-one freight and logistics provider can simplify your warehousing and distribution by providing end-to-end services, coordinated by a single point of contact. It’s a great way to add ease to your logistics, and it can save you significant time and money.

Choosing the Right Alaska Warehousing Partner

If you’re looking for a new partner to assist with your warehousing and distribution in Alaska, this list will give you a good starting point for vetting providers. We suggest speaking with a few different warehouse logistics providers before making your final decision so you can compare how they stack up in terms of services and pricing. From there, you’ll have all the information you need to make the right decision for your warehousing needs.

We’d love to be added to your list of potential Alaska warehousing partners. In addition to expert Alaska warehousing and distribution services, Royal Alaskan Movers also offers a full roster of freight and logistics services. We can get your goods and inventory to or from anywhere in Alaska. Reach out for a complimentary consultation, and one of our experts will be in touch.