The e-commerce industry continues to thrive, even amid global economic uncertainty. This rapid growth has driven major advancements in storage and fulfilment technology. One of the most critical – and costly – components of warehouse operations is order picking. In fact, picking can account for up to 55% of total operational costs, far outweighing storage, packing and shipping combined.

Order picking affects everything from warehouse flow and workforce efficiency to customer satisfaction and your bottom line. Choosing the right picking strategy is key to staying competitive and meeting rising demand. Here’s what you need to know about modern order picking systems, and how they can elevate your operation.

What is Order Picking?

Order picking is the process of retrieving items from warehouse inventory to complete customer orders. While it may seem simple on the surface, it is a complex operation that can easily go wrong without the right systems in place.

A streamlined picking process is essential for meeting customer expectations while keeping costs low. Although not every warehouse can match the speed of the industry’s biggest players, most can achieve major gains by investing in layout planning, clear labelling, barcode scanning, and appropriate storage systems.

At the higher end, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and robotics now offer unmatched efficiency. Businesses that embrace these technologies are seeing reduced error rates, lower overheads and improved team productivity.

The Advantages of Picking Systems

Reduced Warehouse Costs
Picking is the most labour-intensive part of the fulfilment process, particularly in large facilities. A well-planned picking system reduces walking time, prevents errors and increases throughput – creating a more cost-effective labour-to-fulfilment ratio.

Improved Customer Satisfaction
Picking errors lead directly to delayed, incorrect or incomplete orders – all of which impact customer loyalty. Investing in accurate, efficient picking systems ensures that orders are fulfilled quickly and correctly, helping to build trust and long-term value.

Increased Team Performance
The right systems don’t just benefit the operation. They empower your team to work more effectively and with greater confidence. By reducing error margins and simplifying workflows, you create a more supportive working environment where staff can succeed. Open communication with your picking team is key to identifying pain points and maintaining performance.

Enhanced Sustainability
Optimising your picking system contributes to sustainability goals by cutting down on wasted energy and unnecessary labour. Smart layout planning, efficient routing and prioritised picking zones all help reduce travel time, improve energy usage and minimise waste.

Innovative Picking Solutions

Storeganizer
Storeganizer is a modular, space-saving solution that allows for dense storage of small items in vertically stacked pockets. Made from flexible, durable textile, each pocket can support up to 100kg. This highly adaptable system is ideal for facilities looking to maximise capacity and access speed without sacrificing organisation.

Pallite Pix
Pallite Pix is a lightweight, sustainable shelving solution constructed from paper and PVA glue. It consolidates pick faces to improve picking speed and reclaim valuable floor space. Durable yet eco-friendly, Pix systems are an excellent option for warehouses seeking both efficiency and sustainability.

Shelf Partitioning System (SPS)
Nene’s Shelf Partitioning System is a fully adjustable stock organisation tool made from powder-coated steel. It fits into standard pallet racking or long-span shelving and allows custom partitioning to suit your exact needs. Quick to install and built to last, SPS helps streamline picking and reduce clutter.

Stow Atlas 2D
The Stow Atlas 2D is a self-powered pallet shuttle system designed for high-efficiency, high-density storage. Ideal for semi and fully automated environments, it features an energy-efficient carrier that moves pallets through a dedicated racking structure. This system integrates seamlessly with modern fulfilment operations, particularly those looking to adopt automation.

Speak to the Experts

With so many picking solutions available, choosing the right system can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

Nene Warehouse Solutions offers expert guidance and bespoke designs to help you select the right picking strategy for your operation. Our Turnkey division brings together decades of first-hand experience in warehouse optimisation, layout design and process improvement.

Whether you’re looking to enhance an existing setup or design a new fulfilment strategy from scratch, our team is here to help.

Speak to our experts today to optimise your warehouse picking process.

You might be wondering why we’re talking about offshore racking safety. Earlier this week, our team received an enquiry about the inspection requirements for racking systems on an offshore oil rig. That single question sparked a flurry of conversations here at Nene Warehouse Solutions – raising a key issue that’s rarely discussed: how do you maintain storage equipment on an offshore platform?

As it turns out, the answer is more complex than it first appears. Offshore platforms operate under strict security procedures and rigid health and safety protocols. These, combined with the logistical challenges of accessing offshore locations, make traditional expert racking inspections – typically conducted by SEMA-approved Racking Inspectors (SARIs) – difficult, if not impractical.

With around 260 offshore oil and gas platforms in UK waters, located up to 500km from the mainland, many of which utilise some form of storage racking, the question becomes essential: how can you guarantee racking safety in these remote, high-risk environments?

Whether you operate on land or offshore, racking safety is non-negotiable. In warehousing and logistics, storage systems are critical infrastructure. When properly maintained, they support productivity and safety. When neglected, they become serious hazards.

Understanding Racking Inspection Requirements

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, pallet racking is legally classed as work equipment. That means it must be inspected and maintained regularly. The HSE recommends at least one annual inspection by a qualified inspector, alongside more frequent internal reviews.

For employers, this is not just a legal responsibility but a moral obligation. The safety and integrity of your racking systems must be continuously monitored – even in difficult environments like offshore platforms.

So, what can operators do when calling in a inspector is not viable due to remoteness or access restrictions? That’s where PRRS comes in.

Internal Racking Inspection: What is PRRS?

PRRS stands for Person Responsible for Racking Safety. This role is defined in the HSE’s HSG76 guidance and by SEMA. The PRRS is typically an in-house staff member trained to carry out regular racking checks, report issues and coordinate safety compliance.

This model is ideal for offshore platforms, where bringing in external inspectors is often difficult or delayed. By appointing and training a PRRS internally, operators can maintain inspection routines, ensure system integrity and comply with all relevant regulations.

For the PRRS system to work effectively, your organisation must have documented procedures in place. This includes:

• A system for reporting damage, wear and potential hazards

• A process for classifying the severity of damage

• Clear guidance on corrective actions and timeframes for repairs

• A log of inspections, maintenance and resolutions

Racking Inspection Training with Nene

To confidently carry out this role, your PRRS must receive dedicated training in rack safety awareness and inspection best practices. That includes understanding equipment structure, recognising common damage types and implementing preventative measures.

At Nene Warehouse Solutions, we provide comprehensive Racking Safety Inspection Training for in-house teams. Our course includes:

• Health and safety fundamentals

• SEMA guidance and inspection standards

• Theory and practical sessions

• Visual assessment techniques

• How to recognise, report and prevent damage

• Load signage awareness

• Inspection workflows and record keeping

Training is delivered using a mock warehouse setup to simulate real inspection environments, and includes final review sessions with Q&A to ensure clarity.

Using the Latest Racking Inspection Technology

At Nene, we’re always looking for ways to simplify safety and make it more accessible. That’s why we’ve partnered with Econform – the award-winning racking inspection software designed to streamline warehouse safety and compliance.

Econform provides complete visibility across your estate with digital inspection records, real-time analytics, and synced reporting between devices. Whether you’re managing one site or multiple locations, Econform puts control in your hands.

For offshore PRRS personnel, Econform’s integrated online rack awareness training is particularly valuable. It allows them to refresh their knowledge on demand, from any location, ensuring they stay compliant and confident even in remote environments.

Speak to the Experts

Offshore racking safety is no less important than in any other sector. In fact, with the added challenges of isolation and logistics, it requires even greater attention to detail.

At Nene Warehouse Solutions, we carry out a certified and competent person inspections for clients across every industry – from large distribution centres and freezers to retail, healthcare, education and finance. Our training and consultancy services are informed by this wide-reaching expertise.

Whether you’re looking to train a new PRRS, optimise your internal inspection process or adopt smarter inspection technology like Econform, our team is here to help.

To book your racking inspection training, speak to our experts or find out more about racking safety solutions, contact us today.

Even the most spacious industrial units can become inefficient if layout and storage strategies fall short. High ceilings and open floorplans offer potential, but without smart use of space, that potential is quickly lost. In the current economic climate, making the most of every square foot in your warehouse is more important than ever.

A mezzanine floor is one of the most effective ways to unlock under-used vertical space. Cost-effective, robust and fully customisable, mezzanines can be installed with minimal disruption and integrated into your warehouse or workspace, provided you have adequate headroom.

Whether you need more storage, additional office space, or a dedicated production area, a mezzanine floor gives you room to grow without the cost or inconvenience of relocation or renovation. If you’re tired of looking up at wasted space, this could be the upgrade your facility needs.

The Benefits of Mezzanine Floors

Maximise Space
The most immediate benefit of a mezzanine floor is the dramatic increase in usable space. Depending on your setup, a single-tier mezzanine can effectively double your storage or workspace capacity. It also helps streamline warehouse operations by removing clutter and freeing up ground floor space.

Flexibility
Mezzanine floors are modular by design, making them one of the most adaptable warehouse solutions available. Every floor is designed to fit around your current blueprint, with customisation options to suit your exact workflow and operational goals. Nene’s mezzanines are even reusable, which means if you relocate in future, you can take the floor with you.

Cost Effective
Growth doesn’t have to mean a costly move or a disruptive refurbishment. Mezzanine floors deliver the benefits of expansion without the expense and upheaval. Unlike permanent structural changes, they require no excavation or masonry work, and they can even add long-term value to your property.

Fast Installation
Compared to relocation or renovation, mezzanine floors are quick to install. Minimal operational downtime means you’ll see a faster return on investment, and the entire process can often be completed in a matter of days. If you need extra space now, mezzanine flooring is a smart, scalable solution.

Sustainability
Sustainability is now at the heart of most business strategies. A well-designed mezzanine system makes your facility more efficient, increasing productivity while reducing the energy waste associated with poor layout. Making better use of your vertical space is an easy win for your environmental performance.

Types of Mezzanine Floor

Storage Mezzanine
Perfect for warehouses and retail units, storage mezzanines create additional floor space to increase storage capacity or enable more organised stock separation. They are particularly useful for inventory-heavy operations.

Workspace Mezzanine
These floors create dedicated work or office areas above the main warehouse floor, helping you expand your team’s footprint without interrupting core operations. Great for integrating admin, production or supervisory teams directly into the flow of the business.

Tiered Mezzanine
For operations with high ceilings and dense picking requirements – such as eCommerce, archiving or consumer goods storage – a multi-tier mezzanine can dramatically increase throughput. Two or even three-tier systems are available, making full use of vertical space.

Speak to the Experts

At Nene Warehouse Solutions, we have decades of experience designing, supplying and installing mezzanine flooring for clients across every sector. All our mezzanine structures meet the latest building regulations and are designed in full compliance with DETR-approved guidelines. Fire-rated designs and column casings are included where required.

No matter the size of your warehouse or the scope of your project, our expert team will support you from start to finish – including site survey, design consultation, quotation, building regulations applications, finance options and installation.

For tailored advice on mezzanine floors or support with any upcoming project, speak to the Nene team today.