The mailroom can be a hub of productivity in your business, or it can be the final resting place of old documents, broken printers, and extra office chairs. An organized and efficient mailroom (with the right shelving) means that employees and customers get deliveries on time and work proceeds apace. A disorganized mailroom can lead to delays, lost documents or packages, and breaches of confidentiality or security.
Keeping your mailroom organized and functional is no easy task in a growing business. As business communication and distribution needs evolve, your mailroom furniture and storage solutions have to evolve along with them. What works well one day might be outdated the next. Processing and distribution needs can change quickly, too, affecting the size, shape, and layout of your storage needs.
If you are thinking about reorganizing, there are a few things to consider:
- Mail and shipping supplies should be close at hand. Make a list of the things your team uses regularly and make sure you have a convenient place to store them.
- You will need storage solutions that match your system for sorting and distributing mail. This can include designated areas for incoming mail, outgoing mail, and packages.
- You might need additional security to handle sensitive or confidential documents and packages. Storage systems that include barriers or locks are often useful for sensitive materials.
Mailroom storage should be both organized and adaptable. Using modular casework is one way to achieve these goals. Modular casework is the name for storage units – like racks and cabinets – that are easy to assemble, disassemble, install, and reconfigure. This flexibility is essential when designing mailing shelving. By having shelves, doors, cabinets, trays, and dividers that are easy to reconfigure, you give your organization the ability to adjust to any new demands, such as new processing priorities or changing volumes of shipments. When you can redesign your mailroom to meet each new challenge, you ensure that your business stays efficient no matter what.
The layout of mailroom shelving is also an important consideration. The mailroom should be designed so workers can easily access all areas at all times. This allows for faster sorting and distribution of documents and packages. Modular casework is beneficial in this regard as well because it can be adjusted when workers report that a certain configuration is creating a bottleneck.
Mailroom shelving and cabinets go through a lot of wear and tear. The constant movement of mail, packages, and workers can scratch and dent the casework. Shelves can warp and bend under the weight of shipped products and paperwork, while repeated impacts can cause warping of drawer and door contact points. That’s why it’s important to choose strong materials. Features like powder-coated furniture steel, dual-sided laminates, and thick edging create strong mailroom shelving that can stand up to industrial demands.
Contact SSI to learn more about designing mailroom shelving for maximum efficiency.
