What Is Cold Storage?
The storage of any temperature controlled substance inside refrigerated warehouses that prevents it from growing harmful bacteria. There are several examples of different temperature controlled logistics services for your business to consider, for example:
- Businesses may have a cold storage facility on-site to house their products before use. Restaurants, hotels, and hospitals are all good examples of businesses requiring cold storage.
- Most businesses choose to outsource their cold storage needs to a third party logistics provider.
- Refrigerated freight of fresh or frozen foods is more costly than dry freight, so many manufacturers outsource their cold storage. As demand for the transportation of refrigerated goods increases, so does demand for value-added services.
- Customers often have stricter requirements for the third-party logistics (3PL) providers they outsource to. As a result, most carriers usually have a lower return on investment for cold storage.
Customers are driving the rise of the cold storage sector, looking for enhanced storage options to meets their needs. There are many safety regulations attached to each type of product that requires its own cold storage and transportation. This logistical problem takes precision and expert planning in order to work.
The real time outlook for cold chain logistics and storage facilities is positive, considering the developing e-commerce space and more people ordering groceries online. In addition, 67% of shippers plan to build up their cold chain capabilities and availability in the next 3 years, according to studies.
Shipping logistics and cold chain technologies will also need to invest in newer tech in order to be better prepared for any disruptions that may occur. These capabilities should be sustainable and energy efficient. They should also consider reducing maintenance costs for logistics shipping and increasing storage capacity at the final destination.
E-grocery orders:
As people become more comfortable shopping online, they will make smaller, more frequent purchases with online retailers. This will put more pressure on retailers for more effective logistics management.
Fulfillment centers enable greater flexibility in responding to changing order profiles in a more cost effective way for logistics companies in order to optimize shipping.
Automation may attract new workers:
Working inside a warehouse can be grueling work, and many employees are deciding it’s not a job they want or need. So even when there are people looking for jobs, companies offering warehouse positions are finding it hard to attract them. This is where automation solutions can help the shipping industry.
There are a number of workers who want to work in supply chain management, to help the global supply chain. These workers see these positions as requiring a higher skill set and offering career advancement opportunities. Advances in technology that has already occurred in the cold supply chain, creating new standards across the various platforms can be challenging for organizations.
There's a major opportunity for systems that connect globally and give an overview of supply and its status. It's certain that connecting easily and the customer insights it yields is inevitable and can't be stopped. Demand for cold chain solutions is rapidly growing.
According to the 2023 3PL Study, shippers and 3PLs anticipate further increase in the following three years. Investing in new tech will enable cold chains to meet the new demand and ensure temperature controlled products reach customers.
Shipping products can be uncertain. Changing weather conditions, shifting temperatures, and supply chain delays can all happen in the blink of an eye. Before shipping, there are many factors to consider, including the length of the journey and time of year you are sending the package.
Due to lockdowns and the rise in need for medical supplies and perishable food, shipping has become a hot topic throughout the cold chain process.
By using the proper temperature, you can add some stability to an otherwise uncertain journey.
Standard ice begins to melt quickly, leaving your dry goods wet and stored at an improper temperature. Once frozen, our standard Ice Cold Gel Packs last up to 65% longer than regular frozen ice derived from water. Our Ice Cold Gel Pack has two main components; water and a sodium based gel that mixes with the water to lower the temperature of the pack.
Although the materials inside our Ice Cold Gel Packs are non-toxic you should avoid handling the contents inside and wash with soap and water. The best way to determine if your shipment requires dry ice or gel packs is to first consider the temperature while shipping. If you need your package to be shipped cold but not quite frozen (30-60 degrees), gel packs are the best option.
There are several rules and regulations to think about when shipping temperature sensitive products and medicine; however, shipping with Ice Cold Gel Packs is easier, more cost effective, and safer than traditional refrigeration methods. Some of the other benefits of choosing Ice Cold Gel Packs;
- ICGP are non-toxic
- Our packs are reusable and safer for the environment.
- The contents of our gel packs are kept secure and will not contaminate your product.
- ICGP can be used to ship goods without the restrictions placed on items shipped with dry ice while maintaining the correct temperature range.
Cold shipping may not be new, but with the advancements made by our team, we can help make your experience much more effective, efficient and accessible, which is good news for any business.