Ambient storage refers to storing products at room temperature, typically between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F), without requiring any special refrigeration. This storage is commonly used for products such as dry foods, pharmaceuticals, and certain beverages. Understanding the ambient storage concept will help you ensure product quality per its shelf-life and optimize storage costs. Let’s uncover the key aspects of ambient storage and its significance in supply chain management.
Many ecommerce handlers require to store and ship their products in a particular environment. The storage conditions differ from product to product depending on the goods they manufacture. Some require a constant chilled condition to be continuously effective. Some other products must be kept at room temperature without excessive change in the temperature. These latter products require ambient storage. Let’s discuss what ambient storage is.
What is Ambient Storage?
Ambient storage is also known as room-temperature storage. These are for products that must be stored at room temperature and do not require high or low-temperature storage conditions. These goods are neither temperature-sensitive nor perishable, making them ideal for ambient storage. Ambient storage is widely used among many industries for products that do not require a specific temperature. It is a pocket-friendly and rational storage solution. While ambient temperature is often confused with room temperature, they are not necessarily the same. Ambient temperature has a quantifiable temperature between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F), while room temperature is a relative term and depends on the geographic location. Room temperature is an estimate and not a fixed number.
Importance of Ambient Storage
Ambient storage plays a crucial role for online businesses. They are very important for cost and quality control. The importance of ambient storage can be broadly categorized into the following aspects:
- Storage Safety: Numerous products and chemicals can be destroyed in extreme temperatures. Ambient storage is ideal for such products to maintain security and protect the goods effectively. Certain chemicals can lose their efficacy in extreme temperatures.
- Keep Conditions Stable: Ambient storage can keep products in their ideal conditions. Some products do not get destroyed in extreme temperatures but lose their quality. For example, chocolates and candies. Storing products in the wrong temperatures can affect the quality and consequently affect the reputation of the brand producing it.
- Remove Waste: Storing the right product in ambient storage ensures that the product is of good quality and does not need to be thrown away. That saves both money and time of production.
- Less Returns: If products are damaged due to incorrect storage conditions, the customer will return them and possibly want a refund. You can outsource your product delivery to ensure that the products are kept in warehouses in ambient storage, reducing product damage and decreasing the chance of product returns.
- Less Revenue Loss: You might suffer considerable loss from products being destroyed due to less than unsanitary conditions. Ambient storage ensures optimal and sanitary storage facilities for overall better product quality.
Types of Products that Require Ambient Storage
Several products are ideal for ambient storage as they don’t require an ideal temperature. The quality and effectiveness of these products are neither temperature-sensitive nor perishable. Examples include the following:
- Dry items such as cereals
- Canned soups and sauces are also ideal candidates
- Liquids such as water and alcohol
- Common household items such as toilet paper and cleaning goods.
- Different items of clothing
- Certain electronic items that are not temperature-sensitive, such as kitchen appliances and consumer electronics
- Furniture and office supply products
- Printed books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs
- Different automotive parts
Ambient Storage vs. Chilled Storage
Ambient storage is sometimes confused with chilled storage as they both are storage conditions. While chilled storage requires that a specific temperature be maintained at all times, ambient storage products have no such requirements. Products that require chilled storage include certain medicines and perishable foods. Chilled storage goods, apart from specific temperature requirements, also require humidity control to maintain quality and ensure that there is no condensation. Ambient storage has no such specific requirements for humidity control. Needless to say, ambient storage is much more cost-effective than chilled storage.
Factors for Ambient Storage
When you prepare a warehouse for an ambient storage facility, there are several considerations that you must keep in mind to be effective. The following is a list of a few major factors:
- Safety and Security Assurance: You must ensure that the warehouse meets all the relevant safety and security protocols. It is a precaution for workers and people visiting the area regularly. Certain measures are necessary, such as clearly indicating emergency exits, safely stacking items, and following all the required fire safety measures.
Along with safety, the security of the warehouse is also paramount. You have to ensure that the products are safe and secure. Installing surveillance cameras and monitoring their activities is critical. Employ trustworthy security guards to check all the access points. Furthermore, it is important to take necessary steps to ensure cybersecurity.
- Regular Pest Control: Since common pests such as rats can damage your products considerably, regular pest control is necessary to protect the products.
- Optimal Environment: Ambient storage is great because it does not require stringent temperature control. However, regular temperature monitoring is a good idea to ensure that there is no abnormal spike in the warehouse environment that might damage the products.
- Adequate Space: Use the warehouse area optimally to ensure that products are not overcrowded in an area, leaving blank spaces in others.
- Efficient Inventory Management: Monitor your inventory regularly to prevent over or understocking.
Conclusion:
Ambient storage costs considerably less when compared to chilled storage, which renders it capable of storing a much wider variety of products. The products can be easily picked up and distributed. The nonrequirement of controlled temperature makes it energy efficient and good for the environment. However, it is unsuitable for all products, so this storage choice depends on the product type. Moreover, your geographic location can impact ambient storage. If the ambient temperature is extreme, you might still need to install machines to control the warehouse temperature for ambient storage.
Connect with XPDEL for all your ambient storage requirements.
About XPDEL:
XPDEL helps eCommerce brands accelerate their growth, empowering them with multi-channel fulfillment, whether shipping directly to consumers, delivering to businesses, or selling through retail stores. We are founded and operated by veterans with experience from Amazon, FedEx, UPS, JDA, Walmart, Target, and other leading companies in eCommerce and Retail. Guided by these experts, we provide customer experiences that help you grow your business.
