Do you need both?

Article published on 15 July 2015

It seems that extra storage, whether document storage or storage for goodsis becoming more and more necessary. You may find that the need to downsize your office or your home has become a reality. Whether you are moving to a smaller place for financial reasons or because the children have left home you may find yourself with some things that you would love to keep or would like to pass on to children and grandchildren when they are ready.

Financial constraints have affected both business and private lives causing people to cut costs where they can. Then physical storage of goods is usually enough for a private household or a small business. Large companies however may need to look at the various ways of cutting costs. Retaining staff should be the main imperative when it comes to cutting costs so other options need to be explored. Having large spaces for document storage can be eliminated by storing documents electronically or having them indexed and stored off site. The money paid for these services is usually a fair sight less than the rental of the space being used, especially in a retail environment.

According to the law; records, whether they are a till receipt or insurance policies or similar financial agreements need to be kept for a set amouint of years, this is call the period of retention. In a financial or retail environment this could lead to an evergrowing collection of records and piles of paper. Although most of these records will never be required again they will nevertheless need to remain intact for the entire period of retention. This same principle counts for personal documents, altough the chances of one person needing an entire room for their personal records is incredibly slim, they too do not need to be kept in the home, a self-storage facility will have a container big enoough for the documents and add a layer of security as the documents will be off premises. An archive box or two should do the trick and you can use the rest of the storage unit for belongings you wish to keep while you downsize.

Ways to store property

Article published on 16 October 2014

For some, it is enough to throw everything into a box and take it to the storage facility, knowing it will be locked up safely. Actually, for most of us it will be enough, but there are the exceptions to the rule. And for some items, just being put into a box is enough.

There are a few ways in which things can be stored that will either maximise space, facilitate access or preserve the integrity of the item.

Just like off site storage for documentsis aimed at the security and integrity of the document, keeping the origional in the condition in which it was received, requires specialised storage such as document boxes so too do various other items.

Block or Bale storage

This type of storage is meant for items which will not be accessed often and will not be damged by compressing into a bale. Block storage is similar and is handy for a number of items which are the same like rolls of paper. The idea behind these forms of storage is ultimately to save space. If the packaging used is of a durable nature then more space can be saved by placing bales or blocks on top of each other. A storage facility should ideally have units that are high enough to do this.

Rack storage

Rack storage will require a little bit of work on your side when you move in to the storage unit, most storage facilities do not supply any form of shelving or racks. But once you have the shelves up all you have to do is place your items on them and then keep them organised. This is a great idea if you need to keeps stock on hand but don't have the space for it, rather than wait for a supplier to fit you into their delivery schedule.

Rack storage is not only for items that have value as stock, but if you would prefer boxes to be off the floor to keep them dry or if you have fragile items which you would rather not take any chances with then rack storage is an option for you.

Rails

Some items need to hang. Granted these items will probably be clothing, but some clothing can't be washed and ironed to get rid of wrinkles so hanging them on a rail is the best solution.

Storage facilities in and around Johannesburg will have storage units in a nuber of different sizes which will allow you to choose the right sized unit in which to store your property.

Offsite Storage

Article published on 19 June 2014

What to look for when choosing an offsite storage facility

Storing documents off site benefits those who need the extra space and who generate large amounts of documents. Storing sensitive documents off site will also be a benefit as it cuts out the risk of loss should something happen on the premises where they are normally kept that would cause these documents to be lost for ever.

Trust

The security of any documents that are entrusted for storage should be implicit in the act of storing. Security measures and staff integrity need to ensure that there is no infringement on the personal information of clients or their clients.

You need to be able to trust your offsite storage facility to provide you with peace of mind. Your clients have entrusted you with their personal information and in securely storing all details and documents you are displaying your worthiness of that trust.

Transparency

Keeping informed of the location of documents, in or out of storage warehouse is imperative.

Improved efficiency

Digitally stored documents will automatically improve efficiency for both the client and the off-site storage facility. Documents can be retrieved almost instantly, cutting out time spent locating and retrieving said documents.

Accessibility

When it comes to security, measures need to be stringent. Storage options should allow access to documents through safe and secure media. The most common of the storage options allow access to the stored documents in the following manner:

Online – Via a secure network which is set up for you with access codes and authorisations which you can assign to relevant individuals. The security details for the online viewing of documents will be known only by you and the chosen individuals who are allowed access.

Manually – Stored records will be identifiable through labeling. When requested the documents will be removed from our secure premises and brought to your office in unmarked vehicles. Providing both our client and their client with anonymity. The documents should also be collected after use. A register of document boxes will keep track of the documents location.

Once you've considered your needs for an offsite storage comapny, visit an offsite storage website, and see what they have to offer.