{"id":18120,"date":"2024-11-25T17:10:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T17:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/bts-built-to-suit-warehouse\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T21:33:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:33:41","slug":"bts-built-to-suit-warehouse","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/bts-built-to-suit-warehouse\/","title":{"rendered":"How Built-to-Suit (BTS) Warehouses Benefit Ecommerce Fulfilment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

What is a built-to-suit (BTS) warehouse? <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key features of built-to-suit warehousing <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing built-to-suit warehousing with traditional alternatives <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do it all with ShipBob\u2019s warehousing solutions <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built-to-suit warehouse FAQs <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Imagine you\u2019re going clothes shopping. Going to a department store is convenient and affordable, but the clothing may not fit perfectly. If you want clothing specifically tailored to you, you should visit a custom designer who will make clothes that fit your size and preferences exactly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true for ecommerce warehousing<\/a> space. If your brand is looking for a warehouse that\u2019s tailored to your needs and processes, you should consider a built-to-suit, or BTS, warehousing solution.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll dive deep into what BTS warehouses are, their key features, and how they compare to traditional warehouses.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a built-to-suit (BTS) warehouse? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A built-to-suit (or build-to-suit) warehouse is a warehousing<\/a> solution that\u2019s tailored to meet the unique needs of a specific tenant.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that every aspect of the facility\u2014from the space and layout to the racks and amenities\u2014is configured to ensure maximum operational efficiency for the business using the facility.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built-to-suit warehouses are almost always offered by a real estate development firm or a company that owns some industrial real estate. You can also find BTS warehouses in industrial parks that house similar structures for multiple ecommerce retailers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the lessor owns the land and warehouse structure, there is an agreement between the lessor and the lessee to ensure that the warehouse is constructed according to the specific client\u2019s requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key features of built-to-suit warehousing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While each built-to-suit warehouse is different, BTS warehouses typically share a few signature features that appeal to ecommerce brands.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are just some of the hallmarks of built-to-suit warehousing solutions, and how they can improve your warehouse management<\/a> and efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customizable layouts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In BTS warehousing, the entire warehouse setup<\/a> is customised to meet the client\u2019s specific requirements.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, office and warehouse spaces are constructed to accommodate the scale of your operations while keeping future growth in mind.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the warehouse\u2019s layout is customised and organised<\/a> to create dedicated spaces for receiving, packing, processing, and shipping according to the logical flow of goods in your brand\u2019s particular operations. This ensures an uninterrupted warehouse workflow where goods can be transported seamlessly between different sections with minimal disruptions, so you can maintain a higher level of efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your needs, you can even customise the warehouse\u2019s layout according to Grade A warehouse standards. For instance, you may install strategic internal roads so that heavy couriers can easily move throughout the warehouse. You may also ensure adequate parking spaces for loading and unloading, and set up entry and exit points to prevent congestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advanced technology integrations <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

BTS warehouses can be configured to fully integrate with whatever advanced warehousing and supply chain technology your brand wants to use. Since this integration is done from the design and conception stage, the technology serves as the backbone of your operations, enabling you bake smart warehousing<\/a> practices into your processes from the very beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, your BTS warehouse can incorporate technology solutions such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • A centralised warehouse control system<\/a> or warehouse management system<\/a> (WMS) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Robotics to assist in the picking process <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Automation throughout warehouse processes <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Technical equipment or hardware (such as barcode scanners or mobile devices)  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    With your preferred technology set up, your brand is in a better position to seamlessly support the needs of your human staff, making their jobs easier and helping improve productivity and safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Flexible storage solutions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Another highlight of BTS warehousing is the ability to design flexible storage solutions that perfectly align with your inventory storage<\/a> requirements.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, you can ensure that warehouse racks<\/a> are designed according to specialized racking configurations to safely hold certain products. Additionally, you can set up cold storage or HAZMAT areas to meet industry-specific storage needs, or include features to meet your safety needs and sustainability goals (such as energy-efficient light fixtures and motion detectors).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can also design your BTS warehouse storage to be flexible enough to scale according to your business needs. As your storage needs grow with increased demand and expanding business operations, adjustments can be made to the warehouse design and functionality to accommodate this growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Comparing built-to-suit warehousing with traditional alternatives <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Traditional types of warehouse<\/a> solutions don\u2019t always offer the same level of customisation and flexibility as built-to-suit options. So, it\u2019s important to carefully consider your options before deciding which approach is best for your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For starters, traditional warehousing involves leasing an existing warehouse space<\/a>. As such, you won\u2019t be able to make as many changes as you need to accommodate your specific requirements. You\u2019ll experience this same type of limitation even with on-demand warehousing<\/a> options, which may be even more limited since they often involve making use of space that\u2019s not designed for fulfilment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In terms of cost, building a warehouse space from scratch requires significantly more investment than renting one. You can expect to spend around<\/a> $28 per square foot of warehousing space, which can add up fast \u2013 a 1,200 square foot warehouse space, for example, may run you $33,600 or more to construct. Warehouse rentals are lower-investment, with an average base rental rate of about $0.85 per square foot per month.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, built-to-suit options are tailored exactly according to your specific warehousing needs. This helps you ensure that you\u2019re not paying for any space that you don\u2019t actually need, increasing value and possibly reducing the construction cost. Additionally, the high upfront cost could become a long-term investment, since you could save on operational expenses further down the line compared to renting a warehouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    BTS Warehousing<\/strong> <\/td>Traditional Warehousing<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
    Fully customisable warehouse space and layout <\/td>Ready-built space and layout with no customisation options <\/td><\/tr>
    Facilities tailored to specific business needs <\/td>Facilities may not meet every business need <\/td><\/tr>
    Scalability with business requirements <\/td>Difficult to scale with a growing business <\/td><\/tr>
    Significant financial investment required upfront <\/td>More affordable for growing brands with less available capital <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Do it all with ShipBob\u2019s warehousing solutions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    For brands that want highly efficient warehousing operations but aren\u2019t ready to invest in a long-term lease and custom warehouse, ShipBob has warehousing and fulfilment solutions that give you the best of both worlds.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some of the ways that brands can leverage ShipBob\u2019s services to streamline their warehousing operations to save money and time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Outsource everything warehousing to ShipBob\u2019s fulfilment centres <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    ShipBob will take on inventory storage, picking, packing, and other warehousing activities for you, and take them fully off your plate. This gives you the freedom to focus on important initiatives to grow your ecommerce business.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you outsource fulfilment to ShipBob, you can also take advantage of the growth levers below to optimise your ecommerce and warehousing operations for efficiency and scalability.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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