You’ve got all your electricians sorted and your contractors have got their schedules all lined up. Your commercial building is about to get a huge upgrade with new lighting, extra circuits and specialist equipment coming through all week. Everything is set to get started in a timely manner.
Everything goes wrong.
Due to the lack of electrical components, your staff will have to wait and your project will start to fall behind. What was a small issue can become a costly problem.
This shows how important it is to plan your logistics for your commercial electrical upgrade. Having the right equipment and materials delivered to you means your project will stay on track.
Understanding how to plan your transport, deliveries and materials can really help contractors, facilities managers and businesses with their electrical upgrades.
Why planning is important for commercial electrical upgrades
As your commercial facility grows, your electrical requirements may change. As you introduce new machinery, extra workstations, upgraded lighting and heating/cooling equipment, security and technology there will be an increased demand on your electrical system.
You may find that you need extra circuits, new panels, extra cabling or more electrical upgrades.
Not only do you need to think about the work on site, but you also need to consider the materials and equipment required. You need to ensure you have the right materials ordered and delivered on time.
Say you’re upgrading your warehouse lighting and electrical system. You may need to have cable reels, electrical panels, conduit, fittings, control equipment and specialist tools delivered. All of these items will be different sizes and may have different handling requirements.
If you have these items delivered too early you may be wasting valuable space. If you have them delivered too late then your installation team may not be able to continue.
You need to organise your materials to be moved in line with your project.
Understanding what equipment and materials you need to move
There are many different items that may need to be moved for your commercial electrical project. From small parts to large items that may need a suitable commercial vehicle. Some materials will be easy to move, whilst others will require careful loading, safe positioning and specialist delivery.
Electrical panels, cable reels, trunking, conduit, lighting, control and packaged machinery can all cause issues.
Size and weight are very important when organising your vehicle. Even if your shipment is light, it may be quite large. Or your equipment may be small but heavy.
Sensitive electrical items should be well packed to protect them from shocks, damp and movement.
By providing accurate details about your shipment you’ll help your transport company find the right vehicle.
Managing your deliveries
Your electrical upgrade will unlikely be done alone. You may have electricians on site with other contractors such as mechanical, plumbing, building and ceiling.
You’ll need to manage your deliveries in line with your build.
You may need electrical cables delivered before your containment is fitted. Panels and larger items may be required at certain points. However, you may not want to deliver everything at once as your site may not have much space.
You can plan your deliveries in stages.
Rather than delivering everything at once, your contractors can plan your deliveries. This means your materials will be delivered at the right time to your installation team. Keeping your materials to a minimum and saving space.
This can be really useful if your site is live.
Urgent deliveries
Even with careful planning things can go wrong.
Your essential item may have arrived damaged, your supplier may have a delay or you may discover you need extra materials before you can continue. This may cause you to fall behind on your next regular delivery.
By using urgent deliveries you can get your essential items to you quicker. This depends on your vehicle being available, your collection being ready and your journey being feasible.
Say you’re an electrical contractor and you’re on target for your commissioning date. You need an item to be replaced before you can test your system. The longer you wait the less time you have left to complete your work.
By organising an urgent collection from your supplier and getting your items directly to your site you’ll save yourself some valuable time.
It’s important to let your transport know your deadline. If your items need to be delivered before your test then this is a higher priority than if they’re needed later in the week.
Cemson Logistics offer urgent deliveries. Have a look at our urgent delivery service.
Choosing the right delivery
Depending on what you’re delivering you may need a small or large vehicle. Small items such as fittings may fit into a small vehicle. Cable reels, electrical cabinets and large amounts of installation materials may require a larger vehicle with the right weight capacity.
Where you’re collecting from and delivering to can also affect the choice of vehicle. Industrial estates, busy commercial areas and active sites may have different access and unloading requirements.
Before booking your delivery you should know the size of your items, total weight, where you’re collecting from, how to access your site and when you’d like your items.
It’s also important to know who your items will be going to. If your driver turns up to your site and there’s no one to collect your items or you don’t have any authorised unloading then you may experience delays.
If you have larger items to deliver have a look at our general haulage services. We can help you with full loads, partial loads and scheduled deliveries across the UK.
Minimising delays
Having good communication between your suppliers, contractors, site managers and transport will ensure your project runs smoothly.
If you’ve organised a delivery for early in the morning but last minute your site has changed their access requirements and this hasn’t been passed onto your driver or transport manager then your vehicle may turn up at the wrong entrance or outside of your delivery window.
By having a simple delivery note you’ll avoid many issues.
Ensure you have the correct site address, contact for your delivery, how to access your site, what you’re delivering, unloading requirements and when you’d like your items. If there are specific times you’d like your items delivered then ensure this is clearly explained.
If there are any changes to your schedule, such as your installation has moved forward or your working area isn’t ready then you should let people know as soon as possible.
Good communication will ensure everyone knows what is expected of them.
Managing your deliveries
Many electrical upgrades will be carried out in live buildings. Offices, warehouses and retail sites will all still be running whilst your contractors carry out their improvements. You’ll need to manage your deliveries.
If your vehicle arrives when your site is busy loading then they may cause issues. Delivering your materials during peak times may cause congestion and safety issues.
Try to identify what times would be best for you to have your deliveries. If possible talk to your site and organise a time. Early or out of hours may be a good idea if your site can accommodate.
If you need your items delivered outside of normal hours have a look at our night delivery service. This will depend on your items and requirements.
Planning for changes
No matter how well planned your schedule is there will always be changes. Specifications may change, you may need extra materials or unexpected issues may arise on site that change the order of your work. By knowing what materials are essential you can improve your response.
Keeping your materials up to date, knowing your suppliers are available and knowing when your installation milestones are will help your project managers identify any potential issues.
It’s also a good idea to know what items are essential. This will help you prioritise urgent deliveries if there are multiple deliveries.
Whilst you can’t guarantee nothing will go wrong, you’ll have all the information you need to respond quickly and sensibly.
Getting the most out of your transport
A successful commercial electrical upgrade will rely on having skilled installers, the right equipment, careful planning and reliable coordination. Your transport will help you by getting your materials to the right place at the right time.
By planning your deliveries around your installation you’ll save space, reduce waiting times and get the most out of your contractors time.
To get the most out of your transport, your contractors and facilities managers should have accurate details about your shipment, realistic deadlines and good communication with your suppliers and transport.
Cemson Logistics can help you with general haulage, urgent and time sensitive deliveries. If you need to transport electrical equipment, installation materials or essential items for your next commercial project talk to our team to find the right solution for you.
Find out more about us or request a quote through our time-sensitive delivery service.
FAQs
Why is it important to plan your logistics?
It ensures your equipment and materials are delivered on time for your installers. Reducing waiting times, space issues and disruptions to your schedule.
What information do I need to provide to organise my transport?
You should provide details such as your collection and delivery address, size of shipment, total weight, packaging, delivery time, site access and unloading.
Can I have urgent electrical components delivered?
It may be possible to have your items delivered the same day depending on your collection, vehicle availability, requirements and delivery time. Confirm this before booking.
How can I reduce delays during my electrical installation?
Plan your deliveries around your installation milestones, confirm your site access, keep your suppliers informed and provide accurate details.
Can I have larger electrical items delivered via general haulage?
Potentially yes. Depending on the size, weight, loading requirements and site access. Provide these details when requesting your quote.
