Military administration and procurement, by its nature, has always required a strict level of discipline in terms of record keeping, access and storage. In the last two decades, the demand for efficient solutions has soared. Two wars and other military campaigns around the globe have increased the demand on procurement officials. Similarly, political back-and-forth and uncertain long-term budgeting issues have put pressure on administration and storage agencies to ensure the right equipment is ready when needed, without a glut of overstock.

One solution is storage. Smart storage can significantly reduce clutter and give military procurement officials the flexibility required to respond to constantly changing needs. However, as any military procurement official can tell you, storage isn’t always as simple as dumping everything into a single storage facility and then making a quick pickup when needed. Needs are complex, and time isn’t always on your side.

Below, learn more about how the right storage option can take some of the strain off military agencies bombarded by new orders and changing procurement requirements.

Strict Accounting Requirements

Bureaucracies are complicated things. The only way to maintain order is to closely track every resource — manpower, money, supplies, you name it. Even among countless government agencies, no group is under the same level of scrutiny as military. After all, supplies range from commodities to deadly weapons; every last item must be accounted for. Without the right storage option, accounting can be hugely time-consuming if not downright hopeless. Storage options as simple as weapons and media cabinets or mechanical carousels for paper documents can greatly simplify efforts for tracking and accounting for military supplies.

Efficiency

Accountability is certainly important, but so is functionality. As important as military operations and national security are, it’s crucial that military procurement officials are as efficient as possible. In that regard, accessibility is key. Movable storage can be a huge timesaver and help to fill military supplies orders much more quickly. Businesses like Patterson Pope and others specialize in such storage options as universal weapons racks and storage carts that make it much easier to move items quickly. Efficiency also means cost effectiveness. The less time personnel have to spend searching through inefficient storage, the more resources that can be devoted elsewhere.

Short Lead Times

Unlike many other government agencies, lead times for military procurement offices are not always so flexible. Orders can change with little to no lead time, and you must be ready to meet the demand as quickly as possible. For that reason, accessible storage and smart sorting is crucial to everyday operations. Customizable storage options can help to keep items grouped in the smartest way possible without taking up too much space. The right style of sorting can make all the difference when facing a complex last-minute request for military supplies. Intuitive design should be a top priority.

Changing Needs

The United States puts a high priority on new technologies — think supplies that are more compact and lightweight, or weapons that are larger than their predecessors. In turn, that means supplies that are in high demand today could be near obsolete tomorrow. Such rapid turnover in technology complicates the job of a military procurement office. On one hand, you must anticipate new incoming supplies that don’t necessarily fit the mold of what is being replaced. On the other hand, procurement officials should never assume (and typically do not have the luxury of assuming) that the “obsolete” supplies will be phased out entirely or can be discarded. For that reason, storage options should be flexible enough to embrace changing needs without a total overhaul.

Budget Uncertainty

Being caught in a political tug-of-war doesn’t help matters. On top of changing requirements and last-minute requests, military procurement officials also must do their best to anticipate future budget constraints. Naturally, the tools to blunt the inconvenience of sudden budget changes are limited, but with the right storage options in place you can continue to do your job as efficiently as circumstances allow.

It might not be the most top-of-mind priority for military procurement officials, but proper storage can save money, reduce employee stress levels and significantly improve overall operations.

Denny Hammack is the CEO of Patterson Pope, leveraging his 25 years of experience dealing with document filing, business storage and records management solutions. Patterson Pope is a professional storage solutions business, helping customers with organization, efficiency and space.