We may be deep in the digital age, but businesses still rely on physical documents, tools, equipment, marketing materials, and more to run efficiently. Additionally, many companies prefer to keep extra products on hand for quick and easy stocking. This is why one of the most understated pieces of business equipment–storage shelving racks–can also be the most valuable.

Storage shelving racks play an essential role in increasing organization, efficiency, and productivity. In fact, storage shelving units can even help a business’s bottom line. Ready to learn more? Here are 10 valuable benefits of storage shelves.

1. Increased Organization

One of the biggest benefits of storage shelves is their ability to help companies organize physical materials. From legal records to shipping materials, medical equipment, library books, and more, shelves help you organize the tools and products that help your business run. If you’ve ever had to wade through stacks of unorganized records or search a huge warehouse for the piece of equipment you need, then you know how critical it is to be able to find what you need as quickly and easily as possible.

2. Better Efficiency

Every time your employee has to spend 10 minutes wandering around looking for the item they need, that’s 10 minutes they aren’t spending doing something more important. Well-organized wall storage shelves let your employees find what they need quickly and efficiently, helping to keep the work flowing smoothly.

3. Space Optimization

Space equals money, especially for businesses that need to rent out storage space or protect valuable warehouse square footage. Storage shelves allow businesses to use every inch of space, including vertical space, to store their most important materials. Adding storage cabinets with shelves can dramatically free up space and help improve traffic flow within the office.

4. Limits Item Loss

Storage shelves allow every piece of valuable business property to have its unique space. This not only makes things easier to find, but it also helps prevent items from getting lost. Instead of a tool or piece of equipment getting shoved into a corner or tossed into a drawer where no one can find it, your employees will be able to find whatever they need to do their job. Storage shelving units increase the visibility and accessibility of all your tools.

5. Keeps Items More Secure

Leaving business-related items in the wrong place can lead to expensive damage. For example, important records left in a dank corner could be vulnerable to mildew or even the teeth of a curious critter. Equipment piled together on a flimsy table or countertop could get knocked off or stepped on. When items are placed on metal storage shelves, they have a secure and stable spot to keep them safe.

6. Easy to Assemble

Most storage shelves are typically fast and easy to assemble. You won’t need any super fancy tools to put them together or an advanced degree to translate the instructions. Instead, depending on which type of shelving you purchased, you may only need to install rivets. In many cases, you and your team can assemble your shelving the same day it arrives. If you aren’t comfortable assembling your shelves, you can ask your service representative if they can provide assembly with your order or as an add-on cost.

7. Versatility

Your business will likely grow and change over time, and your storage shelves can adapt as necessary. For example, some shelving units allow you to move shelves up and down to store a variety of different items. Other shelves can be added onto, increasing the size of the unit as your storage needs grow. Finally, rolling shelves, including storage cabinets with shelves, can easily be moved from room to room as you change your office’s layout.

8. Durability

When business equipment breaks down, it costs money to replace and can represent an inconvenience that affects office work. Fortunately, many storage shelves, including metal storage shelves, can hold up for the long term. These shelving units can support heavy loads and stand up to cold or hot temperatures. If you want equipment to last, then heavy-duty storage shelves are the way to go. (Note: Make sure you know how much weight your storage shelves can hold before packing the shelves.)