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Kolineo

Warehousing services and container unloading

From the truck to the shelf, Kolineo handles your inventory: your pallets, parcels and containers are unloaded, counted and checked, then stored on pallets or shelves, with accurate inventory you can check in real time. In Sherbrooke, Québec for Canada and near Chicago for the U.S.

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Pallet racking with a reach truck lifting a pallet

Third-party warehousing: more than renting space

Running your own warehouse means paying for a lease, equipment and staff, even in slow months, and guessing today how much space you will need three years from now. Working with a 3PL warehouse solves both problems: space follows your inventory as it grows, and your products are already where they need to be to ship.

Our third-party warehousing is built for small and mid-sized businesses, ecommerce brands, manufacturers and distributors. This is not self-storage: we hold inventory meant to be sold, connected to your online orders and retail shipments. Everything that comes in is unloaded, counted and checked by our team, and everything that goes out is picked, packed and shipped on site.

What is warehouse receiving?

Warehouse receiving covers everything that happens when a delivery reaches the warehouse: unloading the truck or container, the receiving inspection (quantities and packaging condition), then put-away into inventory. It is also called inbound logistics.

A mistake made at the dock costs you later. A miscounted carton turns into an out-of-stock item on your store. A damaged pallet nobody flagged becomes a freight claim that is hard to win. A mislabeled product becomes the wrong order at your customer’s door. Order accuracy starts at receiving.

Our receiving service is built for ecommerce brands, manufacturers and distributors who ship inventory to a warehouse rather than to their office: supplier deliveries, regular replenishment or import containers. Whether you receive a few pallets a month or full containers from overseas, we adapt the process to your products. It is also the entry point to our order fulfillment service.

Container unloading and receiving: what’s included

Every inbound shipment follows the same path, from the truck to its storage location.

  • Pallets and parcels

    Unloading at our dock of the pallets and parcels delivered by your suppliers or carriers.

  • Container unloading

    Container unloading when cartons are stacked directly on the floor, with sorting by SKU and palletizing before put-away.

  • Quantity checks

    Every shipment is counted and compared to the packing list or purchase order you sent us.

  • Condition checks

    Damaged packaging is spotted during unloading and reported to you, so you can take it up with the supplier or carrier.

  • Put-away

    Products are stored and recorded in our warehouse management system (WMS), ready for your next orders.

  • Real-time inventory visibility

    As soon as put-away is done, your stock levels are updated and visible from your phone or computer.

Checking the quantities of a received pallet with a barcode scanner

How our receiving warehouse works

It all starts before the truck arrives. You send us an advance notice: supplier, expected date, products and quantities. We plan the dock and the crew accordingly, so the trailer waits as little as possible.

On arrival, our team unloads, counts and inspects, then puts each product away and adds it to your inventory. It is one of the commitments listed on our warranties page: accurate receiving with fast unloading and put-away. The same inbound logistics process applies in Sherbrooke and at our Chicago warehouse.

For smooth receiving, here is what we need from you. It is all in our warehouse delivery guide (PDF), ready to send to your suppliers:

  • An advance shipping notice (ASN) with the expected date and carrier
  • A packing list: products, quantities and carton count
  • Barcodes (UPC or other) on your products or cartons
  • Lot numbers or expiry dates, if applicable

Pallet storage and warehousing services in detail

The right storage for each product, and reliable stock at all times.

  • Pallet storage

    Your full pallets are stored and kept accessible for order picking or retail shipments.

  • Shelf storage

    Small items and products sold by the unit are stored on shelves for fast, accurate picking.

  • Several storage options

    We work with you to choose the most cost-effective storage for each product, based on size, volume and turnover.

  • Accurate inventory

    Kolineo is committed to inventory accuracy well above the market average, because stock discrepancies are expensive.

  • Real-time visibility

    Stock levels, order status and ongoing operations, all visible from your phone or computer.

  • Stock synced with your sales

    Connected to Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon or your other platforms, your available inventory stays current across sales channels.

Small items stored in bins on shelving

Inventory management: how we keep your stock accurate

Accurate inventory doesn’t happen by accident: it is built at every step. It starts with checked receiving, is maintained through storage locations tracked in the system, and is confirmed with every order picked. Our team works with one of the best warehouse management systems available in North America.

The result: when your store shows an item in stock, it really is on our shelves. And when stock runs low, you see it in time to reorder from your supplier instead of finding out through a stockout.

  • Quantities checked at receiving
  • Every stock movement recorded in real time
  • Online access to your inventory levels
  • 99.98% order accuracy

From container to shelf: moving to a 3PL warehouse

Four steps between the first conversation and your inventory online.

  1. We review your inventory

    Number of SKUs, pallets and cartons, sales velocity: we size the space and storage type you need, then connect your store to our system.

  2. You notify us

    You send the expected date, the carrier and the list of products. We book the dock and the crew.

  3. We unload and check

    Pallets, parcels or a floor-loaded container: goods are unloaded, counted against the packing list and inspected. Any discrepancy is reported to you.

  4. You track your stock

    Each product is put away and recorded. Your inventory is available online, and your orders ship straight from our shelves.

Inventory accuracy, by the numbers

order accuracy
99.98%
of orders shipped on time
99.87%
average shipping savings for our clients
28%
businesses trust us with their logistics
61

Receiving and warehousing FAQ

How is this different from self-storage?

A self-storage unit rents you a room: you drive there to drop off or pick up your goods. At Kolineo, your products are received, counted, stored and shipped by our team, and you track your inventory online. It is third-party warehousing, connected directly to your sales.

Do you handle floor-loaded container unloading?

Yes. Cartons from a floor-loaded container are unloaded, sorted by SKU and palletized before put-away. To plan properly, tell us the container size, carton count and number of different SKUs in advance. If you import, our shipping service can also coordinate import and customs clearance.

My goods arrived damaged: who handles the claim?

Damaged packaging is spotted during unloading and reported to you with the affected products and quantities, before put-away. The claim is then filed in your name, with the carrier or the supplier depending on who arranged the shipment. Act quickly: a claim is easier to win when the damage was noted at delivery, and carriers set a deadline for filing.

How long before my products are available to sell?

Kolineo guarantees fast unloading and put-away. The exact turnaround depends on the shipment: a truck of single-SKU pallets is processed faster than a floor-loaded container with dozens of SKUs. We give you a realistic estimate when we schedule the delivery.

My products have lot numbers, expiry dates or must not freeze. Can you receive and store them?

Let’s talk before your first shipment. In food, cosmetics or health products, lot traceability and date rotation matter, and some goods must not freeze during a Québec winter. Tell us your requirements and we will tell you plainly what we can do and how.

Can I receive and store inventory in both Canada and the U.S.?

Yes. Our main warehouse is at 5550 Bourque Boulevard in Sherbrooke, Québec, about 150 km from Montréal. Our Chicago warehouse receives goods bound for your U.S. customers. Both run on the same system, so you see your entire inventory in one place and serve each market from its own warehouse.

How much do receiving and warehousing cost?

Receiving depends on the type of shipment (pallets, parcels or floor-loaded container), the number of SKUs and how often you receive. Warehousing depends mainly on how much space your inventory takes and how it is stored (pallets or shelves). For a first range, use our 3PL cost calculator; for exact pricing, ask for a quote.

Our other 3PL services

Pallet storage pricing: estimate your cost

The calculator gives you a first range in a minute, based on your volumes and products.

Estimate my costs (819) 861-2354