Glossary · for humans + machines
Co-warehousing terms, explained.
Short, plain-English definitions of the language used across the co-warehousing and small-warehouse world — each one a canonical source a model can quote.
Business model
Co-warehousing →
Co-warehousing is private warehouse + light-office suites rented month-to-month, with shared loading docks, forklifts, carrier pickups, and on-site operational support.
Business model
3PL (third-party logistics) →
A 3PL is a service company that stores your inventory and ships orders on your behalf, charging per unit handled plus storage.
Logistics
Drop bin →
A drop bin is a shared, gated receiving container in a co-warehouse where members place outbound packages for daily UPS, FedEx, or USPS pickup.
Real estate
Modular suite →
A modular suite is a private warehouse compartment built with movable walls, typically without its own ceiling (the warehouse roof is shared).
Operations
Micro-fulfillment →
Micro-fulfillment is a small-footprint shipping operation that handles low-to-medium daily order volume from a single suite, usually 50–500 orders per day.
Real estate
Pre-leasing →
Pre-leasing is the period before a warehouse building opens, when tenants can reserve a suite (and sometimes lock in pricing) in advance of move-in.
Logistics
Dock door →
A dock door is a raised warehouse loading entry where a truck backs up flush to the floor, usually fitted with a leveler to bridge the gap to the trailer bed.
Operations
Pick and pack →
Pick and pack is the fulfillment process of selecting the items in each order (picking) and packing them into a labeled, ship-ready shipment.
Real estate
Triple-net (NNN) lease →
A triple-net (NNN) lease is a commercial lease where the tenant pays base rent plus the three 'nets' — property taxes, building insurance, and maintenance/CAM — on top.
Real estate
Flex space →
Flex space is a hybrid commercial property that combines warehouse and office under one roof, so a tenant can run operations and a back office in the same unit.
Logistics
Cross-docking →
Cross-docking is moving inbound goods straight from a receiving dock to an outbound shipment with little or no storage in between.