2020 has changed the game in many ways. Whether it is managing enhanced safety measures, adapting to accelerated consumer demand in online shopping, or clearly communicating delivery times and fluctuating supply chains – businesses have had to evolve – and fast.
Peak season preparation is always on the mind of fulfillment professionals. For some brands, the holiday season represents as much as one-third of total annual sales and defines whether or not the year is a successful one.
Operations for the holiday rush used to be something that was done once a year. Now, consumers are ready and able to shop any time of year, day, or even hour. From last minute holiday shopping, new shoes for school, or the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, “peak season” can be any time of year.
Help ensure a successful peak season or special holiday promotion by reviewing the checklist and questions below.
Forecasting
Data is crucial for peak season preparation. It is a window into the past and offers tools for predicting the future. This data allows your 3PL to effectively tackle and prepare for any challenges that might arise. Brands don’t win because they have the biggest budgets, but because they are always prepared.
- What happened last year? What went well? What surprised you? Being honest with yourself and your 3PL will allow all parties to plan appropriately.
- Was the warehouse stocked in time?
- Did any suppliers or shippers perform better than others?
- Was your company overwhelmed with returns?
- Did volume expectations match your deliverables?
Warehouse and Logistics Operations
Using the forecasting data you provide, warehouses should identify, scrutinize, and then optimize every one of their processes to ensure they will continue to perform flawlessly under extreme pressure. While the typical 3PL operation is complex and labor-intensive with various types of customers served, it is filled with opportunities to increase efficiency. These opportunities can be found at every stage of your client onboarding, inventory management, and order fulfillment processes. Some examples include:
- Air-tight EDI integrations – Air-tight Shopify and EDI integrations
- Client-specific workflows
- State-of-the-art picking, packing, and put-away processes
- Optimized warehouse layout and racking configurations
- Automation of as many manual processes as possible
Work as a team
There is a reason so many companies fail during peak periods: because they are divided from within. Their departments function as individual units or silos. This results in inconsistent responses to customer/partner/merchant queries across all channels. Establishing a relationship and trust with your 3PL is crucial to success for all parties.
An experienced 3PL will likely have the knowledge and resources to help you rate shop and find the best freight prices. They’ll also be highly knowledgeable of holiday peak season delivery cutoffs by the carrier to make sure you meet your customers’ shipping expectations. This is especially beneficial for emerging brands who have traditionally handled these operations on their own.
Remaining 2020 Holiday Dates:
American Thanksgiving: November 26
Black Friday: November 27
Small Business Saturday: November 28
Cyber Monday: November 30
Free Shipping Day: December 14 (offer free shipping on all orders, with promised delivery by Christmas Eve)
Super Saturday: December 19 (the last Saturday before Christmas, typically a big shopping day for brick-and-mortar retailers)
Christmas: December 25
Thinking about outsourcing or expanding your fulfillment process? Jay Group can make the process painless and help you deliver the best experience to your customers. Contact us today.
