Last Minute BFCM Tips & Tricks

Preparing for the holiday season requires a well thought out fulfillment strategy. Well (as it turns out), the holiday season is upon us! But no need to stress, there’s still time to wrap up those final details. Here are a few last minute tips and tricks to ensure you have a smooth and successful Black Friday/Cyber Monday! 

• • Conducting a final inventory audit ensures that stock levels align with the forecasted demand. Prioritizing high-demand SKUs and adjusting inventory placement will allow for faster picking.

• • Communication is key (sorry for the cliche, but it is). Sending out reminders about important deadlines will make the busy season run much smoother. Let clients know when the deadlines are for shipping, restocks, and any special requests well in advance. Teams should also provide real-time updates about inventory, delays, or other concerns so that issues can be proactively resolved. 

• • Creating dedicated picking zones for best-sellers and holiday bundles allows the highest-volume items to get on their way to the consumer much quicker. Logistics providers can also temporarily rearrange for a higher efficiency in high-traffic areas. While it may be a pain to rearrange, minimizing friction will help get orders out quickly. Orders getting out the door quickly means happy clients and customers. 

• • Implement batch picking for the most common items to save time. Creating a streamlined process will speed up picking and packing while minimizing errors. 

• • Review and share holiday shipping deadlines with clients to avoid any potential delays or conflicts. It is also important to work with carriers to secure capacity for last-minute orders.  

• • Preparing for returns during the BFCM rush will set your team up for success in the long run. Now is the time to set up an efficient reverse logistics system to handle all of the post-holiday returns. 

• • Even the best forecasting efforts can’t always predict what is actually going to happen. Keep an eye on order volume and adjust labor allocation accordingly. Lean on your analytics team to identify bottlenecks and decide the best way to optimize warehouse space, equipment, and labor. 

• • Although you should already have a good core of staff to get you through the busy season, extra shifts or temporary labor can still be added to help handle volume spikes. There should always be at least one supervisor available to troubleshoot problems quickly. 

• • What is your contingency plan for disruptions? What happens if there is a system outage? It is vital during this time of year to have backup processes ready for key operations. Even 15 minutes of halted operations can drastically reduce necessary productivity. Now is the time to make sure there’s a plan in place for any unexpected issues that arise. 

BFCM and all of the necessary preparations may feel overwhelming. But if you planned ahead and created a strong supply-chain throughout the year, you’re probably already in a great position to tackle the holiday rush. 

Looking for a 3PL to help you take on the busy holiday season? Contact Brandfox and learn more about how we can help you thrive during the busy season and year round!