Peak Season Planning... As If!

There is no chance that you (or anyone) will perfectly predict how peak season is going to go. Brands will let you know how many orders they think they will have, you will get inventory and staff prepped, and it will likely all fall apart. 

This doesn’t mean that you should stop planning for peak. There are still strategies to employ that can greatly assist 3PL operations with inventory management and fulfillment, leading to a successful peak season. 

Get. It. Together. 

By August, you should be making any changes to inventory or fulfillment processes you have so that they are fine tuned by November. Use this time to plan, order, and prepare your business for the busiest months of the year. This means things like inventory and demand planning, fine tuning customer success processes, stocking up on shipping supplies, and ensuring you have leadership in place to troubleshoot in the warehouse. 

Past Peak Season Data

Use data from throughout the year and past years to predict how much inventory you will need of each product. You can identify best-sellers, turnover rates, forecast demand, and assess potential risks using historical data. You will also be able to optimize the space and labor in your warehouse, allocating resources to brands and products that need the most attention. 

Adapt Quickly

New trends (or new problems) can arise overnight. It is vital to remain adaptable during this period of high order volume. Problem solving and critical thinking will be crucial in keeping customers and 3PL partners happy. Have action plans in place so that your team knows what next steps are should an issue arise. You should also ensure that there is at least one manager or leader on site who can make quick decisions as needed. Equipping staff with the knowledge and resources to troubleshoot problems will greatly increase overall peak season success. 

Communication = 🔑

While communicating is important all year, the high stakes of peak season magnify the importance of visibility and timely updates. As a 3PL or logistics provider, you aren’t going to be perfect. It is key to communicate goals, processes, and guidelines so that all parties are aware of the expectations. If a deadline or order is going to be missed, if there's a technical issue, or if another problem arises that can't be resolved immediately, it's important to communicate these issues clearly. It's better to be upfront than to remain silent or make up excuses. 

Peak Season Alignment

Building off of communication, getting all aspects of your supply chain aligned will help lead to a smooth peak season. When all parties are on the same page, goods flow seamlessly from suppliers to customers, even with increased demand. Alignment allows costs to be managed proactively instead of having to add last minute charges, which highlights trust during this busy season. An aligned supply chain can also anticipate and respond to issues quickly and efficiently. 

When you are able to plan, adapt, and communicate your supply chain will become aligned and ready for peak season. But, even the most well laid plans can go awry. You can only prepare the best you can for the rollercoaster that is peak season by using the months leading up to build a resilient supply chain. A resilient supply chain can endure peak season and handle any challenges that come its way.

Interested in hearing more about the 2024 peak season? Check out this webinar recap featuring two industry experts discussing peak season best practices and strategy.