The pre-Christmas period is one of the times of the year with the highest turnover for e-commerce. And during Black Week, too, there are special offers that also boost sales. Empty shelves are therefore not only a horror scenario for customers. The supply chain problems also endanger Black Week and the holiday shopping season in 2022. What should retailers consider now so that the peak season is still successful?
Supply chain issues are a key issue for retailers. Over the past year, empty shelves have prevented retailers from peaking as expected. numbers of Händlerbund Annual Study E-Commerce 2021 speak for themselves: Only 60 percent of the retailers surveyed were satisfied with the 2021 Christmas business. And the Christmas business in 2022 is already under pressure due to the ongoing supply chain problems. The question for many retailers: how can they avoid empty shelves during peak season?
360-degree strategies necessary for logistics
The current supply chain problems require an all-round view of your own logistics. Delivery delays are not only related to missing deliveries. Challenges in internal processes can also mean that shipping to the customer takes longer. Retailers should therefore consider and optimize both external logistics and intralogistics. The following checklist summarizes the options available here.
4 tips against empty shelves in year-end business
In order for retailers to be able to easily deliver the products they want to their customers during Black Week and the Christmas season, they should always have an overview of the actual stock levels and the delivery status of new goods. At the same time, they should increase efficiency in their own warehouse. 4 tips will help merchants meet both requirements:
1. Picking with AI-supported software
Retailers can identify delivery problems early on if they have a real-time overview of inventory levels. Software with AI integration, which records incoming and outgoing goods in real time, offers support here. In addition, the software, combined with GPS, can track goods shipments from suppliers. If there is a problem at one point in the supply chain, retailers can react quickly. In addition, in the long term, AI software offers the possibility of optimizing goods orders based on forecasts for sales.
2. Automation in intralogistics
Retailers can achieve more efficiency in intralogistics and thus shorter shipping times by automating processes. The transport of goods in the warehouse in particular takes up a lot of time. Driverless transport systems (DTS), conveyor belts, drones and an optimized warehouse structure with wider aisles and clear storage elements help to store and remove goods more quickly. Flexible storage systems can help retailers to easily expand their storage options for the peak season.
3. Open communication and alternatives
Despite all the preparation, it can still happen that goods cannot be delivered on time. Therefore, retailers should always communicate delivery delays openly with customers. Otherwise, the delay will have a particularly negative impact on the customer experience. In order to be able to deliver goods to customers, retailers should also identify alternative suppliers and products now. In an emergency, you can fall back on it.
4. Assistance from Fulfillment Service Providers
Not every retailer can optimize its logistics all around on its own. Fulfillment service providers are particularly suitable for smaller retailers. They have the necessary expertise and technical equipment not only to identify delivery problems at an early stage, but also to provide alternatives quickly and effectively. They also help to improve shipping to the customer.
Take precautions now
To ensure that the peak season with Black Week and Christmas sales goes better than last year despite ongoing supply chain problems, retailers should adjust their logistics now and by the first week of November this year at the latest. This is the only way to avoid empty shelves in the peak season. As an expert in logistics, PARCEL.ONE supports retailers in starting the Christmas business in the best possible way and in offering their customers an excellent customer experience. The fulfillment offer includes, among other things, the optimization of the warehouse structure through the sustainable and flexible shelving system kart.onE, individually tailored shipping for each shipment and digitally supported order picking.
Micha Augstein is the founder and managing director of PARCEL.ONE. The company operates worldwide and specializes in the cross-border shipping of B2C and D2C letters and parcels.