How to Prepare for the Holiday Shipping Rush

We all know this past year has been unlike any we’ve experienced before, and this upcoming holiday shipping rush is poised to follow suit.

The shutdowns and stay-at-home orders of 2020 impacted the usual end-of-year rush earlier and more aggressively, highlighting the urgency and importance of having a strong shipping and fulfillment plan. And while the situation doesn’t feel quite as dire this year after the introduction of vaccines, the rise of the delta variant and delays in the supply chain are still creating serious challenges that are sure to impact the entire e-commerce industry during peak. Retailers today should be prepared to address not only the spike in demand, but also the logistical challenges that can materialize because of it.

Our latest ebook details six straightforward steps to check off your list in order to get ahead of holiday shipping and fulfillment. As you plan for the seasonal e-commerce rush, here are three tips to get you off on the right foot:

Review your e-commerce business data and trends from previous holiday shipping seasons.

Review your previous season’s e-commerce spend compared to year-over-year revenue goals to project what’s reasonable on both the high and low ends. You should also look at other fulfillment-focused KPIs (key performance indicators) such as inventory management and customer support metrics to understand where you may need to tweak this year’s peak strategies and re-allocate spend.

Consider the impact of extra seasonal costs on your bottom line.

It’s important to consider that many carriers and other third parties involved in fulfillment processes often raise rates or charge extra fees during this busiest of seasons — do your due diligence as the season approaches to get a solid understanding of how these costs might impact your expected spend and revenue.

Educate yourself about individual carrier strengths to find the right mix for your business.

Identify which carriers are best equipped to help you meet your peak season goals well ahead of crunch time. Diversifying your carrier mix according to your specific products, goals, and customer preferences allows you to offer more robust shipping options to consumers while also maximizing the bang for every fulfillment budget buck.

To learn more about how to ensure your e-commerce fulfillment and shipping operations are ready for the coming holidays, download the full ebook: How to Prep for Peak Season Shipping: The Ultimate E-Commerce Fulfillment Checklist.