Nov 02, 2023

As the 2023 peak shipping season continues to draw nearer and nearer, shippers are gearing up to ensure that they are ready to handle the increased demand for their products. The peak shipping season is a time when demand for shipping services skyrockets, and shippers must be well-prepared to meet the needs of their customers. Typically, this is around the holiday season, where chaos can potentially ensue if things go off the rails. As a result, this presents a rather challenging task for companies to meet, as it requires careful planning, efficient logistics, and effective communication with all parties involved.

Getting settled in for the 2023 peak season starts as early as today. While the pressure may be on, the opportunity for increased profit margins is obtainable for distributors all across the globe should they prepare properly. Companies that are able to use the previous year’s data and calculate how they can offer better distribution solutions and strategies, all while keeping consumers happy this holiday season.

Learning from Previous Peak Seasons

As the holiday season approaches, shippers are gearing up to handle the increased demand for their products. However, it's important to remember that each peak season brings its unique challenges and opportunities. The demand for one service won’t be the same for another. Shippers can better prepare for the upcoming holiday rush by going backward into the past and learning from both earlier mistakes and successes. Considering previous data from earlier seasons can help you and your team make informed decisions on what to do differently in 2023. These are the three key lessons shippers should learn from their previous peak seasons:

1. Plan ahead and be proactive – One of the most important aspects of handling peak season is the importance of planning ahead. Anticipating demand and preparing accordingly can help shippers avoid delays and ensure that products are arriving on time. For example, shippers can work with carriers to establish shipping schedules in advance, or they can increase their inventory levels to ensure that they have enough stock to meet demand. Shippers can minimize the risk of supply chain disruptions and keep customers happy by staying on top of things and creating an effective game plan early on.
2. Communicate effectively with carriers – Effective communication with carriers is a critical factor when demand elevates at an all-time high. During peak periods, carriers are often stretched thin and may struggle to meet demand. Shippers can help ensure this doesn’t happen by creating a proactive strategy with their carriers. For example, shippers can provide carriers with detailed information about their products, including weight and dimensions, to help carriers plan their routes more efficiently. Additionally, shippers can track their shipments in real time and provide carriers with updates on any delays or other issues that may arise.
3. Invest in technology and automation –Investing in technology and automation will help streamline their operations and improve efficiency. For example, shippers can use warehouse management systems to help optimize their inventory levels and improve order fulfillment. Additionally, shippers can use automated packaging systems to help speed up the packing process and reduce the risk of errors. By investing in better tools, shippers are able to improve their overall logistics performance and better handle the demands of peak season.
   
   

Improving Tracking and Customer Service for Better Visibility

The digital era of online shopping presents new distribution challenges that are heightened during peak season. For consumers, they are expecting goods and products to arrive within certain time constraints. Shippers need to always be prepared for when demand spikes during peak season to be able to achieve supply chain visibility across the board.

Creating tracking solutions with RFID technology can help automate the entirety of the transportation process. Keeping track of higher inventory levels, as well as optimizing your order-picking solutions, can lead to an increased distribution throughput. For example, if your business sells a certain product more during peak season than others, you should be able to access that product more easily in your warehouse. Creating a barcode solution for your team can allow you to better organize your inventory and get popular items out the door. This is especially important when tracking inventory volume and keeping note of product stock numbers so that you don’t run out or order too much of something.

Implementing these solutions isn’t just limited to within the warehouse. Customers want to be updated on the entirety of the shipping process; from the moment they order something to the day it arrives on their doorsteps. Tracking a higher volume of assets can all be automated so that your team can keep accurate data: optimize shipping routes, calculate how much freight is going to weigh, and provide real-time updates for your customers down to the last-mile portion of transportation.

Shippers also need to be prepared to have a higher level of customer service during peak season. Despite putting the best efforts forward, there will likely be products returned during peak season. Your customer service team needs to be able to handle a higher volume of customer questions and concerns. This means keeping track of inventory volume, which can be done efficiently with RFID technology so that consumers know what’s in stock and what isn’t. Additionally, keeping accurate data collection on shipments can help your customer service team keep consumers in the loop during the entirety of the process, leading to an overall better public image and keeping customers happy.

Wrapping Up Planning for the 2023 Peak Season

The 2023 peak season is approaching with each passing day. Shippers that create an effective plan of communication and logistics will see great results when the dust settles. With technology and services from Heartland, distributors can meet these challenges head-on. Heartland offers reliable software integrations and hardware improvements to help your business adapt to what’s new and optimize performance while slashing away operational costs. Discover how your team can get ready for peak season by contacting us today.