Ready for the Rush: Strategies for Meeting Peak Season Demand
Download the Peak Readiness white paper to learn the solutions, partnerships, priorities and technologies that are helping retailers win in all their busy seasons.
The Results Are In
According to UPS research, these are the top challenges retailers face during their busiest seasons.
36%
cite delivery delays as their biggest logistics concern
Research-Backed Steps to Prepare for Your Busy Seasons
Improve Forecasting and Planning
Successful peak seasons begin long before orders start arriving.
In the Peak Readiness white paper, strategists recommend:
- Aligning inventory with promotional calendars
- Improving forecasting accuracy
- Reducing excess inventory and markdown risk
- Positioning products closer to anticipated demand
- Improving fulfillment performance while managing costs
Create More Efficient Inventory Networks
Today’s shoppers expect products to be available wherever and whenever they choose to buy.
Consumer expectations reinforce the need for strong inventory management:
- 89.2% say free shipping influences where they shop
- 82.8% value immediate product availability
- 80.6% prioritize fast shipping
- 80% consider free returns important
Deliver Visibility Through Technology
Visibility becomes increasingly important as order volumes rise.
Retailers identified their most valuable logistics partner capabilities as:
- Technology integration (43%)
- Real-time shipping visibility (38.3%)
- Flexible shipping and delivery solutions (34.6%)
- Delivery tracking solutions (34.3%)
- Shipping planning support (30.1%)
UPS provides integrated technology solutions that help retailers monitor inventory, track shipments, improve customer communications and keep operations running smoothly.
Strengthen Supply Chain and Supplier Coordination
Peak-season success depends on more than transportation. UPS helps retailers improve supply chain coordination by encouraging stronger connections between supplier data, inventory systems and logistics operations.
Key areas supported include:
- Vendor compliance
- Order management
- Warehousing and distribution
- Transportation management
- International supplier coordination
Protect the Customer Experience
Customer expectations do not change during peak periods.
UPS helps retailers build trust through reliable delivery, shipment visibility, delivery tracking, returns support and technologies designed to reduce fraud risk. According to UPS research, 93% of businesses report increasing fraud risk, making security and visibility critical components of the customer experience.
The Path Ahead
The research shows that success during peak times depends on what happens long before order volumes begin to increase. Retailers that align inventory planning, carrier strategy, technology integration, supply chain optimization and customer experience early will be positioned to respond to demand whenever it happens.
”Traditional peak season shopping isn’t flattening,” shared Derek Banta, Vice President at UPS. “Retailers are seeing cyclical peaks throughout the year. Some of this is driven by globalization of shopping patterns, and some by omnichannel and social commerce.”
Get ready for your rush, whenever it may be, by downloading the Peak Readiness white paper and see how retailers are positioning inventory, aligning with carriers, testing systems and making staffing decisions in anticipation of busy seasons.
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