Inventory Management is Crucial

With many consumers still relying heavily on e-commerce, even the largest retailers can struggle to keep popular products in stock. To avoid disappointing customers with out-of-stocks:

• Invest in inventory management software with demand forecasting capabilities. This will help you predict spikes in demand for top-selling items based on past sales data, search trends, and other factors.
• Build safety stock levels to account for heightened demand. Don’t just rely on past sales – increase stock of your top SKUs by at least 20%.
• Streamline supply chain management and implement solutions like Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI) for key vendors. This gives you visibility into their stock levels and production capacity ahead of the season.
• Scale up workforce for receiving, storage and order fulfillment with temporary or outsourced Warehouse and Distribution staffing. This will prevent bottlenecks as order volume increases.

Optimizing Delivery is Key

Consumers have come to expect ultra-fast, free shipping across all online purchases. To meet delivery demands:

• Negotiate discounted shipping rates with carriers through annual contracts and volume discounts. This will help offset surcharges and keep free shipping profitable.
• Invest in Transportation Management System (TMS) routing software to map optimal delivery routes and consolidate shipments. This reduces mileage and transit times.
• Offer premium last-mile delivery services through same-day or next-day carriers in key regions. Though costly, this caters to customer convenience and impulse purchases.
• Set reasonable lead times on website, with caveats around potential weather or demand-related delays. Under-promise and over-deliver to exceed expectations.

Keep Customers Updated

The best way to manage expectations is through transparency. Leverage these tools:

• Implementation of Order Tracking software gives shipment status updates directly to customers. This reduces inbound inquiries on delivery ETA.
• Utilize email and text capabilities in Warehouse Management System (WMS) to proactively notify customers of any order changes, delays or shortages.
• Empower customer service team to instantly access inventory counts, order status and delivery details to quickly resolve issues.
• Send personalized email notifications to re-engage customers if items become back-in-stock or to suggest alternative gift ideas for out-of-stocks.

By optimizing inventory availability, implementing delivery solutions and improving transparency, e-commerce businesses can better manage the pressures of peak demand. Follow these fulfillment and technology strategies for your most seamless holiday season yet. Delighted customers and positive reviews will set your brand up for success in the new year ahead.

Additional Inventory Management Tips

As mentioned, keeping popular products well-stocked is crucial during peak demand. A few additional inventory management tips include:

• Implement perpetual inventory methods with cycle counts every 1-2 weeks leading up to the holidays. This identifies discrepancies between system records and physical counts early for correction.
• Segment inventory by velocity (fast, medium and slow-movers) to prioritize availability of top-selling SKUs. These A-class inventory items drive the majority of holiday revenue.
• Utilize an Inventory Tracking software or WMS to reduce rate of misplaced items within the warehouse. This provides real-time visibility by assigning unique IDs to each SKU for easy location.
• Test unmanned solutions such as autonomous mobile robots and automated storage and retrieval systems to handle more supply without expanding workforce. This speeds up fulfillment even during labor shortages.

Demand Forecasting and Safety Stock Levels

Getting inventory demand forecasts wrong during the unpredictable holiday season can be detrimental. Avoid stockouts by:

• Working with vendors and suppliers early to confirm production windows and raw material availability for top inventory. Confirm they have labor to scale production if needed.
• Evaluating trends from prior holiday seasons, including major retail events like Cyber Week and Green Monday, to estimate sales velocities by product category.
• Building in flexibility to pivot staffing and inventory allocation based on intra-season demand fluctuations.
• Budgeting for excess buffer stock to account for forecast error – this is especially important for imported or long-lead-time items.

Enhancing Last-Mile Delivery

As mentioned in the original post, upgrading last-mile delivery capabilities is no longer a “nice-to-have” but requirement for modern consumers. Things to consider:

• Explore crowdsourced same-day delivery options to offset rising rates from traditional couriers during peak season.
• Provide customers visibility into all available delivery options and associated costs at checkout. This avoids later frustration if buyers feel misled by marketing promises.