Getting your fulfilment right is something that should be prioritised every single day. No matter who the customer is, or when they placed that order. However, we know all too well that at certain times of the year, there may be just a few more obstacles which you need to navigate along the way. And that is where preparing for seasonal rushes really does make the difference.
The key to any good fulfilment process is preparation. And this is especially true when it comes to seasonal rushes. Depending on your sector – you may have different experiences when it comes to seasonality. Whether you’re a toy brand preparing for an influx of orders around Black Friday and Christmas, or a confectionary company which sees a surge around Valentines’ or Easter – there are plenty of ways in which you can prepare your business for a “rush” which doesn’t result in dropped orders, unhappy customers and increased returns and refunds.
When it comes to seasonal orders, many people are ordering products with the intention of arriving before one specific date i.e. Christmas or Halloween. With that in mind, we experience a whole different side to shoppers and their mindsets, specifically around next-day delivery and specified delivery slots. With an increase in this demand, we experience more and more shoppers willing to enhance their budget, hoping for priority or same-day delivery!
So what does this mean for our fulfilment?
As the old saying goes “failing to prepare, is preparing to fail” and this couldn’t be more true when it comes to connecting your products to your customers.
On that note, at SCEND we’ve created a list of our top five aspects of the fulfilment journey that you need to prepare to ensure you’re on top of your fulfilment every day no matter the seasonality. Getting your fulfilment up to speed helping to navigate seasonal rushes.
Five aspects of fulfilment which you can control when it comes to seasonal fulfilment.
1. Work on your stock & inventory management!
The key to preparing for any peak or holiday season is making sure that you’ve got your inventory management in hand. By keeping your foundations in check you’re able to ensure that you’re in a place in which you can keep up with increased seasonal demands. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, inventory management is the backbone to a great eCommerce fulfilment process. And getting this stage right is the difference between excelling and failing at keeping up with seasonal demands.
When looking at how you can best increase your commitment to a great inventory management system, you should look at some of the excellent tech partners which work alongside you to ensure that your inventory is logged in and out and live stock updates show you just how much inventory you have at any given time. Implementing tech like inventory planner allows you to keep an eye on what is coming in and going out at all times, preparing for an influx of orders. This is the best way to make sure none of your customers are going to be disappointed by out-of-stock notices or orders which are cancelled once they’ve been placed.
If you’re taking on your own fulfilment in-house you should ensure that you have regular stock updates coming from your warehouse team. However, if you’re working with a 3PL like SCEND you should be receiving regular insights into your stock levels.
With SCEND you’ll have 24/7 access to your stock and inventory levels helping you to better prepare for an influx of orders no matter what time of year it is.
2. Create a fast and accurate pick-and-pack solution.
When it comes to preparing for an influx of orders you need to prepare for what that really means. More orders, mean more chance for error. Therefore, it is extremely important to re-evaluate your pick and pack process in advance of any peak season. With your customers expecting fast dispatch and delivery you need to create a sustainable solution which will help you get more orders out the doors, at a higher speed, and with 100% accuracy to avoid complaints and returns.
One of the best way to achieve this… technology.
At SCEND we have perfected our pick-and-pack process which includes a fully digitalised warehousing system removing the prospect of human error. We scan, scan and scan your products in and out to ensure that we know which item is in which box and that it is connected to the correct customer – and with years in the business we have managed to perfect this process at record speeds. Meaning that no matter how many orders come through during those peak and seasonal periods we can handle them, quickly, accurately and with the same flare as we would during less busy times.
3. Partner with the right courier for the job.
With an increase in sales, and an added pressure of getting products delivered on time, when it comes to improving your fulfilment with seasonality in mind you need to make sure that you’re working with the right courier for the job. Ensuring that your customers get their products on time and in one piece is essential for you, your business, and your customers!
When you work with SCEND we offer insight into the best couriers to use based on your business needs. We have a full blog piece all about how you can choose the right courier for the job. But if you’re still unsure or have any questions SCEND are here to help.
4. Streamline your order journey, including returns.
When it comes to seasonal rushes in the eCommerce world, your consumers want to execute their buying journey quickly, accurately and with as few steps or obstacles as possible. From onboarding your customers to having them navigate your online store and subsequently purchasing goods – these are all elements of the journey which you can work on and perfect over the course of your time in business. But when it comes to the fulfilment side, some of these need just a little touch more work.
Working with a 3PL will mean that you can make the fulfilment process as fluid and streamlined as the buying purchase, meaning that no matter where your customers are in their journey, they will have a pleasant experience which keeps them coming back for more.
On top of ensuring that your customers have a streamlined process when it comes to purchasing, your customers should also expect a fast an efficient returns process too. Take a look at how SCEND can help supercharge your returns process.
5. Working with a reputable 3PL.
We understand just how intense seasonal rushes can be, and taking on this challenge isn’t always the best idea when you’re going at it alone. Using a reputable 3PL can help to improve customer satisfaction, increase revenue, reduce return rates and ease the stress of seasonal fulfilment!
At SCEND we’re experts in eCommerce fulfilment, with over 10 years’ in the industry we’ve navigated our way through some of the most intense sales periods and can say we don’t miss a trick. Working with a 3PL like SCEND is the best way to ensure that your customers are getting the post-purchase experience that they deserve.
Peak seasons are the perfect time to evaluate your fulfilment solution. With more orders coming through the website, more people looking for rushed delivery, and a greater need to increase stock volumes you’ll see any cracks forming with your current solution. And though now might not be the right time to start changing your 3PL – you can always begin looking to the future, as we said failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
So if you want to get ahead of the game and ensure your fulfilment isn’t just up to standard but is far superior, no matter what the season, speak to a member of the SCEND team.
