Peak Season Management
Peak season 2022 has yet to begin, and already, challenges abound.
Companies did what they could at the start of the year to import inventory early after many learned a hard lesson in 2021 as surging demand congested transportation networks, muddied inventory forecasts, and significantly slowed delivery times.
New issues threatened shippers’ forecasts by mid-2022. While the problems of yesterday appear likely to linger, rampant inflation has muddled the waters on shopper spending patterns. And the rising costs are also posing challenges to peak operations, as workers and contractors alike demand higher pay.
Amid this backdrop of supply chain slowdowns, inventory shortages and price fluctuations, consumers are purchasing holiday gifts earlier than ever before, and there’s profit to be lost for those that don’t plan ahead.
Check out the Peak Season Management Trendline from Retail Dive/Supply Chain Dive to get caught up on recent trends to inform peak season planning and management, and learn how smart fulfillment strategies can alleviate major stressors this season.