During a holiday period such as Christmas, when the volume of sales and activity increases significantly, many customers expect the level of service to be the same as during the rest of the year. Parcel delivery comparator Packlink, in its latest survey, highlights that the half of Spaniards (52%) expects its online orders to arrive in less than two days during the festive season. However, meeting these expectations is a major challenge for the players involved in the logistics process, as they all have to find solutions to deliver in the shortest possible time and successfully.
Against a backdrop of rising energy and fuel prices, logistics companies must seek solutions to remain competitive in the market, reduce the costs of their operations and optimise transport routes.
High demand prior to holiday periods
In seasons such as holiday periods, where we find the celebration of multiple anniversaries, the increase in purchases generates additional pressure on supply chains. In this context, effective planning emerges as a solution to avoid potential stock-outs or delivery delays.
Many organisations already know when the period of high demand for their products begins, so they are able to manage their stock levels in advance, ensuring optimal stock levels for these seasons.
As a consequence, shipping prices increase significantly, which is a problem reflected in the current cost of freight transport. In this sense, it is advisable to anticipate, bearing in mind the prediction of demand - thanks to the software The main focus is on how this period affects national and international logistics for exports.
Minimum services in distribution
While on the one hand, we have industries where demand spikes during the holidays, on the other hand, we have more industrial sectors focused on B2B, such as some factories, where activity can be reduced to minimum services, operating with fewer active personnel.
The minimum services that a company must have in periods of low activity include a smaller preparation of orders and a reduction of daily deliveries, always guaranteeing its operation and customer service satisfaction. To this end, communication must be fluid, especially informing you of estimated delivery times, especially if they will be longer than usual.
Delivery problems with the last mile
With many Spaniards having travelled over the Christmas holidays, and many more planning to do so in the summer, there will be an increase in the amount of time consumers spend away from home, a permanent dilemma for couriers.
One of the biggest problems in the last mile is the high incidence of order delivery. One courier confirms that almost 90% of unsuccessful deliveries are due to the absence of the recipient or another person who can pick up the package, resulting in increased costs and emissions in reverse logistics.
As a solution, several delivery options should be proposed to the consumer: smart lockers, pick-up points or other logistics operators with more flexibility. Tools such as a software transport management system (TMS) can be of great help in managing it.
In the same way, the buyer himself can be the one to propose solutions to the operator, e.g. providing the address of a trusted neighbour to pick up the order.
Caring for the environment, also on holiday
As environmental awareness grows among consumers, more and more of them appreciate that companies are committed to sustainable practices to mitigate the impact of their operations on the environment. Addressing issues such as waste management, energy efficiency in transport and sustainable packaging not only meets customer expectations, but also generates a very positive brand image.
Currently, the logistics and distribution do not rest during the holidays. During this period, many industries see an increase in their operations, while other sectors reduce their activity to minimum services.
At this irregular time of year, it is essential to be able to keep effective control over the supply chain. To do this it is crucial to maintain good communication with the consumer, preserve stock levels and have staffing levels in line with demand.
