eCommerce retailers need to have well-prepared supply chains ahead of the holidays, with the right amount of inventory located at the right locations. As retail competition increases, online retailers are already in the throes of preparing for another major peak season.
Adapting Retail Strategy to Surging eCommerce Growth
E-commerce sales are reaching unprecedented heights, signaling a dramatic shift in consumer behavior and highlighting the growing importance of digital channels for retail success.
- Forrester estimates that e-commerce revenue will account for 17% of total retail revenue in 2022.
- Experts estimate that current supply chain disruption trends will not dissipate until 2023.
- E-commerce sales during November 2020, which included Cyber Monday, reached $100 billion for the first time.
Many retailers use last year’s data to better understand how, when, and where their customers shop during the holiday season. Using analytics, retailers can better recognize what products sold best, which customers bought what, and where products were purchased most – such as in the store or online.
And many retailers are finding that their revenues are growing despite the bad press that the retail industry has seen lately with the closing of stores. The reason – more and more people are still shopping, only they are doing it online.
Preparing Fulfillment Operations to Tackle Holiday Demand Challenges
What do you need to do to get your warehouse, fulfillment center, and in-store pickup areas in tip-top shape before the holidays?
Don't wait! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and current supply chain disruptions like supply shortages and longer-than-usual shipping timelines, the time to prepare your fulfillment operations for peak season is waning. Many retailers are concerned about where and how they will store, prep, pack, and ship/stage for pick up thousands of orders coming in from various channels. Because of this, a chief concern in preparing for peak season is readying warehouses, retail back rooms, and customer pickup areas for a massive influx of orders, and after that, managing reverse logistics for all of the returns.
To eliminate these concerns, retailers need effective and efficient fulfillment storage and order picking solutions to support the seasonal peak.
Learn how to save space in your facility. Download The Guide To Optimizing Warehouse Space Utilization!
Key Tips to Get Your Fulfillment Operations Ready for the Holidays
- Make sure your inventory is positioned for omnichannel so that fulfillment can occur for any sales channel. Putting the same inventory product into different channel segments strains efficiencies.
- Secure, hire, and training staff even though the holidays are months off. Making sure staff are trained on holiday processes and procedures will keep your operations running smoothly.
- Make order deadlines earlier in the season to reduce last-minute issues. Instead of having an order cut-off date of December 20, make the cut-off date earlier, giving your warehouse staff extra time to fill orders.
- Ship freight earlier to avoid having to use more expensive transport methods so that orders will arrive on-time at a consumers’ location.
- Organize your inventory. Don’t cram items in your facility. Not having your warehouse organized with adequate space for picking will lessen your efficiency.
- Expand your sales calendar so that holiday sales are not just held over a few days, but over a longer time to reduce the stress of the peak season and eliminate extreme peaks.
- Stress-test your warehouse during smaller holidays, like Labor Day, to see what works well and what doesn’t. Doing this will give you time to fix the problems before the holiday season.
- Deploy the right order picking solutions to speed efficiencies.
How UNEX Products Solve Peak Season Fulfillment Challenges
As eCommerce retailers gear up for another major peak season, they face mounting pressures to organize inventory, streamline order picking, and optimize their warehouses for efficiency. The challenges of supply shortages, longer shipping timelines, and reverse logistics make having the right tools and systems more critical than ever. UNEX products provide powerful solutions to these challenges, ensuring seamless operations during peak season and beyond.
SpanTrack
UNEX SpanTrack carton flow system is a game-changer for warehouses seeking to boost efficiency during the holiday rush. By increasing throughput by up to 150% compared to picking directly from pallets, SpanTrack provides dynamic storage lanes that ensure First-In-First-Out (FIFO) rotation. This keeps inventory organized and accessible, reducing time spent searching for products and allowing pickers to fulfill orders quickly, even during the busiest times of the year. SpanTrack offers a drop-in design also makes it easy to install in existing racks, making it an adaptable solution for evolving needs.
FlowCell
The modular and ergonomic design of FlowCell is perfect for retailers handling high order volumes during peak holiday seasons. Its ability to angle products toward pickers boosts picking speed by up to 30%, enhancing productivity and reducing worker strain. This dynamic system supports better organization in retail backrooms, optimizing SKU storage while ensuring fast, accurate order picking. The customizable layout allows retailers to configure storage based on their specific inventory needs, making it ideal for managing fluctuating stock levels and facilitating FIFO (First-In-First-Out) inventory rotation. These features help retailers keep backrooms neat, organized, and ready for the holiday rush.
SpeedCell
For warehouses struggling with space constraints and the need to manage thousands of SKUs, SpeedCell offers a high-density storage solution. By compressing up to 200 feet of shelving into just 40 feet of space, SpeedCell dramatically increases pick facings and SKU density. This means less travel time for pickers, faster order fulfillment, and more organized inventory. Its flame- and mold-resistant materials ensure durability, making SpeedCell a reliable asset for both seasonal and year-round operations.
Prepare for Peak Season with UNEX
UNEX solutions are designed to help eCommerce retailers handle the unique challenges of peak season fulfillment. Whether it’s organizing your inventory, speeding up picking processes, or maximizing your available space UNEX offers solutions that provide the tools you need to succeed.
Don’t let supply chain disruptions and high order volumes derail your operations. Contact us today to equip your facility with UNEX products and stay ahead of the competition.
