Fall is here, which means the summer slump is coming to an end. For businesses, this is a sign that the busy holiday period is about to begin. Unfortunately, the uptick in traffic can result in inventory issues, especially when it’s time to send off packages. To get ahead of the chaos, here are four tips for managing your business’s package volume this holiday season.
Run Frequent Inventory Audits
Running an inventory audit ensures you have accurate, up-to-date information about your stock. These details are more likely to be in flux with the increased demand of the holiday shopping season. To remedy this, run these types of audits more often when demand is high to make sure you have enough stock and keep yourself informed with accurate numbers.
Mark Your Calendar
Set your reminders ahead of time so you’re always prepared for the swell of activity following each significant holiday. Some important holidays to note are Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. During this hectic time, it’s helpful to implement a specific cut-off date and time for receiving and sending orders.
Outsource Your Mailroom
There is nothing more frenzied than a mailroom during the holidays. If you don’t have the staff, energy, or mental bandwidth to meet increased demand, consider outsourcing to a third-party service provider, such as third-party packagers or automated mail services. Doing this will take the burden of packing and mailing orders off of your shoulders, leaving you free to focus on other aspects of the business. It will also keep incoming and outgoing packages moving efficiently.
Make All Orders in Advance
As a rule of thumb, your order volume will be significantly greater during the holidays compared to the rest of the fiscal year. If you have your performance numbers from last year, use them to stock up on your top sellers. If your business is new, research similar business online and through social media to make a prediction about what your customers will need this upcoming holiday season.
It’s exciting to watch your numbers grow, but don’t do it at the expense of customer experience. Stay prepared by planning ahead. If your business experiences higher package volumes during the holidays, there are services that are focused solely on delivering packages in a timely manner.
