Coming off a year that found both carriers and shippers struggling to piece together logistics and transportation strategies in an extremely disruptive environment, many companies came into 2021 with the hope that things might get easier in the New Year.
The epidemic crisis of 2020 accelerated many trends in consumer behavior. It exposed risks both on the supply and demand sides of the supply chain. As we begin supply chain planning in 2021, we realize the adopted behaviors are permanent. Companies have to be able to support multiple fulfillment channels, efficiently handle returns and insulate themselves from regional disruptions across the globe.
Right now, all shippers are worried about getting packages out the door, onto trucks, and into their customers’ hands during the busy holiday season. Laser-focused on the fourth quarter, these companies should also be thinking about 2021, what new impacts it will bring, and what they can be doing now to prepare for these impacts.
At October’s mid-point, shippers and shoppers are intensifying their holiday activity ahead of a historic holiday peak season.
Shippers and retailers face the most demanding peak holiday season in their history.
With more shoppers going online to place orders this year, the holiday e-commerce season will be one for the record books. To ensure that their goods arrive ahead of holiday deadlines, shippers should pay close attention to the cutoff dates set forth by the major parcel carriers and the USPS.
Much like a successful marriage, the relationship between a shipper and its logistics partner has to be mutually-beneficial, trust-based and productive. Without these qualities, one or both parties will quickly find themselves wondering why they entered into the agreement.
Feeling the pinch of carrier surcharges and other rising transportation costs?
If you can’t pinpoint which products are and aren’t making your company money, it’s time for a thorough SKU-level profitability assessment.
To strike the balance between complying with COVID-related shutdowns, fulfilling their customers’ orders and preserving their bottom lines, organizations across most industries revved up their e-commerce engines and began doing more business online in early-2020.
