The long journey of presents to your Christmas tree…
With Christmas just around the corner, the rush to buy presents is on, whether in high street shops, shopping centres or online… But you probably can’t imagine how many logistical steps it takes to make sure everyone gets their presents under the Christmas tree.
At Olicargo, we know the story behind every gift that will be delivered to you on Christmas Eve (and for us, Santa and his army of elves are no longer able to respond to such a global and complex supply chain).
Our job is to make sure that all kinds of products are safely transported from one place to another until they are offered to someone special and thus acquire sentimental value.
Read this article to find out if your company’s logistics are ready for the busiest time of the year. If not, don’t hesitate to contact Olicargo, our team of experts will help you define the best strategy for a more productive, worry-free Christmas.
What impact does Holiday Season have on logistics?
• Increased Orders. As the demand for gifts increases, so does the number of orders. This can lead to common logistics problems such as: shipping delays, inefficient operations or out-of-stocks.
• Increased Flow of Reverse Logistics Operations. The increase in sales is directly related to the increase in returns, especially online. Inevitably, more resources (people) and structures (space) will have to be allocated to the realisation of this process.
• Higher Probability of Occurrence of Errors: As the volume of activity increases, the probability of occurrence of processing errors also increases. However, these should be avoided in order to reduce logistics costs and customer dissatisfaction.
How to optimise logistics this Christmas?
1 – Stock Management and Control
At this time of year, the quantities of stock defined for sale should already be available in the relevant warehouses. Packaged, labelled and sorted so that they can be easily located via the warehouse management system.
2 – Choose the Most Suitable Means of Transport. Arrange the Distribution of Orders.
This is the maxim: No one wants to be without gifts! As a result, on-time delivery is more critical than ever, so it is necessary to streamline order processing, shipping and delivery.
3 – Plan Your Routes Early
Factors such as pick-up and delivery points, deadlines, weight and dimensions of the cargo have a direct impact on the mode of transport, whether it is delivered directly to the customer or to another distribution point. Therefore, to ensure delivery times are met, you should strategically choose the mode of transport. At this stage, it is also important to keep an open line of communication with the logistics company. This way, you can be constantly informed of any inconveniences that may occur along the way and when your goods have been successfully delivered.
4 – Ensuring that Space and Infrastructure are Adequate and Appropriate
As activity increases, more space is often needed. Have you thought about temporary storage? What about logistics outsourcing ?
5- Ensure the Systematic and Automated Management of Operations
Efficient asset management means higher productivity, fewer errors and, as a result, lower additional costs. Warehouse Management System (WMS) software allows you to centralise activities, eliminate handling errors and reduce operating costs.
What’s next? Are you ready to make this Holiday Season unforgettable?
Did you know that all these steps are crucial to ensuring the happiness of the future recipient of your gift? This is Holiday Season Logistics… your everyday logistics!
Sources:
Hedyla. (2021). How Santa carries out his logistics for Christmas. Consultado a 10 de novembro de 2023, em: https://hedyla.com/en/logistics-for-christmas/
Interlake Mecalux. (2023). Christmas logistics: how to prep your warehouse. Consultado a 13 de novembro de 2023, em: https://www.interlakemecalux.com/blog/christmas-logistics
Logistic Packaging. (2018). Holiday Logistics: The Long Journey of Christmas Gifts from Packaging to Packaging. Consultado a 10 de novembro de 2023, em: https://logisticpackaging.com/blog/holiday-logistics-journey-christmas-gifts-packaging/
