If you're reading these lines, then amid the holiday rush you either have a bit of time to catch your breath, or you're so well organized that you can simply make the time! One thing is certain: the last quarter is a real challenge for online and offline retailers alike. Ever since 'Black Friday' caught on here too, it's become a serious amplifier on top of the already strong seasonal peak around the holiday business.
The week before Christmas in particular packs quite a punch. Everything gears up for the final sprint, with many customers still wanting to quickly get gifts for their friends, family, or even themselves. That's admittedly very short notice and a heavy burden for everyone involved in the process, but it's the reality of online retail that shop operators simply have to deal with. However, retailers who score points here with flexibility and fast delivery are most likely to stay in their customers' good memory well beyond the holidays.
As a fulfillment service provider, we are of course right at the pulse of the Christmas season and get an insight into the industry like hardly anyone else. Naturally, we haven't failed to notice that the volume of online orders around Christmas time increases every year – and with it, customer expectations. While online shoppers a few years ago still factored in that things might hitch a little in terms of timing and logistics so close to the holidays, their tolerance for errors and patience with delays has been steadily shrinking. Retailers may view that however they like, but it's a clear sign that there are apparently still ways to keep customers satisfied even in more turbulent times. The well-known industry giants show how it's done – which doesn't mean it can't work on a smaller scale too.
On the contrary: especially when your staffing resources are limited or noticeably thinned out due to seasonal illness, every bit of relief is a blessing – particularly in logistics and shipping. Anyone who has to pick, assemble, customize, pack, and ship all shipments in-house during times of high order volume knows the effort involved and the potential sources of error behind it. If returns are added on top of that, it can become quite tricky to keep track of everything, react quickly, and at the same time handle incoming customer inquiries, purchasing, or the product range. That's why our fulfillment customers, thanks to the relief we provide, have significantly more time to take care of things that would otherwise fall short.
What particularly pleases us: when we talk to our customers about how satisfied they are with our service, their appreciation keeps encouraging us to further refine and expand our fulfillment processes in terms of storage and logistics. In the past, for example, we've also expanded our storage capacity and, as part of that, moved into new, modern locations in Erlensee and Großostheim. In addition, whenever possible, we attend e-commerce and logistics events to stay informed about the very latest digitalization trends and opportunities for how we can become just a little bit better for you.
Of course, it's not always easy to keep a cool head during turbulent times. But we'd like to encourage you: whenever a free minute, quarter hour, hour, or day presents itself, make full use of that window to relax a little – or even more than a little – recharge your energy, and shift down a gear. "But I don't have time" is something you hear often in this context. As trite as that response may be, it's just as true: you don't have time – you make time. Often it's enough to focus on the essential things in the company and delegate time-consuming tasks like packaging, warehouse logistics, order picking, shipping, returns management, and more to someone else.
As a fulfillment service provider, we know all too well how much such processes can hold you up in everyday business. All the nicer, then, when you can spend the time freed up taking care of fundamental things in your company, or simply catching your breath and finding some calm. And last but not least, it's worth its weight in gold to have a team behind you that runs just as smoothly and in sync even when you, as the owner of the online shop, aren't there. Then you can treat yourself to some time off with a clear conscience.
Whatever you decide – we wish you a wonderful Christmas and a successful, healthy start to the new year 2020!
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