1、2023 PEAK SEASON PLAYBOOK For Retailers and Ecommerce MerchantsIntroductionPeak Season Inventory Planning and Fulfillment Strategies ChecklistExpert Advice on Marketing Strategies and the Ecommerce Experience Q&AGetting Labor-Ready for Peak 2023 InfographicSecuring Your Tech Stack for Peak Season E-

2、bookTable of Contents3471216E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookWe Want to Help You Make It.To do this,we put together our first official Peak Season Playbook for Retailers and Ecommerce Merchantsa bundle of resources including a checklist,a Q&A with expert partners,an infographic,and an e-bookfilled with ti

3、ps to help you succeed this peak season.Keep reading to see how you can cover all your bases from fulfillment and inventory strategies to securing your tech stack and more.IntroductionThis year has been tough.It seems like just yesterday eggs were almost$10 a dozenglad thats overbut inflation and a

4、gloomy economic outlook persist.Even so,experts predict peak season to return as strong as ever this season.After all,whats better than some good old-fashioned holiday shopping to boost your spirits?Joking aside,the last quarter of the year presents a huge opportunity for retailers and ecommerce mer

5、chants;in fact,holiday shopping can account for up to 30%of a brands annual sales.Its no exaggeration to say that peak season can make or break your entire year.30%Peak SeasonInventory Planning&Fulfillment StrategiesIts every brands dream to sell a ton of stuff,but that dream can quickly turn into a

6、 nightmare if you arent prepared to fulfill the number of orders that come with surges in demand.When preparing for peak season,keeping this dream alive boils down to two things:inventory planning and fulfillment strategies.In the simplest terms,you not only have to forecast demand accurately and ma

7、ke purchase orders accordingly,but you also need the warehouse space(either your own or through 3PLs)to store all this inventoryincluding new product arrivalsto ensure you can fulfill demand.Use this checklist to stay on track with your inventory and fulfillment strategy planning!Inventory PlanningA

8、 TIMELINE Not sure when to get started with inventory planning?Most ecommerce brands at one point or another would reply“same,”but the answer really is that its never too early to do your homework.Yet,to manage your working capital,it might be too early to start ordering products;navigating this gra

9、y area is where we come in.4-5 Months Before Peak:Get The Ball Rolling on Your Inventory Planning Build a forecast based on historical sales data and future sales projections.If you dont have historical data,check out industry data and speak with other brands and retailers in your same space.Share f

10、orecasting data early and often with fulfillment partners and shipping carriers(more on this later).3-4 Months Before Peak:Place Purchase Orders in Time for Stock to Arrive Before Sales Boom Some vendors have a multi-month lead time to factor into how quickly you can get new products.You dont want t

11、o place purchase orders too far ahead to avoid excess inventory carrying costs.Be sure to set safety stock levels.2-3 Months Before Peak:Have a Plan in Place to Quickly Process Returns Returns hit an all-time high after peak,so its important to have a process in place to manage this volume.You may n

12、eed to adjustor tighten upyour typical returns strategy during and after peak.1-2 Months Before Peak and During:Cycle Count Regularly and Take Stock of Shipping Materials Cycle counting your inventory is key to making sure your inventory levels are where they should be.Look back at the prior quarter

13、s inventory discrepancies.Diagnose and investigate the root causes to ensure that you can implement improvement strategies before the height of peak demand.Dont forget the packing materials you need to run your operations!Having enough product is one thing,but you dont want to run out of essential s

14、upplies to get the orders out either.Or if you use a 3PL partner,make sure they have appropriate branded materials to provide the right unboxing experience for your consumer.E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookExtensivYOUR FULFILLMENT EXPERT Explore Extensivs Fulfillment Marketplace to find a new 3PL partner

15、,filtering by geography and key services to find the best fit for your brand.Leverage Extensiv Order Manager as your ecommerce mission control to connect to countless sales channels and organize all the information you need on your inventory positions across your supply chain in real time.Deploy Ext

16、ensiv Warehouse Manager to handle all your in-house fulfillment needs,from cycle counting to pick and pack to shipping and everything in between.Need something a little more bespoke?Reach out and build your custom solution with one of our experts.Whether you are looking for a new order management sy

17、stem to keep track of inventory,a warehouse management system(WMS)for in-house fulfillment,or new 3PL fulfillment partner,Extensiv has you covered with technology solutions designed for growing ecommerce businesses.E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookFulfillment Strategy TIPS AND TRICKS Based on our conversa

18、tions with ecommerce brands and their fulfillment partners(both in-house and 3PLs),it sounds like you could use a marriage counselor.Sharing projections with your shipping carriers and fulfillment partners is essential to ensure they have enough capacity for your shipments,but communication is a two

19、-way street,and you may not be getting the information you need from fulfillment partners.If this is the case,we have some tips and tricks for you:Dont Wait on Information from Your Fulfillment Partner;Ask the Questions You Need to Know.What projected fulfillment costs should you factor into your pe

20、ak operating budget?What preparations has your fulfillment team or 3PL made to staff up and prepare to handle the increase in volume?What data can your fulfillment partner share with you so you can have an accurate view of your inventory positions?How optimized is your fulfillment based on geography

21、 as it relates to shipping costs and time to delivery?What options do you have to get inventory closer to the consumer?What omnichannel fulfillment options like buy online pick up in store(BOPIS)are possible?If Your Questions Dont Get the Answers You Wantor Worse Yet,CricketsDont Give up Hope.Review

22、 your fulfillment partners past performance to get a baseline for cost and performance projections.If your fulfillment partners cant(or wont)share all the inventory data you need,invest in technology like an order management system(OMS)that will provide a single source of truth for your fulfillment

23、operations.actually,this is a good idea regardless.Worst case scenario,if a fulfillment partner is not able to meet your needs(like geographically distributed inventory or omnichannel fulfillment),shop around for a new fulfillment solution,like outsourcing to a 3PL,ASAP.Call us at 833-983-6748 or Sc

24、hedule a Demo Online Today!Expert advice on Marketing Strategies&Ecommerce ExperienceWhile we could have compiled a list of tips for how to approach your marketing and customer ecommerce experiences ahead of peak season on our own,we thought it best to consult the experts.Below are answers from 3 of

25、 our industry-leading partners to the burning questions that ecommerce brands and retailers should care about.About Our ExpertsSPS Commerce helps retail trading partners work better together.They empower data collaboration in the retail supply chain with an expert team,proven process,and industry-le

26、ading technology.With SPS,you can strengthen your global supply chain and better serve your customers.Their mission is to connect all retail trading partners through the easiest-to-join and use retail network,freeing them to focus on what they do best.Bemeir Commerce Solutions aligns merchants with

27、tailored frameworks and tools to power their online businesses.They are a group of diverse strategists,consultants,designers,marketers,and developers with a focus on creating digital commerce platforms,corporate websites,and custom applications.Bemeir is an extension of your team that helps you navi

28、gate complex technical,marketing,and operational challenges as it relates to your ecommerce and web properties.Trellis is a full-service ecommerce agency powered by insightful strategy,cutting-edge technology,and data-driven design.Offering strategy,creative,marketing,and development services for br

29、ands at every level,Trellis powers both emerging and top brands.They pride themselves on being a team of unique individuals working together to create powerful digital experiences.Bemeir Commerce Solutions SPS CommerceTrellisMaier Bianchi|Founder&CEOBen Bratland|Director Channel SalesIsaiah Bollinge

30、r|CEOE|2023 Peak Season PlaybookWhat historical customer and channel data should brands consider when developing their ecommerce experience and marketing strategy for peak season?Bemeir SPS CommerceTrellis If your products are not sold on marketplac-es,make sure to expand and have your prod-uct for

31、sale on as many channels as possible.You need to meet consumers where they are.Another thing that is important is to identify the community around your brand and use paid traffic to scale this community.Inventory availability,flexibility and scale are critical.The line between having inventory that

32、is available across all channels,without having excess inventory is razor thin.Access to data to help brands do this better is key.What product lines perform better than others?Are your products seasonal?Are there geographic and/or weather patterns that affect sales?How do your marketing efforts dir

33、ectly impact sales so you can forecast these trends?And as your company grows,how can you do this in a col-laborative way with the merchants at your biggest clients?This problem has expanded due to consumer expecta-tions increasing so greatly.Customers expect to be able to purchase products online o

34、r in-store and receive them at their doorstep in two days,often with free shipping.Regarding seasonal changes,our data shows that Black Friday is expanding.In the past,we saw a lot of holiday sales cluster around Black Friday and Cyber Monday,but the sales periods are starting earlier and running lo

35、nger.Last year,Target started rolling out their Black Friday pro-motions 3 weeks earlier than usual,and we expect to see this trend continue as brands and retailers try to maximize holiday sales.The more historical data the better,unless you feel that data is no longer relevant to your current busin

36、ess model.More and more marketing is driven by algorithms and recommendation engines that rely on historical customer data.Brands should analyze historical customer data such as purchase behavior,preferences,and demographics to identify trends and patterns.This data helps them understand customer se

37、gments and tailor their mar-keting messages accordingly.Additionally,examining channel data,including website traffic,conversion rates,and customer engagement metrics,provides insights into channel performance and allows brands to optimize their marketing mix for peak season.By understanding histori

38、cal data,brands can identify opportunities for improvement and make data-driven decisions to enhance the ecommerce experience and maximize marketing effectiveness.How should brands balance establishing a marketing strategy(e.g.,social,online,print,email)alongside a marketing budget by channel?Bemeir

39、 SPS CommerceTrellis You should never spend money without a plan.Often brands want to be on a channel but are not willing to make the correct level of invest-ment.The marketers we work with are very up-front about the need to test offers and spend money up front to learn what works best.So,the key a

40、dvice here is if you are starting to work on a channel,have that strategy in place before spending money on it because you may have the wrong expectations going into it.Plan out months at a time for maximum success.Once you know your customer acquisition costs(CAC)and if you are hitting your desired

41、 metrics,you need to invest as much as possi-ble to scale.Leverage high performing channels Theres a good chance you already know which channels have been the most effective.You may have a loyal email base that fre-quently repurchases products or a large social following.Assess where your current sa

42、les are coming from,and make sure this is a key part of your marketing strategy.Set objectives and determine fit Every channel has a slightly different cost structure,audience,and intent to purchase.Try to balance the capabilities of each channel with your budget,and if possible,run small tests thro

43、ugh-out the year to determine which channels might be the best fit for your product and budget.Brands shouldnt rely on one channel,but they should also make sure not to spread their marketing strategy too thin.Brands should align their marketing strategy with their target audiences preferences and a

44、llocate their budget accordingly.They should prioritize chan-nels that have proven to be effective in reaching and engaging their customers based on past performance data.A balanced approach involves diversifying mar-keting channels while considering the budget limita-tions.Brands can conduct cost-b

45、enefit analyses for each channel and prioritize those with a higher return on investment.Its essential to monitor and measure the performance of each channel during the peak season,adjusting the budget allocation as needed to optimize marketing efforts.E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookHow soon should bran

46、ds begin testing new marketing strategies ahead of peak?Bemeir SPS CommerceTrellis It is not advisable to test your riskiest new strategies for the peak season because you are potentially forgoing the tried-and-true ba-sics that will keep you successful in the long run.Keep it simple!Continually tes

47、t new marketing strategies.Even though Black Friday gets a lot of attention,you should be con-tinually testing new strategies and channels to see which platforms and messages perform best.This should be an ongoing process throughout the year so that by the time you reach Black Friday,you can double

48、down on the chan-nels that are performing the best.The earlier the better.New channels can take months,and sometimes even years in the case of things like SEO,to really take effect.Brands should begin testing new marketing strategies well in advance of the peak season.Its advisable to start testing

49、at least a few months prior to the an-ticipated peak period.This timeline allows brands to assess the effectiveness of new strategies,gather insights,and make informed adjustments before the peak season arrives.Early testing provides sufficient time for data analysis,performance evaluation,and optim

50、ization.By identifying successful strategies in advance,brands can refine their approach and con-fidently implement the most effective tactics when it matters most.What are your top 5 tips for brands looking to optimize the customer experience?Bemeir SPS CommerceTrellis 1.Invest in a mobile app ASAP

51、.2.Focus on site speed and performance optimization.3.Site search is key if you have a larger catalog.4.Focus on upselling and raising AOV wherever possible.5.Memberships are a great way to acquire new customer revenue while building a strong bond with your customers.1.Start Early The holiday season

52、 is starting earlier and earlier.Whether you decide to expand your sales period or offer sneak peaks of upcoming promotions,you want to get your message out early.2.Optimize Your Website More and more holiday sales are happening online.Make sure your website is prepared to handle an increase in traf

53、fic and has a smooth checkout process.Whether or not the purchase happens online,the research starts there.3.Personalization A lot of brands have incredible amounts of data in their CRM about the types of products their customers have purchased.Use this data to your advantage to craft personalized o

54、ffers.4.Omnichannel Availability You want to make it easy for customers to purchase your products in the channel that is most convenient for them.5.Return Policies Keep in mind that many items purchased during this period are gifts and consider extending your standard return policy to accommodate th

55、ese returns.1.Personalize the shopping experience 2.Streamline the purchasing process 3.Provide exceptional customer support 4.Enable seamless cross-channel experiences 5.Collect and act upon customer feedback E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookHow important is an omnichannel selling strategy for peak?Bemei

56、r SPS CommerceTrellis Omnichannel strategy is extremely important for peak season.Remember that the marketplaces are also investing a lot to bring eyeballs,and if you arent on them,you are basically being competed against by companies(Amazon,Walmart,etc.)who have many magnitudes more capital than yo

57、u do.Its incredibly important.Customers expect to be able to shop across channels and have the experience work seamlessly.They might start browsing online and then place an order to pick up in store(BOPIS).They also might be in a physical store location and open their phone to price shop for the bes

58、t deal.The number of options consumers have is only increasing,so its crucially important to be able to provide the product and experi-ence they expect where and when they expect it.Having flexible inventory availability across sales channels is critical to achieving the scale to do this well.An omn

59、ichannel selling strategy is crucial for peak season success.During peak periods,customers expect a seamless and consistent experience across all channels.By adopting an omnichannel approach,brands can meet customers wherever they are,pro-viding convenience and flexibility.Customers may re-search pr

60、oducts online,visit physical stores,and make purchases through various channels.An omnichannel strategy enables brands to integrate their online and offline channels,allowing customers to browse,buy,and return products through their preferred methods.This unified approach improves customer satisfact

61、ion,increases sales opportunities,and enhances brand loyalty.In the competitive landscape of peak seasons,an effective omnichannel strategy can give brands a significant edge.What do brands need to do now to get their ecommerce experiences ready for peak?Bemeir SPS CommerceTrellis It is very importa

62、nt for brands to have their tracking&analytics set up ahead of time so they can properly measure the success of their initiatives.Additionally,brands should be working with their dev agency to prepare the site before code freeze to be the most optimized for conversions.In practical terms,they should

63、 focus on speed optimizations and removing barriers to conversion.Plan your holiday promotions.Brands should start plan-ning their marketing plans well in advance.This includes everything from the promotions and discounts to the platforms youll use(i.e.,email campaigns,social posts,targeted ads,etc.

64、)as well as all the creative assets to ex-ecute these plans.Optimize your fulfillment and inventory strategy.Retailers and Buyers are going to continue demanding flexible and robust fulfillment capabilities from their ven-dor partners.Holiday season will drive increased order volumes and expectation

65、s.If you are selling to Big Box,become best friends with your merchant to ensure you communicate well and are meeting their expectations.Regarding warehousing and fulfillment,ensure you have flexibility to meet the velocity that is required for dropship,and also the scale that is needed to be profit

66、able in brick-and-mortar.This means warehousing,shipping,order to cash/supply chain automation,procurement automation amongst other factors that should be considered.To prepare their ecommerce experiences for peak,brands should take several steps:1.Conduct a thorough website audit 2.Optimize invento

67、ry management 3.Enhance fulfillment capabilities 4.Implement robust customer support systems 5.Test and optimize What is the hottest trend you see right now in advertising for ecommerce brands?Bemeir Trellis Meta recently released Threads,which is a completely new place to advertise on the Meta netw

68、ork in addition to Instagram and Facebook.Tiktok and video ads also remain a big trend as well as shoppable video/lives-tream commerce.One of the hottest trends in advertising for ecom-merce brands is influencer marketing.Influencers,with their large and engaged online followings,can create authenti

69、c and relatable content that resonates with their audiences.Ecommerce brands are increas-ingly collaborating with influencers to promote their products,leveraging the influencers credibility and reach.By partnering with relevant influencers,brands can tap into niche markets and target specific custo

70、m-er segments.The trend extends beyond traditional so-cial media platforms,with influencers creating content on emerging platforms like TikTok and Clubhouse.This trend allows ecommerce brands to harness the power of influencer endorsements,drive brand awareness,and generate sales through the influen

71、cers influence and storytelling abilities.E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookGetting Labor-Ready for Peak 20238Getting Labor-ReadyFor Peak 2023OUR HOT TAKE Start planning your labor strategy for peak season now,especially for inventory operations and customer service.Why you need to add people now for the H

72、oliday Shopping Season3.9%6.1%15.5%4.8%4.5%$990B$1,050B$1,212B$1,270B$1,327B20192020202120222023Retail ecommerce is expected to make up 19.6%of total 2023 holiday sales.3.7%UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS AT NEAR HISTORIC LOWS OF Even if youve been cutting jobs in the first part of the year,finding seasonal wo

73、rkers may be challenging,so get started early.According to the May job report from the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics,“”InsiderIInsiderILast year,holiday season retail sales grew by 4.8%YoY,following two years of surging retail and ecommerce growth.We expect a similar gain of 4.5%for the 2023 holida

74、y season.This would bring total retail spending to$1.328 trillion for the 2023 holiday season.19.6%Its time for peak season preparations,and one of the key categories to consider is labor.Looking back to 2022,according to Forbes,consumers spent a staggering$9.12 billion on Black Friday alone,oversha

75、dowed by a whopping$11.3 billion spent on Cyber Mondayeven with heavy inflation.With Increased Demand,Expect to Ramp Up Your Labor Game!Even with a looming recession,ecommerce sales are still expected to grow 10.4%over the course of this year,and holiday shopping can account for up to 30%of a retail

76、ers annual sales.E|2023 Peak Season Playbook”PRO STAFFING TIPSEcommerce fulfillment requires 15X more labor,which is why you will get more bang for your buck hiring for customer service over fulfillment needs.Visit Fulfillment Marketplace to find available fulfillment partners.Outsource fulfillment

77、to a 3PL if 15XMORE LABOR56%Inventory-P“56%of US brands struggled with surging demand during peak holiday shopping season,with a quarter of firms(24%)admitting orders were delayed as a result.67%“67%of respondents reported losing customers after errors led to overselling or being out of stock after

78、an order was placed,highlighting the importance of having a full inventory operations team.Moreover,holiday seasons usually spike up customer service queries by up to 75%for online businesses.53%of US online adults are likely to abandon their online purchase if they cant find a quick answer to their

79、 75%53%“Focus on hiring for customer service positions.When consumers were asked about the attributes of the companies they were most likely to be loyal to,the leading response(by 65%of respondents)was provides excellent customer support.65%”“Customer ServiceInventory OperationsE|2023 Peak Season Pl

80、aybookDespite an Uncertain Economy,Peak Season is Coming Back.Get Your Workforce Peak-Ready.YOU GOT THIS!LABOR CHECKLIST Finding labor is only the first step.Be sure to invest in the employee experiencemake sure to take care of your team and make the season fun with contests,free meals,or swagand fo

81、llow these steps for a better prepared workforce and optimal customer experience:Plan to bring temporary workers in a month before peak demand hits.This way,they can be fully trained and productive when its go time.“An associate is costing the business money until they are at 80%of their performance

82、 goal.”Use top performers to train seasonal workers.This will ensure your workforce is on the same page before peak starts.Do a dry run.Practice workflows with your team in advance of key peak days sothey know processes inside and out and can handle the increased activity on key days.Prepare a disas

83、ter contingency and recovery plan to ensure everyone knows what to do in case supply chain disruptions outside of your control occur.Have a conversion plan for turning temp workers into full-time employees.This will make job postings more appealingessential given the still low unemployment rate.E|20

84、23 Peak Season PlaybookGetting Labor-Ready for Peak 20238Securing Your TechStack for Peak SeasonTake it as a practice runand learning opportunityfor the real deal.What went well,and what didnt?Were your systems able to handle the stress test that Prime Day provided,or do you still have some work to

85、do in getting your tech stack where it needs to be?If your technology could use some finessing,its not too late.Secure your tech stack now:review your technical needs,automate as much as possible,and leverage integrations to bring it all together.The First Step?Narrow Down What Types of Software You

86、 Need.While it takes a lot of software to run an ecommerce brand,there is also a lot of software out there(probably types that you and I have never even heard of),but you most likely do not need every variation of software out there to be successful.And,because ecommerce businesses are all so unique

87、,what works for one company may not work for yours.Which means you have to drill down on exactly what your business needs to run effectively,keeping in mind factors such as order volume,inventory complexity,and scalabilitythese will guide you towards the technology you need.Running an ecommerce busi

88、ness takes a lot of technology.Like,a lot of technology:you have to manage everything from your website and online storefronts to your order management system(OMS)to your warehouse management system(WMS)(if you have an in-house warehouse)to your shipping platform,customer relationship management(CRM

89、)system,point of sale(POS)system,and beyondnot to mention the integrations needed to keep all your data synchronized.It can be overwhelming to say the least,especially if you dont have your technology integrated seamlessly well in advance of peak season.You need to start your peak season preparation

90、s early to ensure everything runs smoothly when the holiday season rolls around.But Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not the only peak shopping days to care about;many(if not most)ecommerce brands got a boost in volume with Amazon Prime Day this July regardless of if they sell on Amazon thanks to t

91、he Prime Day halo effect.Review Your Technical Needsand 21%of small businesses report that they dont have an inventory management system in place?Did you know that 67.4%of supply chain managers still use Excel spreadsheets for supply chain management E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookChances are you could

92、probably improve upon these manual processes with some cutting-edge software solutions.More than likely,you will need an OMS,which acts as your ecommerce mission control by aggregating all your order data across sales channels and routes them to the appropriate fulfillment node.OMS software also con

93、tributes to more effective inventory tracking,the process of continuously monitoring all the inventory items that a business owns,which is crucial for your profit margins.If you fulfill orders in-house,you could also benefit from a WMS to manage day-to-day activities within the warehouse.Easy enough

94、.The next step requires you to dig a little deeper.If you dont have these software systems in place,ask yourself how they could make your operations easier,i.e.,what functionality you would need to justify the cost of purchasing or subscribing to a new software platform.If you do already have an OMS

95、 and/or WMS,is your software living up to expectations,or do you need a new system?Fortunately,these are not philosophical,soul-searching questions;your key performance indicators(KPIs)and other business analytics will tell you all you need to know to determine what improvements you need from your s

96、oftware.Maybe you need multi-warehouse inventory management and multichannel order management,or integrated shipping and returns management.Maybe you need mobile barcode scanning for your warehouse and enhanced reporting and analytics capabilities.Maybe you need all of it,but you wont know until you

97、 sit down and actually make a list of your technical needs.9 ECOMMERCE FULFILLMENT KPIs TO TRACKOnce you know what you needand what you dontfinding the right software vendor(s)will be a breeze.which is good because the window of opportunity is rapidly closing before peak season,especially as you nee

98、d to factor in time for training your employees on new systems.E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookKPIFORMULAOrder BacklogNumber of unprocessed ordersOrder Processing CostTotal cost of fulfilling an orderInventory StockoutsNumber of times a product is unavailablein inventory when a customer places an orderAc

99、curacy in Order PickingNumber of orders accurately prepared toship/Total orders picked x 100Orders Picked Per HourTotal orders picked and shipped/Total work hoursOrder Fill RateNumber of order shipped/Number of orders placed x 100Internal Order Cycle TimeTime and date order shipped-Time and date ord

100、er placedOn-time Shipping RateOrders shipped on time/Total orders x 100Perfect Order RateOrders delivered without issues/Total orders x 100Automate,Automate,Automate Humans make mistakes all the time.We lose the TV remote(usually in between the couch cushions),we forget to take our vitamins,we add a

101、n extra“0”on a line item of a purchase order.human error is inevitable,and though often harmless in everyday life,human error can be quite costly in business.Luckily,technology is far less prone to making mistakes that,for example,might result in ordering 1000 of an item when you meant to order 100.

102、The key is automation.Automation is any hardware and/or software that eliminates manual,non-value-added processes to increase productivity,accuracy,safety,and reduce labor costs.While the term automation typically conjures dreams of robots(which are objectively very cool),digital automation in the f

103、orm of software is way more practical and impactful for most businesses.Furthermore,by automating inventory management to address the issues of over-or under-stocking,companies can see a 10%reduction in inventory costs.There are other cost savings from digitizing inventory management as well:Spend l

104、ess money on products that end up going to waste.Slash staffing costs with fewer manual processes to complete.Save money by reducing storage costs with more efficient stock management.Thats not all;automation can even help grow your revenue by improving customer satisfaction.Beyond reducing how ofte

105、n you oversell products,which is supremely frustrating for your customers,digital automation technology also enables customers to track order status more effectively.According to our partner Pitney Bowes,online shoppers priority has shifted from fast delivery to accurate delivery estimates,so provid

106、ing your customers with the information they need is more valuable than ever.Automate everything you can.The more repetitive processes you can hand over to your systems,the more time your human employees have to focus on value-added tasks,and the more secure you can feel in the accuracy of your proc

107、esses,all while enjoying some significant cost savings.Basically,with digital automation,your software can automatically perform a tasklike assigning an order to the appropriate fulfillment node based on criteria like inventory counts and geographic proximity to the customers destination with order

108、routing capabilities in Extensiv Order Managerwithout human input.No room for human error.Not only that,but your software makes these decisions almost instantaneously,so you dont waste time getting orders through the pipeline.Real-time processing is essential during peak season and creates a more sc

109、alable and reliable fulfillment process.Automation offers significant benefits for your pocketbook,too.According to McKinsey&Company,“autonomous supply chain planning can lead to an increase in revenue of up to 4%,a reduction in inventory of up to 20%,and a decrease in supply chain costs of up to 10

110、%.”E|2023 Peak Season PlaybookLeverage Integrations Once you know what technology you need and have implemented automation software,leverage integrations to get the most out of your tech stack.(Sorry in advance for the redundancy,but)it takes a lot of different systems to run an ecommerce business.S

111、oftware is supposed to make running your business easier,but keeping track of the data between disconnected systems can add a new complication to your life.Integrating your software platforms solves that problem by providing a single source of truth across all systems.Integrations are a sort of subs

112、ect of digital automation because they allow disparate software systems to transmit data between each other without human reconciliation.Its not just your systems that can see data better through integrations;connecting all your systems gives you greater visibility into your operations and supply ch

113、ain.Greater visibility allows you to forecast better and mitigate supply chain risks,enabling you to achieve top-tier customer satisfaction.In fact,57%of companies believe that supply chain management gives them a competitive edge with 70%believing that supply chains are a key driver for quality cus

114、tomer service.The Importance of Integrating Your Tech Stack Cannot be Overstated.Everything talking to each other,data in sync,enhanced visibility across platforms,technical harmony achieved.There has to be a catch,right?Not necessarily.Traditionally,integrations required a massive amount of coding

115、and IT skill to put in place,but emerging integration platform as a service(iPaaS)technology makes connecting your tech stack seamless and,actually,easy.IPaaS platforms like Extensiv Integration Manager offer pre-built integrations for the top software systems you use,so using an iPaaS takes little

116、more than plug and play.You really arent getting the most out of your tech stack if every system is a silo.Leverage integrations with iPaaS to make the software work for you.Last Thoughts Youve taken the time to train your staff,establish your inventory positions and fulfillment strategies,and bolst

117、ered your marketing efforts for peak seasonit would be a shame to let all that preparation go to waste by neglecting your technology in the final hours.Peak season is just around the corner;secure your tech stack by reviewing your technical needs(and scheduling a demo with Extensiv if you are shoppi

118、ng for new software),automating everything you can,and leveraging integrations so you can bring your A game.Youve got this!A whopping 34%of retailers have shipped an order late due to selling a product that wasnt in stockdont let that happen to you.Take our earlier example of routing orders to the a

119、ppropriate warehouse based on inventory levels;this is only possible if you integrate your OMS with your WMS(or your partners WMS if you are outsourcing fulfillment to a third-party logistics warehouse)so that the OMS can“see”stock data from the WMS before sending orders over.Additionally,integratin

120、g online marketplaces with your inventory management software improves your customer experience by preventing overselling products as your sales channels can see when any given item is out of stock.34%E|2023 Peak Season Playbook8Additional ResourcesADDITIONAL RESOURCES Blogs Its April,and Were Alrea

121、dy Talking About Peak Season Ready,Set,Prime:5 Steps to Prepare Your Business for Amazon Prime Day Unlocking Fulfillment Excellence:Sales Analytics Every Brand Should Monitor Integrating Your Ecommerce Tech Stack Doesnt Have to Be a Burden Whitepapers Optimizing Ecommerce Fulfillment:A Guide for Sma

122、ll and Growing Businesses An Extensiv Guide for Integrating Accounting into Your Ecommerce Fulfillment Tech Stack WebinarsIs Your Customer Retention Strategy Future-Proof?Amazon Prime Day 2023 Prep Panel Videos Extensiv Fulfillment Marketplace Easily Integrate Your Ecommerce Tech Stack with Extensiv

123、 Integration Manager E|2023 Peak Season Playbook 2023 Extensiv I All rights reserved.To learn more,please visit .Request a Demo Here For more information,please call us at 833.983.6748.About Extensiv Extensiv is a visionary technology leader focused on creating the future of omnichannel fulfillment.Through our unrivaled network of more than 2,000 connected 3PL warehouses and a suite of integrated,cloud-native warehouse,order,and inventory management platformswe allow modern merchants and brands to fulfill demand anywhere with superior flexibility and scale without painful platform migrations.