-
- Global
- Algeria, Djazair
- Angola
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Cyprus
- Dominicana
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- EU Intermodal
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Mozambique
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Somaliland
- South Korea
- Spain
- Suriname
- Thailand
- Turkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- USA
- Vietnam
-
Menu
-
SOLUTIONS
Related content
Data Fills The Gaps In Modern Supply Chains
Global supply chains are no strangers to disruption, whether caused by trade disputes, geopolitics or the unpredictable forces of climate change. Amidst these challenges, an often-overlooked vulnerability lies in supply chain data gaps.
Read moreRail Networks Transform Supply Chains
Rail freight has the potential to revolutionise supply chains in both developed and developing nations, providing a key role in promoting sustainability and economic growth.
Read more -
INDUSTRIES
Related content
Making Healthcare Equity Reality
Healthy societies transform economies, yet the pandemics of the past few years have demonstrated that healthcare logistics is a complex beast and unique to that of any other sector.
Read moreThe Future Of EVs Is In Our Supply Chains
Electric vehicles (EVs) are proving to be the most popular replacement for fossil fuel cars. So much so that by 2030 electric vehicles will represent over 60% of vehicles sold globally.
Read more -
INSIGHTS
Related content
Our Stories
We connect people, markets and nations to change what's possible for everyone.
Read More -
SUSTAINABILITY
Related content
Changing the perception of water
Water is crucial for life on Earth and vital for our well-being. Businesses, including ours, can play a significant role in changing how water is used.
Read moreClimate proofing the supply chain
We examine three climate scenarios, assessing the potential impact of weather hazards across 50 ports and terminals in our global portfolio.
Read more
- SOLUTIONS nav
- INDUSTRIES nav
- INSIGHTS nav
- SUSTAINABILITY nav
- Home
- Trade insights
- Expert opinions
- Supplying the holiday season: how does the logistics industry gear up for the holidays?
Supplying the holiday season
How does the logistics industry gear up for the holidays?
The holiday season: a time for bringing together loved ones, cooking great feasts, and sharing gifts. It is also a time that presents us in the supply chain industry with unique challenges and opportunities.
So, just how do we ensure that the world remains connected at this special time? From ensuring last-minute gifts arrive, to keeping the food fresh and in stores when it needs to be, we must keep merchants and producers connected through this peak in global economic activity.
Demand Forecasting With Data And Technology
Holiday peak season is getting longer. Thanksgiving has brought with it Black Friday, which has extended into Cyber Monday and now Cyber Week. In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the true start and end of the peak period, with some major promotions extending from November right through until Christmas itself.
And with supply chain challenges, more than half of industry professionals expect a state of chaos in e-commerce and shipping. So, it is no surprise that there is some level of worry given spiking fuel prices, rising inflation, manpower shortages and ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in parts of the world. These disruptions combined with normal unpredictability make good data more important than ever.
This means having an up-to-the-minute digital appreciation of your supply chain is more important than ever – allowing logistics operators to make the best possible decisions. For example, data can help to divert shipments to different ports depending on need or demand surges, as well as correcting for inclement weather.
Further supply network visibility is used to correct for inefficiencies. Last year, Eurostat reported that there are 73.3 million and 4.2 million tonnes of goods being unloaded in Poland and Lithuania respectively. This imbalance can be corrected to ease congestion at ports and ensure that there are available drivers to get containers to where they need to be.
The crucial part of preparation is demand forecasting. Using historical sales data and powerful algorithmic analysis, it is possible to make very good guesses about peaks and troughs so that suppliers can understand how much product they will need during the festive period.
Carrier Diversification And Supply Network Efficiencies
Supply chains adapted to peaks by changing how they manage inventory. Rather than housing everything in one place, port warehouses around the world can become logistics hubs and, to close the gap to the end consumer, logistics efficiencies are being enhanced to give more transport options for suppliers.
The other movement in the logistics industry has been towards a diversity of carriers. Oftentimes, there are limits to the amount of goods a carrier can transport and having multiple shipping options allows for much more flexibility in delivery speeds. Carrier diversity maximises capacity – casting the net wider as opposed to simply having a larger capacity on each individual vessel. Data and supply chain visibility have given logistics professionals a greater ability to manage their goods. They can now unload materials from their transportation directly to the customer, enabling consolidation of goods when needed by shippers, freeing up valuable warehouse space and increasing the scale of operations.
Diverse carrier/supplier relationships can present challenges in creating congestion through disjointed processes. This is an area in which digitalisation is beginning to rapidly improve relationships. Documents and manifests have become easier to transfer and it is more likely than ever that supply chain operators can use paperwork digitally to improve and streamline processes. All of which minimise disruption when last-minute choices must be made during the holidays.
So How Do We Supply The Holiday Season?
Now, more than ever, the answer is a combination of careful strategic planning and full integration of technology to ensure supply chain visibility. With visibility comes the best up-to-the-minute appreciation of the supply chain for operators to make choices but, with careful strategic planning, it is possible to ensure that operators do not become overwhelmed by preventing problems from cascading. These innovations ensure that everyone across the globe can partake in holiday cheer.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By continuing to visit this site you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More