Peak Season Prep: Why Summer Is the Time to Prepare for Peak Season

For most retailers, manufacturers and e-commerce companies, October through December represents the most critical period for their supply chains annually. In 2024, sales in Q4 accounted for 17.9% of all retail sales for the year, with e-commerce accounting for nearly 25% of that total. Even as shoppers have largely shifted their purchases to online rather than entering physical retails locations, the surge in retail sales during the fourth quarter remains consistent. As a result, companies must take steps to avoid disruptions during the holiday season by planning in advance. Working to create accurate forecasts and reliable fulfillment processes now can help alleviate concerns when the peak shopping season arrives, potentially saving companies millions of dollars.

Peak Season Challenges

The ability to respond to increased demand for goods and their timely delivery carries more weight during the last three months of the year. Holiday gifts often come with emotional ties and expectations that can truly make or break a consumer’s relationship with a brand…get it right, and they will come back. Get it wrong, and companies may lose customers forever.

That’s why it’s important for companies to future-proof their supply chains now to safeguard against the surge in demand by accurately forecasting inventory and ensuring that enough retail stock is available when it matters most, particularly for newly released goods or electronics. As 2025 has demonstrated, preparing for the unexpected is also key when planning ahead. With tariffs constantly evolving and impacting delivery timelines due to customs delays, it is especially important for companies to prepare now for a successful holiday shopping season.

Creating an Actionable Preparation Plan

With so many variable impacting product availability, pricing and delivery timelines around the holidays, it’s incumbent upon shippers to begin planning their Q4 supply chain logistics early. Doing so can help in a number of ways:

• Securing reliable capacity: Working with the right partner to ensure a broad network of available carriers can help avoid the stress of a capacity crunch when it matters most.
• Locking in rates: Planning ahead for the capacity you need can also help companies obtain more favorable rates by securing space before prices increase.
• Ensuring enhanced visibility: Enabling end consumers to track their orders creates a better experience and provides assurance that their purchases will arrive when they need them. Evaluating tech stacks to identify gaps now can ensure plenty of time for any necessary technology implementations before peak season begins.

Peak Season Preparation Checklist

As your organization begins to create a strategy for a successful peak season, consider the following tips:

• ✓ Review last year’s data in conjunction with historical trends to create an accurate demand forecast.
  
  
• ✓ Work now to create inventory optimization processes based on current stock and forecasted demand to ensure plenty of product is available to meet consumer demand.
  
  
• ✓ Optimize your tech stack now to ensure you are equipped with full visibility for proper inventory management and delivery tracking.
  
  
• ✓ Begin scheduling weekly planning check-ins across sales, logistics and operations, and set deadlines to make sure goals are met.
  
  
• ✓ Create contingency plans for when things don’t go as expected. Everything from inclement weather to labor shortages and supplier delays can wreak havoc on supply chains — and all of these are heightened during peak season — so it’s important to work now to make sure you are covered in case of unexpected disruptions.
  
  
• ✓ Partner with an experienced logistics provider to ensure a broad network of available capacity so that your organization has flexibility built into its processes in case issues arise.

Plan Ahead to Get Ahead

Summer is the perfect time to begin thinking about peak season logistics in order to make sure your company is prepared for the most wonderful time of the year. By auditing your supply chain readiness now, you’ll have plenty of time to work toward a successful shopping season while avoiding costly surprises before it’s too late.

NXTPoint Logistics offers people-powered, customer-driven solutions that can help protect your supply chain from disruptions before they arise. To ensure your supply chain is set up for success this peak season or to inquire about transportation management, warehousing or final mile delivery needs, reach out to our experts.