How the Holiday Season Affects Supply Chains and Your Business

It is no surprise to most companies that the mad rush of Christmas causes a huge impact to your business and the wider supply chain. 

Forecasting these major fluctuations in demand will hold you in good stead when it comes to specifying and sourcing flexible efficient logistical solutions to combat the highs and lows of the holiday season.  However many curved balls may be encountered along the way, so flexibility and contingency support can be key. 

What factors will affect a business’s supply chain? 

X2 take a look at the factors you may be facing that could stand in the way of a “seamless and undramatic” supply chain operation. 

Predicting Customer Demand

‘Great!’- demand for your goods or products has increased tenfold from last year and the average invoice amount has had a 30% increase. 

But how are you going to deliver all these additional orders? From production efficiency and management to logistical solutions, you’ll need to make sure you have the right transport and distribution companies onside to help you deliver all your orders. 

Predetermining expected growth and the increase in your volumes, is a conversation you will no doubt be having with all stakeholders in the supply chain along with logistics suppliers in advance. By having these conversations as early as possible based on historical trends and forecasted growth, you’ll be able to predict and prepare for larger than expected orders and their delivery without searching for last minute solutions.

However, having the flexibility in dealing with those curved balls of higher than anticipated volume, or conversely lower volumes than expected, is just as important.

Communication Issues 

Your suppliers, manufacturers and distributors will all be working round the clock to not just keep you happy but all of their clients happy. With the rush of last minute demands to meet unexpected deliveries, communication can become more difficult or even worse, things can get missed. 

The better your transport and logistics company understands your challenges and priorities and the more involved they are in your planning process, the more effective they can be in providing the level of service your customers demand.

Small things like an altered invoice or change in delivery address, can impact on and delay the execution of deliveries, with knock on effects to your customers. Having a transport and logistics company who you trust and have open, rapid communication lines with, will help iron out a lot of these missed and lost opportunities to keep deliveries on track and on time.

Speak to one of our team today to learn about our transport solutions for your business. 

X2 is full of big company experience, with a small company ethos  – you’ll always feel like you’re dealing with real people at the end of the phone who understand your transport and logistics challenges.

Postal Strikes

With postal strikes on the rise this winter, and seemingly set to continue, companies have been exploring their logistics options. Whether you’re a larger company, or a company who has just taken that step into needing a transport solution you might want to consider all your options and alternative pathways to get goods to your customers. Having alternatives and contingencies could eliminate delivery stress, delays and help mitigate the financial impact of disputes like this. 

With the likelihood of more strikes throughout the next year, do you have alternatives at your fingertips?

Weather-Related Logistics Problems

If you manage your own transport fleet to meet the needs of your customers, you’ll know all too well how stressful it is to keep track of invoices, order amounts, drivers and maintenance of the vehicle. There are many more breakdowns in the cold weather which can cause massive delays.

And this isn’t just a winter thing. As we all saw in the summer of 2022, heat waves are causing disruption to businesses’ supply chains.

Whether you have your own fleet, a part own fleet, or a fully outsourced transportation, it’s always reassuring to have a logistics company with flexible options, to support and help you through these difficult and unpredictable times. 

Finding the right logistics solution for you

If you’d like to explore services at X2 and how they can service you, get in touch today and talk to our highly experienced team. We know not one size fits all, and that’s why we have a variety of logistics solutions to suit your needs.