Although many of us don’t want to think about Christmas until December when in business, it’s essential that you start to gear up for the festive season well in advance to beat the Christmas deliveries rush.
Despite the spike in orders, your customers still expect their deliveries to be with them in good time – regardless of how close to the big day they place their order.
By scheduling your deliveries in advance, you should be able to guarantee pick-up times, keep your customers happy and avoid peak season surcharges. However, the continued driver shortage could lead to delays, which is why planning is essential.
Lorry driver shortages could put a spanner in the works for Christmas deliveries
Brexit and Covid have been the main two factors in the UK’s current HGV driver shortage. The Road Haulage Association has reported a shortage of some 100,000 HGV drivers (though recent estimates place this figure closer to 70,000).
This has been compounded by the number of drivers leaving the industry because of low wages and the poor work/life balance. But there’s also another factor to consider.
According to the ONS, approximately 10% of HGV drivers are either EU or non-EU nationals. Many of them may be looking to head home for the festive period. This will add further pressure on an already decimated industry, potentially creating issues with the festive delivery rush.
That’s why it’s essential that you plan ahead.
What’s your plan?
Yes, it’s October, but don’t be lulled into thinking Christmas is ages away.
It’s important to remember that time is a limited resource and putting off your Christmas planning is a recipe for disaster and disappointment.
To make sure everything runs smoothly, it’s essential that you:
- Be honest with yourself and understand what your organisation can realistically achieve within a specific time frame
- Make sure you have plenty of time to plan, execute, and evaluate all tasks vital to completing each delivery
- Prepare for the unexpected and add contingency time
- Although tempting to maximise your profits, only take on as many orders as you can handle
- Make sure you have enough time to attend to each customer to maintain your quality of service
- Partner is a logistics/fulfilment company that will help your deliveries stay on track and help you achieve your long-term objectives for your business
In the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “he who fails to plan is planning to fail.” Regardless of your industry or business, customer service is one of the most important factors that drives customer loyalty.
Maintaining reliable deliveries, no matter what time of year, is crucial, which is why it’s essential to plan well ahead for the festive season.
Call the team at Smart Directions on 01442 507 240 to chat about your picking and packing needs and how they can streamline your fulfilment process.