How Should Retailers Prepare for Thanksgiving Online Order Fulfillment?

 
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, but holiday shopping is still in full swing. Leading up to the first holiday season post-COVID-19, there has been uncertainty about the percent of shoppers sticking to online retail instead of traditional brick-and-mortar shopping. Luckily, neither party need worry. Thanksgiving weekend proved to be omnichannel holiday spree with records in both in-store foot traffic and online orders. With these wins, though, come the next challenge for retailers: Thanksgiving online order fulfillment.

While Amazon, Walmart, Macy’s, and other major retailers have an efficient logistics footprint to tout during peak online ordering season, the same can’t always be said for SMBs, and a confident fulfillment plan is essential to capitalize on what proved to be unexpected consumer confidence during the holiday shopping season. If consumers are left out to dry with poor delivery times, lack of order transparency, or bottlenecks from legacy carriers, retailers could find themselves struggling to rebuild confidence with consumers who are still facing tough economic times, even if macroeconomic trends point to potential deflation in 2023.

David Packee, VP, Sales and Client Success at AxleHire, a last mile economy driver supply and logistics solutions provider, broke down the Thanksgiving online order fulfillment challenge that all retailers face coming out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

David’s Thoughts

“Online retailers need to understand that they’ll always be compared to Amazon. When holiday sales hit, and these companies make record sales, that’s just the first part of the customer experience. As soon as the consumer clicks by, the clock is ticking, and they’ll expect their packages fast, handled with care, and to arrive on time at the right location.

The majority of retailers struggle to make these promises because of the legacy carriers they rely on, which typically care more about volume than the quality of their deliveries. By diversifying their carrier base and including regional carriers, retailers will maintain on-time delivery rates and customer brand loyalty.”

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Latest

decarbonization and sustainability
Navigating Risk and Opportunity in Decarbonization and Sustainability – Part 1 of 2
September 26, 2023

The global conversation has shifted dramatically towards decarbonization and sustainability in recent years. With the world experiencing unprecedented levels of disruption, from 5G technology to the challenges of a pandemic, the urgency to address climate change and its implications has never been more palpable. Although most business leaders see the vision of Sustainable Development […]

Read More
making LTL shipping frictionless
Todd Florence of Estes Express Lines on Making LTL Shipping Frictionless
September 26, 2023

Making LTL shipping frictionless is more than possible; it’s happening today. How can one challenge the status quo and embrace technological transformation in an industry that has historically resisted change? In this captivating episode of Semi-Related, Chris Torrence sets the stage for a riveting conversation with Todd Florence, the Chief Information Officer of Estes […]

Read More
power of consumer insights
The Power of Consumer Insights: Enhance Performance and Customer Loyalty with Data
September 26, 2023

In the latest episode of Retail Refined, conducted at the Retail Influencer CEO Forum 2023, host Melissa Gonzalez explores the transformative power of consumer insights with guest Elizabeth Oates, VP of Consumer Insights at Ulta Beauty. They discuss how data-driven insights can enhance performance, foster customer loyalty, and shape the beauty industry’s future. Oates […]

Read More