As we enter peak season for many industries, businesses must be prepared for what is ahead, especially with the cost of goods and equipment continuing to rise and supply chain delays becoming longer and longer. Using our peak season checklist will help you get ahead of the game while discovering ways to incur cost savings for your company.

Insiders Checklist

Plan Ahead or Plan to Fail

Planning ahead in the current market with supply chain issues and employment challenges is essential. Lead times for equipment can be extensive and may put you in a tough spot during your peak season.

 Short-term Rentals

Short-term rentals can be a great way to have the right equipment available for the increase in business during peak season. Many rental fleets have been depleted, so it is crucial to reserve the appropriate amount of equipment needed for your business well ahead of time.

‘Tis the Season to Hire and Train Seasonal Workers

Analyze and optimize seasonal hiring and training before it’s too late. With a low unemployment rate, it can be challenging to find reliable employees when you need them. Consider attractive ways to find and recruit seasonal employees, from desirable salaries, flexible hours, ample training, and opportunities to turn part-time work into full-time work. The Raymond Award Winning Virtual Reality Simulator can make it easier and quicker to train new forklift operators efficiently and effectively.

Storage Solutions

An experienced 3PL provides more than just storage opportunities. The right 3PL can assist you with transportation, distribution, and packaging options during your busy season. Third-party logistics companies can box, wrap, stamp, assign, store, and ship. While this comes at a substantial cost, they can save you significant space and time.

Automate, Automate, Automate

Using automation like robotics for palletizing and automatic shrink wrapping and taping machines can dramatically decrease the number of seasonal employees you’ll need. It also helps to optimize the warehouse, thus increasing cost savings. Collaborative robots systems can be implemented in just a few weeks.

Get the Elves Ready for Holiday Fulfillment

Be sure to plan for wholesale orders, as they will start and peak significantly earlier than e-commerce orders, so you will need to have trained staff ready and available to work.

Cross the Cross-docking Bridge

Embrace the idea of cross-docking. In some cases, cross-docking can be implemented for specific orders. This would decrease the number of times the product would need to be handled, therefore decreasing labor costs.

Write Your List and Check it Twice

Do you need help checking your list this peak season? Abel Womack’s experienced team is here to help you handle your peak periods with the right equipment and automation to handle the increased volume. Get in touch with one of our specialists today to learn more about how Abel Womack can help you double-check your peak season list and set you up for a successful season ahead.