The holiday rush, seasonal sales, and promotional events often lead to a surge in shipping demand. For businesses, these peak seasons can be both profitable and stressful, as carriers face backlogs and customers expect faster deliveries. Improving delivery times during these busy periods requires careful planning, smart partnerships, and efficient operations.
Plan Ahead for Carrier Deadlines
Carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL publish holiday cutoff dates every year. Missing these deadlines almost guarantees late deliveries. Share these timelines with customers early, and adjust your order processing schedules to stay ahead of bottlenecks.
Offer Multiple Shipping Options
Some customers will always choose the cheapest option, while others are willing to pay more for speed. Providing choices such as standard, expedited, and same-day delivery allows customers to control their experience while reducing the pressure on a single shipping method.
Use Regional Carriers When Possible
National carriers often face delays during peak periods. Regional carriers like OnTrac and LaserShip can be faster and more reliable within their coverage areas, helping reduce delivery times.
Leverage Fulfillment Centers
Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) like ShipBob or Fulfillment by Amazon position inventory closer to customers, cutting down on transit times. Splitting inventory across multiple warehouses ensures faster delivery, even during seasonal spikes.
Communicate Proactively With Customers
Even with the best planning, delays can still occur. Proactively sending updates and providing accurate tracking links builds trust. Tools like AfterShip make it easy to centralize tracking data and notify customers in real time.
Offset Costs With Cashback Apps
Expedited shipping is often more expensive, but cashback platforms can help offset these costs. For example, you can earn cashback with a USPS gift card or get rewards with a DHL gift card through Fluz when paying for carrier services. By combining cashback rewards with smart delivery planning, businesses can keep expenses under control while maintaining fast, reliable service. To make cashback part of your shipping strategy, download Fluz and apply it to your shipments year-round.
Final Thoughts
Meeting customer expectations during peak seasons is challenging but achievable. By preparing for carrier deadlines, diversifying shipping options, using regional carriers and fulfillment centers, and leveraging cashback savings, businesses can keep delivery times competitive—even in the busiest months.
