It’s All About the Details: Accurate forecasts from customers are key. Ensure that staff is adequately trained to manage increased volumes. If temporary staff is needed, onboarding should begin 6-8 weeks before peak, depending on the activity required and whether training on WMS and processes is necessary.

Implement Advanced Forecasting and Planning Tools: Utilise data analytics (DOMO + Data Tools – TMS/WMS) and Customer forecasting tools to predict demand accurately and plan inventory levels. This enables better staffing, optimised space utilisation, and efficient routing, ensuring smooth operations during peak times.

Strategic Planning: Uniserve employs a Continuous Improvement Methodology. Reviewing previous peaks in alignment with future forecasts in collaboration allow for the joint development of a peak logistics strategy.

Communication and Team Coordination: Work together to identify clear communication channels between both the Customer and Uniserve with key stakeholders allocated along with escalation points. This ensures successful execution during peak periods.

Stress Testing: Collaborate to review planned peak volume and identify additional capacity and resource needs. Uniserve can support through a flexed labour pool and alternative shifts, facilitated by advanced planning discussions with client,s delivering operational flexibility.

Preparation: Start preparing for peak in advance, allowing time to review capacity, resource and any changes to operational requirements with time to implement and test prior to peak volume.
Another key point is to involve all levels of the Operational Management team to ensure all risks are mitigated and blockers identified. The lower levels of the management team, being on the ground and seeing the operation in real time, provide valuable insights that should be leveraged.

For more information, contact our Customer Relationship Manager today on 01375 856060 or email crmteam@ugroup.co.uk