Retailers and logistics providers prepare for holiday demand surges

Retailers and logistics providers are preparing for the upcoming holiday and festive shopping seasons through strategic planning and workforce expansion.

In India, Allcargo Logistics is scaling its operations to meet rising festive demand and the growth of omnichannel shopping. The company is increasing its blue-collar workforce by 20% across its Express Distribution and Consultative Logistics businesses, bringing the total seasonal workforce to approximately 9,000. Their approach integrates warehousing, transportation, e-commerce fulfillment, and reverse logistics to manage inventory movement and last-mile connectivity.

In the United States, ecommerce brands are beginning fourth-quarter planning to manage seasonal surges. Strategies include staggering promotion calendars to avoid operational peaks and leveraging mobile commerce, which is expected to drive approximately 57% of holiday ecommerce sales. Forecasts suggest a 6.6% growth in ecommerce for the upcoming season.