The supply chain has been through a lot over the past few years, and the instability, uncertainty, and volatility have not yet entirely subsided. Peak season pressure in the months ahead keeps the future of the supply chain atop the list of genuine concerns for many businesses. What have you done to prepare for peak season 2023?
MercuryGate Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Steve Blough and supply chain expert Phil Melton discuss market trends in the supply chain and expectations for the future.
By highlighting real-world supply chain issues and the service MercuryGate has to offer, the Q3 Logistics Landscape webinar provides guidance on the state of supply chain logistics as well as predictions to help you prepare for peak season.
State of Supply Chain Logistics
A July 2022 report from Logistics Management echoed these points of concern about the future of the supply chain, noting, “As the inflation rate hit 8.5 percent this spring, pressures for fiscal tightening became more acute. The Federal Reserve has acted swiftly with a series of interest rate hikes designed to tame inflation without hurting the overall economy. But while hospitality, restaurants, and airlines are recovering nicely, booming sectors of durable goods, retail, housing, home improvement, and e-commerce are beginning to see economic slowdowns and expectations of lower future inflation began to bite into current demand.”
Prepare for Peak Season
There has been a lot of talk regarding inventory levels; some organizations have too much, some too little. Fluctuations in the supply chain and the dreaded bullwhip effect bring concerns over the future of the supply chain into focus. Address several areas of focus to prepare for peak season pressure.
- Need for data, flexibility, scalability, adaptability, and automation to deal with online shopping spikes and the ever-growing need for e-commerce shipping.
- More demand for cargo space, drivers, retailers, trucks, and specialty shipping services presents an increased risk for disruptions and an opportunity to increase profits.
- Shippers must prepare ahead of time to improve services, keep customer service high, and intelligently utilize data and market insights.
It is not feasible to get more trucks on the already congested roads. Improving peak season performance is about optimizing truck usage — finding availability, and being smart with logistics, rerouting, moving, and managing truck and driver availability.
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MercuryGate’s Response to Market Trends
Get the latest transportation and logistics landscape updates from our transportation and industry trends in Q3. Be sure to watch the webinar for a deep dive on the state of the supply chain and tips to help you prepare for peak season.