Top 10 Festive Season Best Practices for International Business

As we head into the 2025 festive season, the global supply chain is still facing significant challenges. In 2021, there were over 11,642 disruptions worldwide, with North America experiencing the most issues. This year, the situation has been complicated by ongoing conflicts like the Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict, natural disasters, transportation problems, shortages of crucial materials like semiconductors, fluctuating prices, and cyberattacks. These issues are expected to continue impacting businesses during the festive season.

Companies around the world are worried about the rising costs of raw materials, which they see as a major threat to their supply chains. To effectively manage these challenges, experts from KPMG suggest that businesses should focus on improving their supply chain planning, being flexible and quick to adapt to changes, and keeping a close eye on real-time data to stay on top of potential problems. Here’s your festive season guide for international eCommerce businesses to help you sustain operations during disruptions.

What are the current global supply chain challenges for the festive season?

According to the Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI), in September 2023, the GSCPI rose to -0.69, a seven-month high from August’s  -1.08. This implies supply chain disruptions will pose significant challenges in the year ahead. To manage such disruptions, your business needs to have the best strategy in place.  

Here are the top 10 best practices for international companies during the festive season:

How can businesses optimise inventory forecasting for the holidays?

International businesses need a strategic inventory control plan to remain profitable through the festive season. Inventory forecasting helps prepare and maintain inventory cost-effectively.

Demand planning formulas help you accurately anticipate inventory needs by analysing past sales data and future projections. These formulas consider schedules, delivery speed, and lead times to determine the exact quantities needed for restocking. They continuously adjust to changes, ensuring you always have the right amount of inventory.

This precise prediction helps companies avoid overstocking or running out of stock, keeping operations smooth and efficient. These formulas allow you to meet customer demand without unnecessary costs, leading to a more streamlined and cost-effective supply chain.

Why is analysing past holiday sales important?

Historical data is the primary source of predicting market performance and trends in the coming seasons. Hence, past holiday sales data is vital to assess and determine projections for the future sales season. 

The analysis of holiday sales will provide all the inputs you need for this season’s sales, from top-selling items, units sold, and holiday season best practices to prices in the past and projected prices item-wise. This analysis simplifies ordering decisions and helps brands meet consumer demand effectively.

How do DTC trends influence international sales forecasting?

Including recent Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) trends for predictive analysis is always wise. Such data is essential to estimating potential market demand and making accurate forecasts.

International businesses must move away from localised data and consider global trends or market-specific data for forecasting purposes. Using simple Excel-based forecasts has limitations, and you will need help to gain accurate insights into the nature of consumer demands.

What role do inventory audits play during peak season?

Conducting inventory audits at the beginning of the festive season is crucial for maintaining accurate stock records. These audits provide up-to-date data, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the season without any mistakes.

Inventory audits help identify and handle issues such as stock mismatches, losses due to theft, incorrect purchase orders, or damaged goods. By auditing your inventory, you gain better control and management, minimising the risk of errors and ensuring a smooth festive season.

How can businesses maintain accurate data for better decision-making?

Managing sales during the festive season relies on maintaining precise and reliable data. Ensuring that all data is up-to-date and free from technical glitches and human errors is crucial for effective inventory management. Your ability to accurately predict demand and manage inventory levels depends on the quality of your data. This includes historical sales data and current stock information, collectively informing your business strategies and decisions.

To achieve this, you must implement strict procedures to maintain data accuracy. This means focusing on error-free incoming procedures and regularly auditing your data for discrepancies. Accurate data supports better inventory management and helps prevent issues such as stockouts or overstocking, which can disrupt customer orders. Ensuring that your data is accurate and reliable will improve your ability to plan and execute your sales strategy effectively, improving customer satisfaction and smoother operations during the high-demand festive period.

Why is inventory visibility critical for international operations?

For international businesses, maintaining a constant and accurate view of inventory status is crucial. Advanced inventory visibility tools can provide an in-depth data view, allowing you to monitor stock levels and locations across warehouses and during transit. 

These tools ensure that you have real-time insights into inventory across all sales channels, helping you track quantities and locations effectively. Integrating creative and informative displays of available products enhances demand planning accuracy and better aligns your inventory with customer needs. This improved visibility helps manage stock efficiently and contributes to more informed decision-making and a smoother operational process.

How can proactive supplier communication prevent disruptions?

Once you have accurately assessed your stock requirements, the next step is to proactively engage with your suppliers to negotiate and secure favourable margins. Initiating early discussions provides a crucial advantage, allowing you to address potential challenges well in advance. This proactive approach enables you to manage and respond to increasing demand more effectively, ensuring you are well-prepared for peak shopping periods. 

It is essential to clearly understand and confirm lead times and deadlines with your suppliers before finalising your stock levels. This clarity helps prevent disruptions and ensures that your inventory aligns seamlessly with your sales projections, leading to a more efficient and profitable operation during busy seasons.

How can businesses navigate supply chain challenges to maintain profitability?

Supply chain challenges, such as labour shortages and shipping delays, can significantly impact the quality of customer service. Optimising inbound processes is essential to mitigate these issues, as it directly influences the efficiency of outbound operations. Streamlining these processes allows you to make data-driven decisions that ensure smooth operations.

Maintaining reliable stock information is crucial for delivering desirable customer experiences. When customers can trust that the products they want are available and will be delivered on time, it enhances their overall satisfaction, leading to better retention and profitability.

Smart Inventory Management for Peak Shopping Seasons

Effective inventory management is essential during peak shopping seasons. Start by carefully planning your inventory and setting up automated reorder notifications to ensure you’re always stocked. Adjusting reorder points and quantities to match the increased demand during these busy periods helps prevent stockouts and overstocking.

Technology such as 3PL (third-party logistics) services or inventory management software can further streamline your inventory processes. These tools provide real-time insights and automation, making it easier to manage inventory efficiently and meet customer demand without disruptions.

What customer service strategies enhance festive season success?

Exceptional customer service is vital, especially during the holidays. During the holidays, the volume of orders typically increases, making it even more critical to have efficient systems. This includes accurate inventory management, reliable shipping methods, and responsive customer service channels that swiftly handle inquiries or issues. Streamlining order fulfillment processes ensures customer satisfaction, preventing negative impacts on reputation caused by dissatisfied clients. When orders are processed and delivered promptly, it creates a positive experience that can lead to repeat business, customer loyalty, and word-of-mouth referrals. 

Exceptional customer service during this critical period can distinguish your business from competitors. Customers who know they can rely on your company to deliver a seamless experience are more likely to choose your services over others, even in a crowded market. By focusing on these areas, you meet your customers’ needs and demonstrate that your business can handle high demand, which builds trust and enhances your brand’s credibility.

Thus, these top 10 best practices will ensure your internal business processes are optimised for maximum efficiency during this festive sales season.

ShiprocketX: Improve Logistics For Your eCommerce Business This Holiday Season

ShiprocketX is your ideal partner for international shipping, allowing you to reach customers in over 220 countries quickly. With hassle-free customs clearance, ShiprocketX takes care of all the necessary documentation, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. You’ll also benefit from real-time updates at every stage of the shipment process, making it easy to track your deliveries and stay informed. The AI-driven app makes the entire process more convenient by allowing you to schedule pickups and manage delivery timelines directly, ensuring that your global customers receive their orders on time. 

ShiprocketX simplifies cross-border shipping, streamlining the process to help businesses manage orders and plan seamless deliveries worldwide. This comprehensive service supports your global expansion with features like door-to-door B2B deliveries, tailored shipping modes, and a wide-reaching courier network. By choosing ShiprocketX, you can grow your business beyond borders and explore new opportunities in the international market.

Conclusion

To keep your business running smoothly, it’s essential to coordinate your shipping and supply chain processes. Simple strategies like planning for how much stock you’ll need and regularly checking your inventory can help you avoid running out of products or overstocking.

Using data to predict future sales can also help you keep the proper inventory on hand. By following these easy steps, you’ll be better prepared to handle the busy festive season and keep your customers happy. Partner with Shiprocket X to manage your supply chain easily.