| |NOVEMBER 20219The reason for this is that despite lock-down restrictions eased to a large ex-tent, splitting inventory and storing it in different warehouses can help evade last-minute emergencies such as a lo-cality being cordoned off as a red zone. Certain marketplaces may even place restrictions on warehouse movements and changes in the address, so it is safer to ensure that movement of goods hap-pens well in advance. Also, making sure that you don't experience stock-outs on in-demand items will improve custom-er satisfaction and increase customer retention and acquisition. Insurance to safeguard inventory & staffMore often than not, e-Commerce players either overlook the importance of inventory and staff insurance or they try to cut costs by not availing it. In case of an unfortunate turn of events, lack of insurance can prove to be a costly mistake and brands will end up paying a heavy price. Yet another reason to avail insurance for inventory is that the rise in demand means operational efficiency needs to be ramped up, leaving more room for packages to be handled roughly. So, ensure that all inventory is insured and is packed and sealed securely. Apart from this, it is also advisable to avail COVID-19 insurance for all staff. This will be cost-efficient in the long run and at the same time, will safeguard the health and wellbeing of staff on the frontlines. Warehouse management to meet the sudden surge in demandTo meet this growing demand for goods during the festive season, brands need to focus on the agility to scale up their operations. Amplifying warehouse ca-pacity such as renting a temporary warehouse to cater to festive needs can be useful. Hiring temporary but dedicat-ed delivery vans to enhance logistical operations will ensure timely delivery of goods and help to manage small scale B2B orders.Additionally, never compromise and cut costs on se-curity. The festive season, as mentioned earlier, means more inventory being stored, increasing the chances of theft and pilferage of items if security is insufficient. Im-plementing robust security measures such as the installa-tion of CCTV cameras amongst others can go a long way in alleviating the risk of theft. Smart, automated warehouse management is the ideal solution to avoid loss or damage to the goods. Staff training plays a pivotal roleLast but not least, regardless of automated warehouses, staff, particularly those out on the field, play an instru-mental role in the timely delivery of goods, safeguarding and handling of inventory, and overall efficiency. Amidst the crisis, providing staff with certified training in the best practices of hygiene and safety will go a long way in protecting them as well as customers. Never allowing safe-ty measures to become lax or neglected will save a great deal of time and cost and eliminate the risk of infecting the entire warehouse staff. Posters, videos, and messages ex-plaining the stringent guidelines to be maintained inside the premises can help newly trained staff catch on quicker.The future of e-Commerce is being redefined by brands and incorporating such simple measures can become a stepping stone for success, and add to sales and revenue during the festive season. Warehousing can pose a major challenge during the country's grand festive season and understanding how to tackle them as festivities begin can help brands save time and costNakul Singh
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