Managing a surge in orders can strain fulfillment centers, from storage to distribution processes. Without efficient systems, this can lead to delays, errors, and missed opportunities to meet customer expectations or capitalize on increased demand.

Seasonal demand often requires hiring temporary workers, increasing costs and creating training challenges. This fluctuating workforce can also pose a risk to order accuracy and quality — leading to further expense if not managed carefully.

Balancing inventory to avoid overstocking or stockouts becomes a challenge, especially when demand forecasting is unpredictable. This challenge intensifies in grocery with fresh food and last-minute holiday surges — if a grocer can’t supply key items, they risk losing not just sales but loyal customers. Ensuring inventory is in the right place at the right time (whether in-store, online, or via click-and-collect) is therefore critical to profitability.

Meeting customer expectations for fast and reliable delivery is vital but increasingly difficult during peak periods. Offering flexibility—especially for last-minute gift orders — can be a strong differentiator, helping businesses stand out in high-demand seasons.

According to Salesforce’s State of the Connected Customer, 6th Edition, 65% of customers expect brands to adapt to their changing wants and needs. Dematic Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) provide scalable automation that adapts to demand fluctuations across varied fulfillment strategies — whether in large distribution centers or back-of-store environments. As retailers increasingly mix models like regional distribution centers, local/metro hubs, and store-based picking to meet customer expectations for speed and convenience, AMRs and AGVs provide solutions that streamline workflows, reduce errors, and improve throughput during peak activity.

Most shoppers (72%) choose to shop online on Black Friday, while just 31% prefer to visit stores that day. The top three reasons consumers turn to online shopping are convenience, free delivery, and the ability to easily compare prices. Dematic Goods-to-Person (GTP) systems minimize product travel time by delivering items directly to workers, significantly increasing picking speeds and accuracy. This ensures that even during high-demand periods, orders are fulfilled promptly and correctly.

With 60% of retailers reporting they’re not fully leveraging their data for decision-making, it is more important than ever to ensure reliable data is accessible, organized, and actionable. Dematic Software offers real-time insights into warehouse operations, allowing managers to identify bottlenecks, monitor inventory levels, and optimize resource allocation. Since supply chain software is the foundational requirement for coordinating network operations (especially when multiple fulfillment nodes, each with unique demands), a data-driven approach is essential to maintaining smooth performance during demand surges.

Dematic solutions complements manual labor by reducing non-automated tasks and providing ergonomic designs. Varying footprints and throughput requirements necessitate different solutions such as high-density storage or shuttle systems in tight spaces. Dematic can help businesses select their best fit with a tailored approach that not only boosts efficiency for both seasonal hires and permanent staff but also addresses a critical challenge: outdated technology. As the leading internal barrier to company growth, outdated systems can contribute to high employee turnover. By modernizing operations with automation, Dematic empowers teams to work smarter, reducing errors and driving productivity.

Dematic prioritizes proactive strategies such as preventive maintenance and predictive analytics to ensure systems operate at optimal performance. This is especially important for supporting growing retail industry trends such as omnichannel shopping, click-and-collect usage, and AI-driven predictive ordering. By addressing potential issues before they arise, Dematic solutions minimize disruptions during critical operations. Reliability equates directly with excellent customer service — a factor 94% of consumers say increases their likelihood of buying again. During high-stress, high-stakes times like peak season, seamless operations and positive service experiences can transform one-time buyers into loyal customers.