Peak Season 2025: This logistical error could cost you 50% of your turnover.
Every year, the last quarter accounts for a huge proportion of e-commerce activity. According to data from Chronopost, October to December generates nearly half of the annual turnover of French online retailers. But this pivotal period, marked by Black Friday and the end-of-year holidays, can also turn into a real operational headache for companies that are insufficiently prepared.
When logistics becomes a barrier to growth
The dramatic increase in volumes during peak season is predictable: in just a few days, the number of orders can multiply by two to ten. If your logistics are not ready, the consequences are immediate:
- Delivery delays: lead times skyrocket, customers get annoyed and negative reviews multiply.
- Stock shortages: your best-sellers become unavailable in the middle of Black Friday, allowing your better-organised competitors to capture your sales.
- Loss of reputation: in a market where speed has become the norm, a logistical failure is often perceived as a lack of professionalism that is difficult to recover from.
This vicious circle can have lasting effects. A customer who is disappointed during this key period may never return, and their negative review will spread far beyond the single missed transaction.
Anticipating : a strategic imperative
Peak season cannot be improvised. The most successful players stand out not only for the quality of their products or their prices, but above all for their ability to anticipate the increase in demand.
Preparing your logistics in advance allows you to:
- Secure your stock by ensuring that suppliers can keep up with demand.
- Calibrate the human and technical resources needed to absorb the peak.
- Optimise your carriers according to order types (express, economy, international).
- Minimise operational stress so you can focus on customer acquisition and retention.
Outsource or strengthen internal capabilities
There are two approaches:
- Strengthen your internal infrastructure (temporary recruitment, software solutions, warehouse reinforcement).
- Outsource all or part of your logistics to specialised partners who can handle large volumes thanks to their shared resources and expertise.
- In both cases, the key remains the same: act before October. Waiting for the first wave of orders to react is already too late.
How to prepare properly ?
Many e-retailers who planned ahead for their logistics are reporting accelerated growth. Those who were able to:
- eliminate stock shortages,
- maintain high satisfaction rates,
- and guarantee stable delivery times,
not only maximised their sales but also strengthened their brand image. Some even saw their turnover triple between September and December thanks to methodical preparation.
Your action plan starting today
To maximise your chances of success during the peak season:
- Analyse your past data (2023 and 2024) to identify your volume peaks.
- Check the strength of your inventory and the capacity of your suppliers.
- Select your logistics partners and carriers as early as September.
- Plan contingency scenarios (overload, delay, shortage) so you can respond without panicking.
In conclusion
Peak season is not only a commercial opportunity, it is also a full-scale test of your organisation. The winners in 2025 will be those who have anticipated their logistical challenges with as much rigour as their marketing campaigns.
In a context where every delay is costly and every disappointed customer can discourage ten others, the question is not whether you should anticipate, but whether you are ready now.
Specialised players such as Futurlog are already supporting many e-retailers in this preparation, enabling them to approach Peak Season with confidence and efficiency.
🔍FAQ
Ideally, as early as August or September. This gives you time to adjust your stock levels, increase your workforce and secure transport partnerships.
At Futurlog, we advise our customers to plan at least 6 to 8 weeks before the peak season begins to avoid capacity saturation.
Outsourcing allows you to absorb peaks in activity without increasing your fixed costs.
Thanks to shared resources, a service provider such as Futurlog can distribute volumes, guarantee consistent delivery times and offer you negotiated transport rates.
The result: more sales, less stress and an enhanced customer experience.
Ask yourself three simple questions:
Can they double my volumes without compromising delivery times?
Do they have multiple carriers to secure shipments?
Do they provide me with real-time visibility of my stock and orders?
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, it’s time to consider a more agile alternative.
Futurlog supports e-commerce brands in managing their flows before, during, and after peak season.
We combine:
🚛 an intelligent multi-carrier network,
📦 automated and flexible processes,
🤝 and ultra-responsive human support.
The goal: to enable you to ship faster, better and at a lower cost, even during the busiest periods.