• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ad – Bottom Content

Payload Asia

UPS Hong Kong shows SMEs how to prepare for ‘peak’ season

Payload Asia

Leaderboard

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Channels 
    • Carriers
    • Aircraft Manufacturers
    • Airports
    • Courier & Mail
    • Freight Forwarders
    • Express
    • Ground Handling & Cargo Terminals
    • Logistics
  • 12th Payload Asia Awards
    • About
    • Categories
    • 11th Payload Asia Awards
    • 10th Payload Asia Awards
    • 9th Payload Asia Awards
    • Awards Gallery
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • More 
    • Event Calendar
    • Directory
    • Contact Us
Share

UPS Hong Kong shows SMEs how to prepare for ‘peak’ season

September 16, 2020 by PLA Editor

Peak season is crunch time for online retailers. A brief period towards the end of the year that features Singles Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and more, ‘peak’ season can have a dramatic impact on a business’ annual bottom line.

The value of a well-planned strategy for Peak should never be underestimated—take Black Friday in Hong Kong as an example. According to online discount coupon platform Black Friday Online, Hong Kong businesses expect consumers to buy 25.5 million products during this year’s sale. 

Such demand has fast-tracked Hong Kong’s e-commerce sector, which is expected to be worth US$6 billion in 2020 and almost US$10 billion by 2024, according to Statista.  

Even with limited resources and technology, SMEs competing with retail giants during peak season can level the playing field with the right strategy. So perhaps it is more important than ever this year to be ready for the rush. Here’s how.

Plan ahead  

Reliable sales forecasts help SMEs plan ahead with logistics partners to develop manpower and transportation strategies for a busy delivery period. 

Before peak season, SMEs should consider and predict sales volume to plan inventory and manpower requirements; they can offer earlier promotions to capture consumer interest and leverage optimum results from the buying spree. 

SMEs are advised to watch out for new logistics policies. For example, due to the backlog of online orders tied to the pandemic, Amazon implemented new quantity restrictions on using its US warehouses to ensure sellers have space to store their goods. 

The retail giant has also waived inventory removal fees to encourage sellers to remove goods that aren’t selling. E-tailers are also advised to be mindful that customers will return packages all season long which adds volume to the supply chain. 

They need a comprehensive returns policy in place to allow smoother shipments when deliveries and returns happen simultaneously.  

Get customer service right 

During Peak, consumers have a low tolerance for disappointment. This is when brand loyalty is most seriously tested.  

According to the UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper, a study which looks at purchasing habits of e-commerce buyers around the world, a clearly communicated returns policy can encourage customer loyalty.  

With only 5 percent of Asia Pacific shoppers surveyed saying they were ‘very satisfied’ with the returns process, there is potential for e-tailers with a good returns policy to rise above the competition.  

Delivery times and locations during peak seasons add to already complicated logistics, and sellers should work closely with trusted logistics partners to provide alternative delivery options to ensure customers receive their orders when they want. 

Package delivery may seem a basic thing for an e-tailer, but it’s critical to get it right to avoid bad reviews. 

Always online 

With consumers currently more likely to shop online, it is important for retailers to develop a well-designed, user-friendly, and transparent website to shape customers’ perceptions of their brand. 

According to the Pulse study, 95 percent of buyers expect to see shipping fees and taxes—also known as the “fully landed cost”—totalled before they complete a purchase, so websites that are up-front about price stand to win customer confidence. 

Shoppers are unforgiving of poor information on a website; the study notes that 93 percent of shoppers in Asia Pacific either stop using or reduce how often they purchase from a website where they had a bad experience.  

E-tailers rarely get a second chance to regain trust after a customer has a poor experience on their site. 

Work with a trusted logistics partner 

Successful online sellers constantly look for ways to improve efficiency and minimise cost.  

Working with the right logistics partner removes the need to manage time-consuming paperwork and manual tasks, freeing up more time to focus on business growth priorities such as branding, promotion and improving sales channels. 

The value of having a dependable logistics partner to easily and efficiently manage customs clearance, taxes and duties, shipping and warehouse storage tasks, takes on even greater significance during Peak when increased order numbers can mean e-tailers risk losing their competitive edge if distracted by complex logistical processes. 

Fast delivery and flexible pick-up time and locations are important to customers, and a trusted logistics partner enables e-tailers to integrate shipping, ratings, tracking and other capabilities into their system to create a seamless customer experience and capture repeat business. 

(Words by Lauren Zhao, managing director, UPS Hong Kong and Macau) 

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Other Topics: Air & Cargo Services, air cargo, Air Cargo Asia, air cargo freight, Air Forwarding, air freight, Air Freight Asia, Air Freight Logistics, air freighter, air freighting, Air Logistics Asia, Air Shipping Asia, airlines cargo, airways cargo, asia cargo news, cargo aviation, Hong Kong, online shopping, peak season, UPS

Related Articles

  • UPS enhances service in Johor to accelerate global delivery
  • UPS unveils game-changing UPS® Global Checkout: No more surprise import fees
  • New UPS flight between France and Hong Kong to support growing exports
  • UPS speeds up global delivery times from Asia Pacific, adds capacity for peak season
  • UPS bolsters healthcare logistics capabilities with cold-chain acquisitions
  • UPS’s global delivery services now available via Ninja Van in Malaysia

Ad – After Content

Primary Sidebar

Trending News

  • 12th Payload Asia Awards now open for nominations 273 views

  • Cathay Cargo transports 10 terracotta figures and over 200 artefacts from Xi’an to Perth 236 views

  • Vietjet appoints new Managing Director 133 views

  • Japan Airlines launches cell transport service for regenerative medicine ‘J Solutions Pharma Cells’ 116 views

Payload Asia Awards

Subscribe To
Our Newsletter



Payload Asia continues to be the authoritative source for informative, accurate and up-to-date news and information on the air cargo industry and related sectors.

With its updated and refreshed look the online edition continues to provide high quality coverage on the Asia-Pacific, India-Middle East, Europe-CIS, North & South America and Africa air cargo markets.

© 2024 Harvest Information. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Partner Sites : Asia Food Journal and Television Asia Plus .

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience.
Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. I agreeRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Save & Accept

Stay Updated!

Subscribe now to receive the latest news, updates, and exclusive insights. Don’t miss out!

 

By submitting this form, you consent to receive marketing emails from Payload Asia. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.

Disclaimer: Translations on this website are automated using Google Translate. While we strive for accuracy, please be cautious, as machine translations may contain errors. For critical or sensitive content, consider seeking professional human translation. We are not liable for any reliance on the translated content.

1