How logistics companies are preparing for the festive season spike in deliveries

Mumbai, Sep 24

In India, the busiest time of the year for logistics is during the festive season. E-commerce, retail, and FMCG sectors have all experienced a phenomenal growth for the demand.

For logistics firms, the ceasefire period is most challenging and requires sophisticated planning to guarantee prompt deliveries, since customer demand for delivery times is the highest. As such, the firms have started implementing multiple strategies.

The most crucial step is planning for the demand spike by increasing the logistics infrastructure. They lease temporary spaces near their large fulfilment centres to handle the extra stock. Increasing the dark stores in the heart of the cities also increases to deliver the goods well in time and handle the peak delivery timelines. Some firms choose to set up a fulfilment centre closer to high demand areas to cut the time for last mile deliveries. At the same time, the plans for the workforce are crucial. Many firms are starting to offer delivery associates and warehouse staff incentive programs for increased workload efficiency.

Talking to Bizz Buzz, Zafeer Ahmed, Managing Director, XRE Consultants says, “It is worth noting the extent of technology used in preparation for the festivities - route optimization, real-time tracking systems, and artificial intelligence demand forecasting solutions being employed at larger scales.”

Such solutions not only streamline operations, but also help mitigate risks of congestion and untimely order surges. Moreover, logistics companies are engaging in proactive real-time collaboration with e-commerce and retail customers to pre-position inventory and sync delivery to reduce stockouts and delays.

The festival period acts as a true supply chain stress test. Success is determined on how far a company is willing to go to predict demand as well as implement responsive infrastructure and smartly use tech to wow the customer. Today, being in the competitive market, a timely delivery is not only a feature, but a promise of the company.

With an increase in yearly consumer expectations, logistics companies are no longer merely partners in delivery; they are festive facilitators with a guarantee of timely and consistent delivery of essentials and gifts.

Vineet Malik, Co-Founder & Cheif Customs Officer (CCO) of Hexalog says, “As the festive season approaches, the logistics sector is gearing up for one of the busiest periods of the year. This time is traditionally marked by a sharp surge in online shopping and retail demand, which directly translates into higher delivery volumes.”

To manage this seasonal spike effectively, logistics companies are strengthening their planning processes well in advance whether through expanding temporary warehousing capacity, aligning with delivery partners, or scaling workforce support. Technology also plays a crucial role, with route optimization tools, demand forecasting models, and real-time tracking systems helping ensure timely and reliable deliveries.

Another important focus is customer experience: meeting festive delivery commitments is often just as critical as the product itself. By balancing efficiency with flexibility, the industry aims to minimize disruptions while handling the significant rise in orders. The festive season is always a test of resilience and agility for logistics networks, but it also highlights the sector’s ability to adapt and deliver at scale.

EoM.