When it comes to the peak season for businesses in the Philippines, the key months are the ‘Ber’ months - September, October, November and December. During this time, both business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) points of income flourish as individuals and businesses celebrate seasonal holidays.
If your organization isn’t prepared for the ‘Ber’ months, then you could be missing out on huge business opportunities in the Philippines. The importance of this crucial season cannot be underplayed and it is vital to establish forward-thinking business practices early on to maximize your income generation. Eager to learn about what are the best business practices to take the ‘Ber’ months by storm? Read out to find out more.
Why Are Peak Seasons Challenging For Businesses?
The peak seasons in the Philippines, known affectionately as the ‘Ber’ months by locals, are times when the demand of customers reaches an annual high for businesses (hence ‘peak’ season). Due to this demand, local companies often face the crunch of limited inventory, supply chain delays and online issues with websites. Failure to deal with these issues often directly translates to clients and customers choosing to spend their money elsewhere.
Apply these best practices to navigate the ‘Ber’ months with ease and turn the challenges into opportunities for your business.
1. Ensure Your Website Is In Top-Notch Condition
E-commerce is a rapidly growing field. According to Global Data, online shopping is set to lead e-commerce in the Philippines by 17% by 2025, it’s essential that businesses get on board with virtual stores or get left behind.
But having a website isn’t enough— the expected surge in traffic means it is the ideal time to deal with any bugs in your site and implement improvements. Best practices include ensuring your webpages’ page load speed does not plummet under increased traffic, helping your customers locate what they want easily with a search bar and delivering relevant product suggestions based on previous items bought for a personalized shopping experience.
To encourage purchases, advertise seasonal sales on the homepage, provide a myriad of payment methods and enable guest checkout options to reduce the hassle for customers.
2. Execute Demand Planning
The ‘Ber’ months can bring in a significant amount of annual revenue, but knowing what products will be your best-sellers will take some effort. Use your analytics to observe and predict customer behavior so you can take advantage of peak season sales. Using your analytics is a best practice for aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. Start by examining your analytics from previous ‘Ber’ months and use these to determine a strategy for the upcoming season.
Businesses should also prioritize agility during this season. Be ready to make fast changes such as price matching and offering further discounts. In addition, consider express and on-demand international delivery services such as DHL Express for urgent, time-sensitive packages to help them reach your customer’s doorstep on the same day or by the next working day.
3. Plan For Additional Capacity
Prior to peak season, businesses in the Philippines should identify how much stock is required to cater to the demand with the use of data analytics from previous ‘Ber’ months. Then, plan how and where these can be stored. Utilizing an overflow storage facility will ensure your sales are not affected by supply chain delays. With stock, ensure you keep a thorough inventory that is updated regularly. This may be a good opportunity to implement smart systems like tracking tags and weight-sensitive shelves that can help you keep track of your items on a micro level and limit human error.
4. Manage International Suppliers
The global supply chain has been tumultuous the past few months. Now, more than ever it’s essential that businesses in the Philippines establish a resilient supply chain that can adjust to these challenges. If you rely on international manufacturers, ensure you communicate with them throughout the import process so that you can account for delays and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Diversifying suppliers can develop supply chain resilience for your business. It’s also a good ethical practice in business as dividing your suppliers between local and international suppliers supports the local economy and provides more jobs.
5. Focus On Identifying Personnel Needs
To account for additional stress, your business may need more staff to manage shopfronts, pack orders and navitage inventories. An advisable best practice would be to onboard new staff at least two weeks before peak season begins. This lets them get used to the rhythms of your business which allows for greater efficiency during peak season. To get the most out of new staff, use labor planning tools to assess the required capacity.
Conquer The Peak Season With DHL Express
The ‘Ber’ months can be tiring but rewarding for businesses. Having a reliable shipping provider is a great way to limit your stress and provide assurance to customers. Partner with DHL Express, the leading shipping provider internationally, to ensure your business gets the most out of this peak season. We know the importance of best practices in business, which is why we encourage customers to use our reliable services to provide a premium experience to their customers. Sign up for a DHL Express account today and reap the benefits of our diverse international delivery services.
