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From stress to strategy.
Peak season can be one of the most stressful times for a warehouse team. Orders pile up, resources are stretched, and customers still expect on-time delivery. The reality is simple: efficiency is no longer optional, it’s critical.
Experience across warehouse operations shows that businesses that prepare well before the rush are the ones that not only survive but thrive. When that preparation is combined with the right system, such as SAP EWM, peak periods transition from reactive problem-solving to proactive performance and measurable results
Why peak seasons put pressure on warehouses.
Every industry has its version of a “peak.” For some, it’s the holiday season. For others, it may be Halloween, back-to-school, summer promotions, or even end-of-quarter pushes. No matter the trigger, the challenges look the same:
- Sudden spikes in order volume.
- Labor capacity can’t always keep up.
- Errors creeping in just when accuracy matters most.
If you don’t prepare, your warehouse ends up reacting instead of controlling the flow—and that usually means delays, higher costs, and unhappy customers.
Operational readiness before the rush.
Technology is powerful, but it works best when the basics are covered. Ahead of peak season, I always advise warehouse leaders to focus on four things:
1. Plan Your Workforce – Build flexibility into your staffing model. Crosstrain employees and have temporary support ready to go.
2. Tighten Up Inventory – Run cycle counts and resolves discrepancies before they snowball during busy days.
3. Keep Processes Simple – intuitive interfaces, such as the WeSCan solution in SAP EWM, ensure that the onboarding process, even for temporary staff is seamless and transparent.
4. Test Before It Counts – Run a mock “peak day” in your warehouse to uncover bottlenecks and fine-tune before the real orders come in.
How SAP EWM transforms peak-season performance.
When volumes surge, legacy systems and manual processes struggle to keep pace. SAP EWM is engineered for scale, flexibility, and real-time control. Here’s how it helps warehouses not just cope—but excel:
- Advanced putaway strategies.
EWM applies smart putaway strategies—such as fixed bin, near picking area, or capacity-based rules—to ensure stock is placed where it’s most efficient for later retrieval. This makes received goods available faster and reduces unnecessary movement during busy times.
- Automatic replenishment.
Fixed bins are continuously monitored and automatically replenished as stock runs low. High-demand items stay available for picking, helping prevent order delays when volumes surge.
- Real-time cycle counting.
EWM supports cycle counting without blocking bins, meaning you can keep stock accurate while operations continue. This is especially critical during peak periods, when downtime on a location could cause bottlenecks.
- Labor management & visibility.
Managers can track productivity in real time and reassign tasks where they’re needed most, helping avoid slowdowns.
- Wave and order management.
Orders can be grouped and released in a way that balances workloads and meets carrier cut-offs, keeping shipments moving on time.
- Flexible picking options.
multi-order picking, zone picking, and pick-by-voice all speed up operations while reducing mistakes—critical when every minute counts.
- System scalability.
Unlike older systems that may falter under pressure, EWM can handle heavy volumes without compromising performance.
The payoff: From chaos to competitive advantage.
When operational discipline is combined with the right tools in SAP EWM, the results are clear:
- Faster order processing and shipping.
- Lower error rates.
- Always stocked bins for high-demand products.
- A workforce that can handle more without burning out.
- A warehouse that stays in control, even when volumes double or triple.
At that point, peak season stops being a risk—and becomes a chance to stand out from your competitors.
Build your peak-ready warehouse today.
The next peak season doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With the right preparation and SAP EWM in place, your warehouse can be ready to deliver—no matter how high the order volumes climb.
