Forward planning helped City Link to cope with Christmas rush
Jan 18, 2012
Accurate forecasting along with months of careful planning helped premium express parcel carrier City Link maintain service levels throughout the peak period in spite of a reported hike of over 15% in online shopping.
The increase was reflected by the volumes carried by the industry as a whole. In the two weeks running up to Christmas Day, City Link delivered a record three million parcels. During this period not only did the company manage to clear all of its outstanding deliveries from depots by Christmas Eve, but timed services were also delivered on time throughout the period.
Preparations began in the summer, with City Link drawing up a robust action plan to deal with any adverse weather events as well as the accurately anticipated boom in internet shopping by working closely with its customers.
It was a strategy which was not only a major step change for the company but for the industry as a whole. Indeed it is one which City Link believes will change the way the express parcels industry will operate in the future if the industry is going to keep pace with online shopping activity.
Duncan Faithfull, Sales & Marketing Director, City Link, said: "More people were ordering their presents online than ever before and we believe this trend is only set to continue.
"City Link had a busy peak period and we are looking forward to an even busier one in 2012. Service levels were maintained throughout demonstrating that by forecasting and working with our customers to understand their volumes is the key to success."
The forward planning exercise will also ensure that City Link is in good shape to maintain service levels during the 2012 Olympics when widespread traffic disruptions are expected, particularly in London.
