Master Peak Season: Plan, Scale and Ship Smarter

By Jessica Biella, July 21, 2025

Every year, peak season brings the same challenges—a surge in eCommerce shipping volume, tighter delivery windows and increased pressure to deliver a flawless customer experience. And yet, for many brands, it still feels like a scramble.

The 2024 holiday season reminded us just how critical it is to plan early and scale strategically. Carriers hit capacity weeks before Black Friday, delays stretched into early January and last-minute rate hikes left retailers with few good options.

Here’s the positive news. With the right strategy and partners, peak season can become your most profitable, most predictable time of year.

Insights from Last Year’s Peak

Demand was high, but so were expectations. Shoppers wanted fast, affordable delivery with full transparency. Brands that planned ahead secured capacity and delivered on their promises. Brands that waited too long paid more, delivered late and faced the fallout in customer service and reviews.

Some carriers faced:

  • Network congestion due to labor shortages
  • Delivery delays from severe weather and holiday surges
  • Limited flexibility for businesses without locked-in volume agreements

It wasn’t just about how many packages you shipped. It was about who you trusted to deliver them.

The Case for Early Planning

Planning ahead is the key to turning peak season challenges into opportunities. The earlier you lock in your shipping plan, the more options you have. That means:

  • Securing capacity before networks tighten
  • Setting clear customer expectations for cutoff dates
  • Avoiding last-minute premium surcharges

Smart brands treat peak like a product launch. They forecast, align their operations and bring in partners who can scale on demand.

How OSM Worldwide Plans for Peak

OSM plans for peak season year-round. The OSM Premium Network® is designed for high-volume scalability with consistent 2- to 5-day nationwide parcel delivery.

OSM works with brands to:

  • Reserve dedicated network capacity based on forecasted volume
  • Integrate tracking and data visibility for customer support
  • Optimize pickup and injection schedules for faster delivery

Unlike traditional carriers who often react to peak, OSM anticipates it—and builds proactive solutions to support your growth.

Tips to Avoid Peak Season Bottlenecks

Here’s how to stay ahead this holiday season:

  • Start planning in Q2. Lock in forecasts and align partners.
  • Diversify your carrier mix. Don’t rely on a single network.
  • Automate where you can. Optimize technology to increase efficiency.
  • Communicate clearly with customers. Set realistic expectations for cutoff and delivery times.

Peak season doesn’t have to be unpredictable. With a flexible, performance-driven partner like OSM Worldwide, you can take control of your delivery operations and ship smarter when it matters most.

Contact us today to be ready for peak. Let’s build a stronger shipping plan together.

Browse our other blogs for fresh ideas and tips. You can learn why parcel size matters when considering shipping logistics companies, why rates aren’t everything when it comes to shipping and practical tips for sustainability.

About the Author 

As Vice President of Operations, Jessica Biella oversees multiple departments at OSM Worldwide. During her 18-year tenure, she has led the opening of six nationwide facilities, deployed advanced sortation equipment, piloted robotics trials, and designed and executed continuous improvement and learning programs for her teams—coaching many to earn Lean Six Sigma certification.