• The countdown to Christmas is nearly complete; Peak 2023 has seen robust parcel volumes in a flatter and more sustained fashion.

• Volume in Week 50 saw further growth versus Week 49 and gave a clear indication that consumers are still looking for last-minute deals with the potential that parcel volumes will have one final flurry of last-minute orders before Christmas.

• Volume in the Fashion sector increased again in the week with several retailers starting their seasonal sales.
• Gifting had seen a slower-than-expected start to Peak, however, volume has grown strongly as the Peak period has progressed.

• The majority of carriers will be delivering on Saturday, 23rd December and Sunday, 24th December to fully clear out their networks and deliver as many parcels as possible pre-Christmas.

• As has been the trend in previous years, we expect a transition from 2-day services to Next Day throughout this week as retailers want to remove any risk of a potential delay impacting delivery.

• Overall the very strong delivery performance we have seen throughout Peak 2023 has continued throughout the last week.
  

Peak is still ongoing but you should already be thinking about next year! This is particularly true in the world of data and personalisation. Upon reflection did you have the data you needed to truly personalise the offers and experiences you presented to your customer during Peak this year?

If you feel that you could go further next year then think about:

1. What new first or zero-party data you have collected this year that can be used over the next 12 months? How could you use it to enhance your customer experience?
2. What were you not able to do this year that would like to next Peak? Did you need more data to inform recommendations? Do you know about your customers’ preferred delivery or payment options? If not, start collecting this information so you are ready next time.
3. Having thought about what the use cases are and the data you need, think about if you have the right technology in place to deliver that enhanced experience.

• On reflection, the shape and phasing of Peak this year has not just helped the pick & pack process for retailers, it has also aided the sort and delivery capabilities of carriers.
• Overall, the very strong delivery performance we have seen throughout Peak 2023 has continued throughout the last week – it is expected that 2023 will set a new benchmark in performance for Peak in future years.