As we approach Black Friday and peak trading season, retailers face a familiar challenge: the “last mile” of their tech stack performance. High volumes can push even well-oiled systems to their limits, and if any component fails, it can disrupt the entire customer experience. Here’s how to proactively ensure your tech stack can handle increased traffic and transaction volumes to maintain smooth business operations.

For the past two years, the lingering effects of logistics challenges, like the Royal Mail strike in 2022 across the UK in particular, have left a lasting impact, underscoring the need for alternative delivery solutions and stronger logistics partnerships. Retailers are now going the extra mile to diversify and strengthen carrier relationships, ensuring they have multiple options to keep deliveries on time and avoid disruptions when peak trading puts their systems under maximum strain.

1. Load Testing for High Volumes

In preparation for peak trading periods, running comprehensive load testing across all systems is essential. By simulating high traffic, retailers can identify potential bottlenecks and weak points in their tech stack. This approach offers the opportunity to address issues well in advance, from slow response times to potential crashes. For a seamless experience, consider testing across critical touch points such as inventory, payment processing, and order management.

2. Optimising the eCommerce Integration Layer

A critical component of last-mile resilience is the integration layer that connects systems like ERP, CMS, PIM, and WMS. With an iPaaS solution like Patchworks, retailers can use pre-built connectors and real-time data syncs to automate workflows and avoid manual processes that slow operations. Automation at this level ensures that every piece of data, from stock levels to customer information, flows accurately and efficiently between systems, reducing the risk of delays or errors during high volumes.

3. Scaling Infrastructure Dynamically

With fluctuating customer demand during peak times, cloud-based infrastructure provides a flexible and scalable foundation for any tech stack. By leveraging auto-scaling options, businesses can automatically adjust capacity as needed to maintain speed and reliability without manual intervention. For retailers with extensive product catalogues or high transaction volumes, cloud scalability is crucial to handling peak traffic while maintaining performance.

4. Implementing Real-Time Monitoring

To detect issues before they escalate, real-time monitoring is a must. With tools that provide a unified view of system performance, Patchworks enables teams to monitor each integration in real-time, allowing for swift identification and resolution of issues. Proactive monitoring helps prevent downtime by flagging irregularities early and facilitating immediate intervention, ensuring that every part of your tech stack performs optimally under pressure.

5. Establishing Data Backups and Recovery Protocols

Data integrity is a top priority during peak trading. Set up automated backups and disaster recovery protocols to protect customer and business data against potential loss or corruption. An iPaaS solution with centralised data management and secure backup options can help minimise disruptions, enabling rapid recovery in the event of a system failure.

6. Testing Customer Journeys

Finally, map and test all customer journeys from browsing to checkout. Each stage of the journey should be stress-tested for usability and load-handling capacity, identifying any points where systems might slow or fail under heavy load. By focusing on end-to-end testing, retailers can ensure an uninterrupted, user-friendly experience during peak trading times.

With the right preparations, retailers can make their tech stack resilient enough to handle the high-stakes, high-volume demands of the peak season. Patchworks’ integration platform can support these efforts by providing robust, flexible, and scalable solutions that minimise risk and maximise uptime, allowing brands to confidently tackle peak season with a tech stack built for the challenge.