Supply Chain Leaders Express Confidence Ahead of Peak Labor Demands

Nearly 84% of respondents to Deposco’s Peak Season Confidence Report 2025 survey express confidence in their fulfillment systems for 2025—a remarkable turnaround from the 28-point confidence gap that plagued the industry in 2024, when 70% of executives entered peak season confident but only 42% achieved successful performance.

Yet, only 46% expect 2025 to be more challenging than 2024, compared to 77% who anticipated increased difficulty last year.

"This shift from reactive tactics to proactive strategy extends across all operational areas," says Josh Lett, SVP of customer experience at Deposco. "Organizations are no longer asking 'How do we survive this peak season?' but rather: 'How do we build capabilities that make us stronger regardless of what peak season brings?'"

Key takeaways:

·        Top priorities: 34% are building supply chain resilience; 34% are improving forecasting accuracy; and 72% are actively diversifying their supplier base away from risk concentrations—the highest-priority disruption mitigation strategy identified.

·        76% expect to outperform competitors, while 66% anticipate better profit margins despite ongoing cost pressures.

·        Leaders are prioritizing technology investments that have evolved from experimental adoption to strategic integration: 32% prioritize real-time cost tracking and margin analysis leads improvement priorities; 30% focus on multi-region supplier management and risk assessment; and 30% prioritize technology integration for data visibility.

·        Companies are emphasizing workforce optimization alongside investments in strategic capabilities: 88% are cross-training existing workers for maximum flexibility; 78% are hiring seasonal workers earlier to ensure adequate training time; and 76% are increasing compensation to attract and retain quality talent.