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Did your tech support or hinder your business this Christmas?
For many retail, manufacturing, distribution and e‑commerce businesses, the Christmas period is the make‑or‑break moment of the fiscal year. Orders skyrocket, stock moves faster, customer expectations peak, and any inefficiency suddenly becomes very expensive.
Yet year after year, one issue keeps resurfacing:
Businesses are being held back, not helped, by the very ERP systems meant to keep them running smoothly.
When Demand Surges, Weak ERP Systems Show Their Cracks
During quieter months, an outdated or rigid ERP system might feel “good enough.” But when Christmas hits, the pressure exposes deeper problems. Common pain points include:
- Slow performance under peak loads
- Inflexible processes that can’t adapt to seasonal working patterns
- Poor visibility leading to costly mistakes
- Manual workarounds becoming the norm
- Integrations breaking under increased pressure
These aren’t minor inconveniences, they’re barriers to revenue, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The Hidden Cost: Lost Sales and Damaged Reputation
Customers don’t care that it’s your busiest period. They expect:
- Fast delivery
- Accurate stock levels
- Clear communication
- Seamless experiences
When your ERP can’t keep up, customers notice:
- Delays
- Cancelled orders
- Incorrect shipments
- Lack of updates
- Disjointed experiences
And they remember.
Christmas 2025: A Record Season. But Did Your Tech Cope?
With online spending continuing to climb, this past festive season put enormous pressure on business systems:
- £26.9bn spent online between 1 Nov–31 Dec 2025, 8.4% growth vs Q4 2024
- December online sales increased 11.1% YoY
- Businesses typically see a 55% sales boost in Nov–Dec compared with September
- 44% of SMEs rely on Christmas for over a quarter of annual revenue
- Online accounted for 28.3% of all UK retail sales in December 2025
- UK shoppers spent £3.8bn online during Black Friday–Cyber Monday (up 4.6% YoY)
- 61.5% of online Christmas spending happened on mobile, over £16.5bn in revenue.
With volumes at record highs, the question is simple:
Did your ERP and supporting systems keep up, or hold you back?
Christmas Should Be a Stress Test, Not a Crisis
High‑performing businesses saw Christmas 2025 as an opportunity, not a threat, because their systems were ready for it. Their ERP platforms:
- Scale effortlessly during peak trading
- Provide real‑time visibility
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Support seasonal workflows
- Integrate seamlessly with sales channels, couriers and suppliers
- Empower teams rather than frustrate them
If that doesn’t sound like your current setup, you’re not alone—and you’re not stuck.
A More Flexible Future Is Possible
The right ERP should fit your business, not force your business to fit it.
It should adapt just as easily to your busiest periods as your quiet ones.
Most importantly, it should enable growth, not hinder it.
If Christmas exposed the shortcomings of your current system, consider it a valuable signal. Now is the perfect time to explore a more flexible and scalable ERP solution, one that helps you thrive during peak trading, year after year.