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Waterstones says it is making headway with the backlog of orders it is facing after installing new warehouse technology, but is warning its supply will be additionally impacted by the planned Royal Mail strikes.
The retailer has been battling problems since July, when it upgraded its stock distribution technology to Blue Yonder, causing a build-up of orders to bookshops.
Chief operating officer Kate Skipper told The Bookseller its hub has now increased its volumes, though levels have yet to return to those expected for this time of year. With the added impact of the strike, the retailer is lengthening its despatch periods in the lead-up to the busy Christmas period.
“We continue to work through the physical backlog and Blue Yonder to work on the data backlog,” she said. “Until this is completed, the backlogs continue to impact efficiency and to cause issues within the system which the [Blue Yonder] team need to address.
“Supply for waterstones.com has been additionally impacted by the Royal Mail strikes so, while most e-commerce orders are being processed within regular lead times, advertised despatch periods have been lengthened to guard against customer disappointment.”
Royal Mail held a large-scale walk-out on 25th October as part of an ongoing disagreement over pay and working conditions. Staff who are represented by the Communication Workers Union are holding a series of strikes across October and November.
The Bookseller has previously reported on Waterstones’ efforts to ramp up publishers’ stock delivery direct to its branches amid ongoing concerns about key books missing from stores, the impact on authors and titles from indie presses not making it into branches.