The holiday season is an excuse for many to go out and have a drink or two and a bite to eat at their favorite restaurants. While this is a great thing for business if you’re in the hospitality industry, the universal influx of demand could also take a toll on your supply chain.

You have to be strategic if you want to avoid the typical supply chain disruptions that hit many restaurants this time of year, especially considering Americans tend to order around. 440 extra calories per serving during the holidays.

With that in mind, let’s explore seven ways to avoid supply chain disruptions this Christmas to keep entertaining running smoothly.

Diversify your relationships with your suppliers

If you rely solely on one supplier, you will be fine throughout the year, but at Christmas, when demand is at an all-time high, you may face problems beyond your control, which can affect your supply chain.

To avoid this problem, it’s best to diversify your supplier relationships so you have a buffer in case of supply chain issues during the holiday season. Even if you prefer one or two trusted providers, you can always have lists of backup providers, so you know who to turn to in times of need.

Invest in smart inventory management

With approximately 11 percent of the US hotel sector Expecting significant shortages this holiday season means you should expect a level of demand similar to that of a restaurateur.

This is when inventory management becomes crucial if you want to ensure that your restaurant will operate at full capacity throughout the holiday season.

However, this doesn’t require a complete inventory overhaul; instead, you can use a good restaurant POS to deploy smart inventory management practices.

A good restaurant outlet can provide you with:

• Real-time tracking
• Predictive analytics
• Automated replenishment

All of these elements can help you avoid stock shortages, carry out strategic forecastsand stay on top of your inventory needs. Most POS systems will signal when certain inventory is low with automated alerts and can be programmed to reorder so you can meet consumer demand.

Implement advanced forecasting techniques

Predictive planning can get you out of alarming supply chain issues before they arise.

If consumer concerns are to be believed, you will run into supply chain issues unless you are prepared, as you just have to be. 17 percent of consumers are not at all affected by stock shortages during the holiday season.

By leveraging historical data and considering current market trends, you can forecast future demand and ensure you are fully prepared for the holiday season.

The right advanced forecasting solution will allow you to anticipate seasonal fluctuations in demand, adjust your menu based on the availability of certain ingredients, and make informed purchasing decisions based on past point-of-sale data.

Embrace technology-driven flexibility

To succeed as a restaurant in the modern age, you need to take advantage of technology that gives you a certain degree of flexibility.

For example, you can invest in a cloud-based point-of-sale system, which will allow you to manage your inventory remotely and stay on top of demand. You can also establish secure digital communication channels with suppliers to help you streamline orders and track deliveries.

Data shows that better prevention and rapid response to supply chain problems can save organizations an average of $37 million annually.

Adapt your seasonal menu

Being flexible with your menu this time of year is a good idea if you’re concerned that seasonal demand will put pressure on your supply chain.

If you have a modular menu design, where you can easily swap ingredients based on availability, you can stay prepared throughout the year, regardless of the season.

Alternatively, you can develop your menu around seasonal ingredients that customers are more likely to want during the holiday season.

Additionally, remember to use historical data to predict which ingredients are most likely to be affected by supply chain issues this Christmas.

Stay in touch with your suppliers

Maintaining clear and transparent communication with your suppliers is a great way to cope with increased demand during the holiday season.

Schedule regular check-ins and use an integrated point-of-sale system that allows you to communicate directly with your suppliers to avoid any unforeseen issues. Work with your suppliers to create contingency plans for potential long-term disruptions.

Invest in staff training

Your technology and relationships with your suppliers will determine, to a large extent, how prepared you are to deal with potential supply chain issues this Christmas. But what about your staff?

By training staff on new point-of-sale technologies and raising awareness among the ranks about inventory management, you can avoid a bottleneck forming around the company’s key decision-makers.

Confidently manage increased demand at Christmas

The holiday season doesn’t have to be a time of increased stress for restaurateurs. By setting up a good restaurant point of sale, working on your supplier relationships and training staff in inventory management, you can navigate this busy period with confidence.

Rebecca Barnatt Smith talks about all things technology. Writing for popular publications like Real Business and Maddyness, she writes about the power of growing your business using the latest technological innovations and how the digital world continues to change hotel strategies across the globe.