October 16, 2025 
Festival season is upon us and the clock has run out on planning. With the ₹1 Lakh Crore ($12 Billion) festive e-commerce rush starting now—and major sales events imminent—you must shift from strategy to immediate execution. Success in managing massive volumes, Quick Commerce speed, and Tier 2/3 reach depends on the immediate readiness of your integrated Order Management System-Warehouse Management System. Failing to execute on the OMS-WMS strategy now will result in lost revenue and a poor customer experience in a season where customer patience is decreasing.
This checklist is your priority action list for the final 30 days of preparation and immediate execution into the peak season.
Phase 1: Critical System & Scalability Validation (Immediate Action)
This phase verifies that your technology is not just planned but activated and tested for the incoming volume surge.
| Checklist Item | Immediate Action & Goal | Rationale from Data |
| Final Load Test (30% Threshold) | CONFIRM the successful stress-test of your entire tech stack (OMS, WMS, website) to handle a minimum of 30% volume growth over 2024 peak order rates. | Total GMV is projected to cross the ₹1 Lakh Crore milestone, demanding system capacity is ready and available. |
| System Failover & Rollback Plan | SIMULATE the manual/failover process for key system components (e.g., WMS down, major API failure) and secure dedicated emergency engineering capacity. | Ensures operational continuity. A perfect tech deployment includes a tested plan for when, inevitably,
something fails. |
| Product Data Accuracy & Mapping | AUDIT & LOCK all SKU mapping, pricing, and mandatory listing data in your OMS to ensure accuracy and prevent overselling/pricing errors across channels. | Inaccurate product data leads to order cancellations and RTOs, directly impacting profitability during the high-volume rush. |
| Real-Time Channel Activation | VERIFY all real-time API integrations between your centralized OMS and major marketplaces (Flipkart, Amazon) are live and stable. | Marketplaces remain the largest GMV drivers, and centralized OMS integration is critical for instant order routing and inventory updates. |
| Micro-Fulfillment GO-LIVE | ACTIVATE all micro-fulfillment centers or hyper-local dark stores and ensure they are integrated with the order routing engine. | Volume from Quick Commerce has surged over 85% year-on-year, making hyper-local fulfillment an immediate operational need. |
Phase 2: Inventory & Logistics Activation (This Week)
Focus on final inventory placement and carrier security for volume and high-value goods.
| Checklist Item | Immediate Action & Goal | Rationale from Data |
| Procurement & Stock Level Alignment | CONFIRM that procurement is complete and inventory planning is fully geared to meet forecasted demand and required stock levels. | Adequate stock is the single most important factor for capitalizing on the projected volume growth and preventing revenue loss from stockouts. |
| Tier 2/3 Carrier Final Mile Check | CONFIRM all contracts, routes, and operational readiness with carriers for Tier 2 and Tier 3 last-mile networks. | These cities account for approximately 58% of total festive transactions, requiring reliable reach for volume growth. |
| High-Value Security Protocol Lockdown | ENFORCE enhanced security, insurance protocols, and specialized packing stations for high-value Electronics and Mobiles. | Handling premium products carefully is key, with sales of smartphones above ₹20,000 surging 50%, making loss prevention critical. |
| Localized Inventory Positioning | FINALIZE demand forecasting execution by pre-positioning high-velocity products and specialized Groceries/FMCG inventory in micro-fulfillment centers. | Groceries (44% YoY) and Appliances (41% YoY) are the fastest-growing major categories. |
| D2C Premium Stations Operational | DEDICATE and staff fulfillment stations for D2C/Brand website orders (Beauty & Wellness) with all necessary premium packaging inserts.
“PRE-PRINT” D2C branded labels and inserts to prevent packing delays, ensuring speed for this fast-growing channel (which recorded a 31% increase in volumes ) |
Brand websites recorded a 31% increase in volumes, requiring focus on brand experience. |
Phase 3: Risk and Profit Protection (Execution Phase)
These actions must be live and operational before the first wave of sales hits to protect profitability.
| Checklist Item | Immediate Action & Goal | Rationale from Data |
| COD RTO Prevention LIVE | ACTIVATE mandatory pre-shipping confirmation (SMS/automated phone call) in your OMS for all COD orders. | COD purchases surged by over 35% in preference, making this fraud/RTO mitigation mandatory for logistics cost control. |
| AOV Priority Rules Active | ACTIVATE the picking and packing priority rules in your OMS to automatically favor high-value orders for dispatch and tracking. | Consumers are trading up, meaning AOV orders must be prioritized to secure revenue. |
| Reverse Logistics Staffing | STAFF and TRAIN dedicated teams for the reverse logistics process to inspect and restock returned apparel quickly, minimizing post-season loss. | Fashion & Lifestyle is the category with the highest return rate, requiring efficient post-sale processing. |
The Final Takeaway: The exponential growth of quick commerce shows that customer patience is decreasing. Your integrated Order Management Software-Warehouse Management Software must be deployed now to deliver the speed, accuracy, and channel flexibility needed to win this ₹1 Lakh Crore festive season. Execution is everything.
