The Q1 2026 Operations & Fulfilment Roadmap
A 90-day sprint to fix, switch & scale
The Q4 dust has settled. Whether you hit your revenue targets or missed them, the operational cost of getting there is now visible.
Most brands treat Q1 as a recovery period. They lick their wounds and wait for spring. But for high-growth operations leaders, Q1 is the most critical strategic window of the year.
It is the only time in the calendar where volume is low enough to safely overhaul broken infrastructure without risking revenue. This guide is your 90-day sprint plan to take you out of reactive fire-fighting mode and into proactive strategic planning.
THE GOLDEN WINDOW
Operational risk is directly correlated to order volume
In January and February, order volumes are typically at their lowest. This creates a “Golden Window” to execute strategic projects like migrating 3PLs, integrating a new ERP, or overhauling inventory logic, with minimal disruption.
JANUARY: THE RECOVERY
(THE AUTOPSY – CASH & DATA INTEGRITY)
Run the “Zeroed Variance Report”
Don’t settle for “acceptable” shrinkage. Demand a raw variance report from Q4. Did stock physically vanish, or was it a data sync error? If your WMS doesn’t match your storefront, you are flying blind.
The Dead Stock Detox
Storage fees on stagnant inventory are silent profit killers. Identify SKUs with <10 turns in the last 6 months. Bundle them, discount them, or liquidate them. Stop paying rent on dead weight.
Returns Triage
The longer a return sits, the less it’s worth. Clear the Q4 backlog immediately. If a return isn’t inspected and back online (or written off) within 48 hours, your reverse logistics process is broken.
FEBRUARY: THE RESET
(THE INFRASTRUCTURE FIX – THE SWITCH)
The “Switching Window”
If your 3PL choked during Peak – missing cut-offs, drowning in backlog, or ghosting your team – move ASAP. February and March are the safest months to migrate warehouses.
Tech Stack Alignment
Overselling happens when data lags. Ensure your ERP, WMS, and Shopify/ Magento instances are syncing inventory in real-time. Stress-test these integrations now, not in November.
Carrier Renegotiation
Don’t accept 2026 rate hikes blindly. Use your consolidated Q4 volume data to negotiate better terms. If you are growing, you should be paying less per unit, not more.
MARCH: THE LAUNCHPAD
(THE EXPANSION PREP – UNIT ECONOMICS)
International Readiness Opening new territories?
Validate your HS Codes and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) setup now. Nothing kills customer LTV faster than a surprise customs bill at the doorstep.
Unboxing Refresh
Review your dimensional weight. Are you shipping air? Optimizing packaging size by even 10% can have a massive impact on net margin across the year.
Capacity Lock-In
Finalise your H1 growth forecasts and get a written capacity commitment from your logistics partner. Don’t assume the space will be there when you need it.
OPERATIONS & FULFILLMENT IS A GROWTH ENGINE – WE’D LOVE TO HELP BUILD YOURS!
Many e-commerce brands treat operations as a cost centre – something to be minimised. Brands that win treat operations as a competitive advantage – an engine to be optimised.
Book a Q1 strategy call today to discuss your current set-up and biggest challenges.
Prolog Fulfilment is a UK-based 3PL built for growing ecommerce brands. We handle pick, pack, multi-carrier delivery, B2B/ retail drops, value-add/ kitting and returns, personalisation, bonded goods, and cross-border deliveries – all tied together with real-time dashboards and clean integrations to leading e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, marketplaces).
We’re trusted by over 150 brands. We operate 24 hour from 2 UK sites, and typically onboard new clients in 4 weeks with clear SLAs. If you want a partner that’s hands-on in the warehouse and transparent in the numbers, we’d love to talk.
