It’s that time of the year again! When numerous households in India are decorating their homes, shopping for new clothes, & buying new ornaments and all kinds of sweets & delicacies. Yes! The wedding season. The auspicious time has officially begun when many new couples will officially tie the knot. 

A wedding in our country is no less than a grand, pompous festival. The phrase ‘Big Fat Indian wedding’ exists for a reason, isn’t it? We Indians don’t shy away from displaying grandeur with whatever we have. Families are going to indulge in all kinds of purchases you can imagine this year too. Needless to say, it brings profitable opportunities to your businesses. But are you truly prepared to grab them?

If your customer offerings range from apparel to footwear to jewelry or catering to cuisines, logistic services to event management, then this article is for you. You may have a very hectic schedule during the wedding season. With orders pouring in and redoing itineraries, the wedding season requires a lot of planning on the part of the business. Handling all of this is no easy feat, and we are here to help you get the most out of this occasion.

Here are a few things that your business should be prepared to tackle the challenges – last-minute bookings, redoing orders, payment modes, cancellations, asking for complimentary offers, etc.

1. Redoing Orders

This is an extremely important event in someone’s life, so make sure you’re anticipating some sudden requests about changing orders. Wedding ceremonies are dynamic and may require spur-of-the-moment changes such as – revising the catering menu, changing the venue’s decoration, or even exchanging the apparel.  One way to tackle this is by placing a clear limit on redoing orders. Also, authorization to execute these changes should lie in a handful of managers. 

You need to communicate clearly beforehand to set healthy customer expectations. Redoing orders significantly add to the cost you incur. Documenting the changes in orders and reflecting those in the final bill can save you a lot of time and energy at the time of payment.

2. Last Minute Bookings

Honestly, most of us have experienced it at least once at a wedding. Last-minute bookings and orders are a common sight around this time. The demand and supply gap can increase in times like these. If your industry is even slightly related to the wedding scene, there is definitely a chance that you will face some kind of unforeseen order you may need to fulfill. In this case, be prepared with extra stock, service capacity, and well-trained staff & labor.

Having multiple dependable suppliers and vendors can work in your favor. The challenges of last-minute bookings can be faced with grace if you’re prepared with competent arrangements, personnel power, and a positive attitude. The upside to this situation is that you can easily command higher prices for your goods and services. 

In addition to cash & cheque, be equipped with digital facilities. This brings us to – 

3. Payment Modes

Whether your business operates online, offline, or a hybrid of the two, you must have a safe, secure, and effective payment gateway in place right now. Trends indicate that with the growth of the pandemic, cashless transactions have increased dramatically. If you operate online through an eCommerce website or an app, a payment gateway enables a seamless checkout experience for your customers whenever they transact. 

A good payment gateway supports the majority of mainstream payment modes, including credit & debit cards, net banking, UPI, mobile wallets, etc. Use a trusted gateway to curb your worries related to delayed payments, as it can easily generate payment links sharable with customers to receive instant payments. 

Even if your business isn’t digital yet, you should give your customers the option to pay digitally through scannable QR codes connected to your bank account. Thankfully, you can try a vast array of payment gateways today for all your business-related payment needs. Many of them have zero setup or monthly fees and charge some transaction fees. You must opt for a payment gateway that supports multiple payment methods, real-time bank settlements, and 128-bit encryption security. 

Accepting QR payments and single-point reconciliation make online payments a breeze. This wedding season, let the old cash and cheque system get a back seat and boost your business with the help of online payments.

4. Cancellations

Abrupt cancellations are a serious waste of your time and money. State your cancellation terms & policies in advance, so the customer is aware of what to expect. 

For example, you can request a non-refundable advance payment for your product or service that acts as a shield for monetary loss. Also, clients who cancel orders within less than 24 hours of delivery will be charged 50% or 100% of the demanded fee.

In case a cancellation is inevitable, a reliable payment gateway can save you a lot of hassle. With many payment solutions offering built-in features to handle refunds, you can instantly initiate a refund for the amount paid by cards, wallet, and UPI. This saves you and your customer from unwanted frustration.

5. Asking for Complimentary Offers

Come on now! You knew this was coming. We as Indians love bargaining and asking for gifts & freebies. There’s no occasion like the wedding season when you’ll be bombarded with requests from all kinds of customers about offers and discounts. Discounts and offers are known to lure plenty of customers to your business, given you’re ahead of them in the game. Launch a bunch of schemes to increase sales volume, so the complimentary offers don’t hurt your profits.

If you’re looking for a payment gateway that cares about generating more sales for your business this wedding season, you must do your homework, research thoroughly, and zero in on the product that suits your business needs. 

Also, most payment gateways provide you with valuable insights with built-in analytics, enabling you to make informed decisions. 

Wrapping Up

There you have it. You need to be ready for these five things this wedding season to make the most out of it. 

Let us know what tech you leverage to boost your business. The comment box is all yours!

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