Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, shaping consumer behavior and driving sales. The number of online shoppers on Black Friday is forecast to increase by 1.5%, with in-store shopping expected to account for 7.08% of all shoppers by 2024.

Shoppers will soon flock to online stores to snag the best deals. If your tech infrastructure isn’t ready for the traffic surge, you risk not only missing out on sales but also damaging customer trust.  Here are the essential tips to ensure your online Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions run smoothly.

1. Load Testing for Peak Traffic on Black Friday

Can your technical setup handle the massive influx of Black Friday traffic? Test it in advance to avoid being caught off guard. 
Using last year’s traffic data as a baseline and doubling it in simulations can help model how your infrastructure handles unexpected surges. Simulating and stress testing your system before the big day will reveal potential bottlenecks and weaknesses. Tools like Apache JMeter or Locust are great for simulating extreme traffic scenarios and pinpointing weak spots in your system.

2. Enable Autoscaling

The best eCommerce platforms offer autoscaling that automatically adjusts resources to meet traffic demands. Autoscaling helps prevent downtime during sudden surges by increasing cloud capacity to handle traffic spikes in real time.

To get the most out of it, set up specific rules and test them thoroughly to make sure they trigger in real time under heavy load. For example, you can set a rule to automatically scale resources when CPU utilization exceeds 75%. You can typically enable autoscaling directly from your platform dashboard, where you can also monitor performance and adjust thresholds as needed.

3. Optimize Your Black Friday Checkout Flow

There’s nothing more frustrating than filling your basket with exciting Black Friday bargains, only to get blocked at checkout. Even the smallest hurdle at this stage can cause  customers to abandon their carts – costing you the sale. 

Optimizing your eCom payment systems is key to ensuring transactions go through smoothly, even under heavy traffic. Focus on minimizing the steps required to complete a purchase and offering a guest checkout option to make the process as seamless as possible. Regularly test your eCommerce checkout flow under high-traffic conditions to identify and fix potential bottlenecks before they become a problem.

What’s more, implementing a personalization strategy can enhance the checkout experience. For example, by using data from previous purchases, you could recommend complementary products or offer personalized discounts right before a customer completes their order. This approach not only boosts conversions but also creates a more tailored shopping experience, encouraging repeat purchases.

4. Optimize Database Queries

Optimizing your queries is essential for ensuring speed and reliability under heavy traffic. Here are key strategies to boost performance:

• Indexing: Use indexing to speed up data retrieval by allowing the database to find information faster without scanning entire tables.
• Query caching: Cache frequent query results to reduce load on your database by avoiding repetitive data fetching.
• Product Information Management (PIM): A robust PIM system for eCommerce can streamline operations by centralizing your product data. This ensures consistent and accurate product information across all channels, which is critical during high-traffic events like Black Friday.

5. Manage API Rate Limits

A successful Black Friday Campaign means your store will see a huge surge in API requests. Are you ready for it? If you’re not, your servers could become overwhelmed, which could also impact third-party APIs you’re relying on. With the rise of live shopping in eCommerce, your tech stack needs to handle API requests during live streams and interactive sales campaigns quickly and reliably. To ensure smooth operations, consider employing asynchronous API calls to prevent blocking and improve responsiveness. Additionally minimize your dependence on external services, as they experience the same demand spikes during Black Friday.

6. Implement Virtual Waiting Rooms

Introducing virtual waiting rooms can help prevent site overload. It puts users in a queue during peak times to manage traffic spikes. Set up and test virtual waiting rooms before Black Friday to ensure they handle traffic. If your system is too lax, it may not hold back enough to prevent downtime.

7. Implement Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

The key to reducing downtime is being ready to respond to any threats. This proactive approach requires strong real-time system monitoring to constantly keep an eye on system performance, errors, and response times. 

Setting up custom alerts for traffic spikes, slowdowns, or critical failures ensures you’re ready to act should things suddenly start to go South.

8. Collaborate With Your eCom Software Host for Extra Support

Maintaining an open line of communication with your eCommerce software host will ensure you’re leveraging all available support and monitoring.

Leading eCommerce providers help manage large order volumes and ensure transactions are processed efficiently. Whether you need help with distributed or eCommerce order management or eCommerce payment resolution issues, you can get extra support before high-traffic events like Black Friday to keep your business running smoothly.

It’s important to be ready for big events like Black Friday, but is your eCommerce platform ready for 2030?

Read the white paper to learn what the eCommerce architecture of the future will look like – and learn how you can prepare, today.