As holiday season approaches, new research suggests that fear of tech failure during BFCM (Black Friday Cyber Monday) is – literally – keeping retail tech leaders up at night. According to a new study by Patchworks, a leading integration platform for retail and ecommerce, 42% of retail tech leaders admit peak periods cause sleepless nights as they worry about platform stability.
The risk of reputational damage is also a serious concern, with 58% of those surveyed fearing poor system performance could damage brand reputation, while 40% worry platforms will be pushed to breaking point. For 43%, the concern is even more acute, with fears that a single surge in demand could bring their business to a standstill.
Patching through spikes
Almost half of brands are still patching their way through sales spikes. Half (48%) say they rely on temporary workarounds to survive peaks, while 39% admit their teams spend more time firefighting integrations than optimising seasonal highs. Alarmingly, 31% acknowledge direct revenue losses during busy trading periods because of poor integration.
With peak trading accounting for as much as 30-50% of yearly revenue – and British consumers planning to spend nearly half of their holiday shopping budgets during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to Coveo’s 2025 UK Holiday Shopper Report – it’s clear why tech failures can cause such headaches for retail leaders.
“Fragile systems”
Jim Herbert, CEO of Patchworks, says the data shows why business leaders cannot afford to rely on “fragile systems” at such an important time in the retail calendar. “The data underlines a challenge facing the whole retail sector. Customers expect speed, choice and seamless experiences, yet many businesses are still relying on fragile systems that struggle under pressure,” he warns. “When peak trading hits, that fragility turns into lost sales and reputational risk. What we’re seeing is a clear shift. The retailers who come out on top aren’t just the ones offering big discounts, but the ones whose operations can scale smoothly with demand.”
With so much riding on peak trading periods, there’s no question that internet retailers need tech stacks they can depend on. Failure in this department can cost the business dear. Retailers that invest in robust integrations and scalable infrastructure ahead of BFCM will be better placed to meet demand, protect their brand, and make the most of the golden quarter – and maybe even enjoy some quality sleep during BFCM!
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