Poor website integrations and fragile technology infrastructure could mean retailers risk losing out on peak trading revenues, according to the latest research from ecommerce integration platform Patchworks.

Original research of 200 UK retailers by Patchworks showed that a third (31%) fear direct revenue losses during peak trading periods, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM), due to poor integration, highlighting the material cost of fragile integrations.

Rather than being the golden opportunity it should be, BFCM is keeping retail tech leaders awake at night, with 42% admitting that concerns around platform stability during peak trading periods cause them sleepless nights.

The research also found that 58% fear poor system performance could damage brand reputation, while 40% worry that 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.

“Customers expect speed, choice and seamless experiences, yet many businesses are still relying on fragile systems that struggle under pressure,” said Jim Herbert, CEO of Patchworks. “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,” Herbert concluded.