Ecommerce Order Fulfillment Process and Options Explained

Ecommerce order fulfillment is a critical process that can make or break a customer's experience with your online store. A well-executed fulfillment process ensures that orders are accurately and efficiently processed, packed, and shipped to customers.

For small businesses, outsourcing fulfillment to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider can be a cost-effective option, with costs starting at around $5 per order. This can be especially beneficial for businesses with high shipping volumes or limited resources.

However, for larger businesses or those with complex shipping needs, in-house fulfillment may be a better option, allowing for more control over the process and potentially saving money in the long run.

The order fulfillment process is a crucial step in getting products to your customers quickly and efficiently. It involves several distinct steps, including order receipt, verification, inventory check, payment verification, and order fulfillment.

Order receipt is the first step, where the order details are received electronically, generating a work order. The order information is then forwarded to the eCommerce fulfillment center for processing.

The order verification step is where the fulfillment team reviews the order details to ensure all necessary information is complete and accurate, including verifying the customer's contact details, shipping address, product selection, quantities, and any special instructions or requests.

Inventory check is another critical step, where the inventory management system is checked to determine the availability of the ordered items, confirming whether the products are in stock or if any items are backordered or out of stock.

Payment verification is also essential, where the payment associated with the order is verified to ensure it has been successfully processed and received, preventing fraud and ensuring the order can proceed to the next stage.

Here are the main steps in the order fulfillment process:

By streamlining the order fulfillment process, you can get products to your customers faster and improve their overall experience. This can be achieved by utilizing order management systems, integrating payment gateways, and implementing fraud detection measures to minimize risks.

Receiving and Warehousing are two crucial steps in the ecommerce order fulfillment process. Receiving involves getting your products into inventory quickly and accurately, ideally within one to two days of arrival. This is where you'll catch any damage or discrepancies that may have occurred during transit.

A dedicated receiving bay with advance shipping notices (ASNs) helps streamline the process. The warehouse should check the shipment's contents against the ASN to prevent inventory errors. Thorough inbound processes are essential to prevent stockouts and missed sales.

Warehousing ecommerce products means managing stock in a dynamic space where goods move in and out quickly. This is not a dusty library of rarely moved products, but rather a hub of activity where inventory turns over rapidly.

To give you a better idea of the receiving process, here's a step-by-step overview:

Receiving is a crucial step in the order fulfillment process. It's where your products arrive at the warehouse, and it's essential to get it right to prevent inventory errors.

You should provide an advance shipping notice (ASN) to the warehouse, telling them the contents of your shipment and when it will arrive. This ensures that workers are available to unload your merchandise and log it into the WMS quickly.

Receiving is the best place to find goods damaged in transit or SKU discrepancies. Thorough inbound processes prevent inventory errors.

Many ecommerce warehouses fall short in receiving. If pallets sit on a loading dock, your products aren't in inventory, and you may miss out on sales.

Here are the key steps involved in receiving goods:

A 3PL best practice is to check the shipment's contents against the ASN. This helps ensure that your products are accurately recorded and prevents inventory errors.

Warehousing is a dynamic process where goods move in and out of a dedicated space, turning over quickly. This is in contrast to a dusty library of rarely moved products.

A fulfillment warehouse is not just a storage space, but a hub where inventory is managed and orders are fulfilled efficiently.

If you choose to fulfill orders in-house, your inventory must be on-hand, ready to be shipped out immediately.

Optimizing your fulfillment operation based on where your customers reside will help you reach the most people in the most cost-efficient manner.

Shipping orders to customers from rural areas or from one side of the country to another can be expensive and time-consuming.

Urban fulfillment centers are on the rise as they allow merchants to quickly and affordably ship to customers in big cities with large populations.

Distributing inventory to multiple locations that are within close proximity of your customers can significantly reduce shipping costs and time in transit.

Picking and packing are crucial steps in the ecommerce order fulfillment process. A well-executed picking and packing process ensures that customer orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately.

Picking involves selecting the items for a single order from the warehouse shelves. Pickers use pick lists or packing slips generated by the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to retrieve the items. In small warehouses or in-house operations, pickers may pick each order individually, while larger operations group orders with the same SKUs or in the same warehouse zone.

A best practice for order processing is to pick and pack customer orders the same day the customer places them or the next day at the latest. This helps meet customer expectations for fast order shipping times and prevents backlogs that can feel like shipping delays.

Picking can be done in different ways, including picking each order individually or grouping orders with the same SKUs or in the same warehouse zone. The WMS plays a crucial role in generating pick lists or packing slips to help pickers retrieve the correct items.

After picking, the items are taken to the packing station where they are packaged for shipment. Packagers select the right box size, add infill to keep items from moving during shipping, seal the box, and apply the shipping label.

Here are some common methods of picking:

It's essential to maintain a balance between picking and packing to ensure that orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately.

Order Management is a crucial aspect of ecommerce order fulfillment. It helps speed up order processing and reduce mistakes in both fulfillment and purchase.

A suitable Order Management System (OMS) is essential for ecommerce businesses, as it updates multiple sales channels with the right inventory levels. It usually comes with inventory management features that keep track of stock via inventory and warehouse management systems.

Data visibility and analytics are also essential for efficient order management. Real-time data tracking and analytics provide valuable insights into inventory levels, order trends, customer preferences, and operational performance.

Here are some key features to look for in an OMS:

Data analyticsProvides valuable insights into inventory levels, order trends, customer preferences, and operational performance

A good OMS can help ecommerce businesses streamline operations, reduce costs, and effectively meet customer expectations.

You've got options when it comes to fulfilling ecommerce orders. For small operations, in-house fulfillment might be the way to go, allowing for absolute control and lower upfront costs. However, this can be time-consuming and may become costly in the long-term.

There are three common methods of order fulfillment: in-house, dropshipping, and third-party fulfillment. In-house fulfillment is suitable for small to large companies, while dropshipping is ideal for those who want to minimize inventory risks and overheads. Third-party fulfillment is a good option for businesses that want to outsource their order processing.

Here are the key differences between these options:

Offering multiple shipping options is a great way to cater to different customer preferences and increase customer satisfaction. This can include options like standard, express, overnight, or even same-day delivery in certain areas.

By collaborating with multiple shipping carriers and logistics providers, businesses can offer a range of shipping options that meet the needs of their customers. For example, a business may offer free shipping when customers order above a certain dollar amount.

Here are some ways to offer multiple shipping options:

For instance, a business may offer standard shipping for free, but charge for expedited shipping. Alternatively, they may offer free shipping on orders above a certain dollar amount.

The key is to provide options that meet the needs of your customers, while also ensuring that your business remains profitable. By offering multiple shipping options, you can stay competitive in the market and increase customer satisfaction.

Amazon FBA is an ecommerce fulfillment service that gives you access to Amazon's vast logistics network. It ships orders from Amazon Marketplace, as well as other ecommerce platforms.

Using Amazon FBA gives you access to Amazon Prime shipping, but it has downsides for many businesses. FBA warehouses limit space, particularly during peak selling seasons.

Amazon FBA requires a minimum sales velocity that smaller vendors can't always meet. This can be a barrier for businesses with slower sales.

FBA doesn't ship oversized or bulky products, which can be a limitation for businesses that sell these types of items.

Dropshipping offers a low-risk way to start an online business, as you don't need to hold inventory or worry about inventory levels. This means you can focus on growing other areas of your business.

You won't need to store physical products, maintain a dispatch process, or pay for inventory upfront, which can be a huge money-saver. This allows you to use that money to grow your business in other ways.

With dropshipping, you don't hold inventory, so you don't need to worry about inventory theft or overselling. That's a big relief!

One of the biggest benefits of dropshipping is its scalability. If your sales double, your suppliers will bear the brunt of increased volumes and order processing, meaning you can grow your business without any hindrance.

However, there are some downsides to consider. Suppliers may charge a premium to use your branding on their packages, which can eat into your margins. And, you may need to deal with customer service issues, which can be a lot of extra work.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when it comes to dropshipping:

And here are some potential downsides to consider:

Ecommerce order fulfillment can be a complex process, but it also offers many benefits. One of the main advantages is that it allows businesses to increase their sales and revenue by reaching a wider customer base.

The ability to offer fast and reliable shipping is a key factor in customer satisfaction, with 75% of customers expecting to receive their orders within 3-5 business days.

By streamlining their order fulfillment process, businesses can reduce costs and increase efficiency, freeing up resources to focus on other areas of the business.

However, ecommerce order fulfillment also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is managing inventory levels, with 60% of businesses struggling to keep track of their stock levels.

To overcome these challenges, businesses need to invest in technology and systems that can help them manage their order fulfillment process more effectively.

Maintaining accurate inventory levels is crucial to avoid stockouts or overstock situations. This can lead to lost sales or increased holding costs.

Managing inventory across different warehouses or fulfillment centers adds complexity to the process. It's challenging to keep track of inventory levels in multiple locations.

Order accuracy and meeting delivery timelines are essential for customer satisfaction. Errors in picking, packing, or shipping can result in incorrect products or delayed deliveries and increased returns.

High order volumes during peak seasons put pressure on fulfillment operations. Ensuring order accuracy and meeting delivery timelines is crucial to prevent this pressure from building up.

Ecommerce order fulfillment is not always as straightforward as it seems. Unexpected challenges may arise that can prevent a business from scaling and orders from getting out on time.

Stockouts or overstock situations can result in lost sales or increased holding costs. Managing inventory levels is a top priority for ecommerce merchants.

Seasonal and event fluctuations can wreak havoc on your order fulfillment process. Certain products spike in popularity at specific times of the year, leading to inconsistencies in shipping volumes. This can make it difficult to fulfill orders on time.

If you're not prepared, you might find yourself overwhelmed with a sudden surge in orders. For instance, if you usually process 100 SKUs per day, but that number jumps to 350 in the lead-up to Black Friday, you'll need to have a plan in place to handle the increased volume.

Outsourcing fulfillment can be a solution to this problem.

Logistics is a crucial part of ecommerce order fulfillment, and it's essential to get it right to ensure smooth delivery of products to customers.

Shipping carriers play a vital role in getting your inventory where it needs to be, so choose one that's reliable and efficient.

The order is shipped once it's packed, and it's handed over to the shipping carrier for delivery to the customer address, which can be the customer or another retailer for wholesale orders.

Providing real-time order tracking information is key to keeping customers informed about the status and location of their packages, and it can be achieved through email notifications, SMS alerts, or an online tracking portal.

Collaborating with shipping carriers that provide robust tracking capabilities is essential to minimize customer inquiries and create a sense of trust and reliability.

By integrating tracking information from various carriers into a centralized tracking system, you can streamline the process and enhance the customer experience.

Tracking information is usually provided to the customer, so they can monitor delivery progress and stay up-to-date on the status of their order.

Technology and automation can significantly improve ecommerce order fulfillment efficiency. Automating manual processes can reduce errors and increase productivity. Mistakes can happen in any part of the fulfillment process, and they can affect the customer experience.

By leveraging ecommerce automation through integrations, data can be automatically sent to the fulfillment provider without manual intervention. This can help prevent problems caused by misreading packing slips or prioritizing the wrong orders. Using fulfillment software to route orders to the closest fulfillment center to the customer is a smart way to automate the order fulfillment process.

Some ways to automate your order fulfillment process include using bar code scanners to find the location of inventory, sending an order tracking link to the customer, and utilizing software and tools for order processing, inventory management, and shipping label generation. Automation can handle repetitive tasks with precision, reducing errors and increasing productivity.

Technology integrations are a critical element of your fulfillment operations. A seamless link between your WMS and your ecommerce platform ensures that orders get to your warehouse for fast fulfillment and warehouse inventory data transfers back to your systems.

There are several integration options when working with a 3PL: plugin, middleware, and API. A plugin is a fast, easy, direct connection between an ecommerce platform like Shopify and your 3PL's WMS, requiring no programming or cost. Middleware connections, on the other hand, require a monthly licensing fee and no customization.

A custom connection or API has no ongoing costs, but you'll need to invest in development costs and time upfront. API to WMS connections provide fast data transfer and can be tailored to your business.

To connect your fulfillment warehouse to all your sales channels, you need to integrate your ecommerce platform with your WMS. This will enable you to provide an omnichannel customer experience.

Here are some common integration options:

Integrating your ecommerce platform with your WMS is essential for efficient order fulfillment. By automating the process, you can reduce manual errors and increase speed.

Businesses are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to reduce their environmental impact. This shift towards eco-friendliness is driven by customers who prioritize sustainability.

Ecommerce fulfillment processes can be optimized to use sustainable packaging materials, such as biodegradable or recycled materials. This can significantly reduce waste and minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with traditional packaging.

Optimizing packaging sizes is another effective way to minimize waste. By using packaging that is specifically designed to fit the item being shipped, businesses can reduce unnecessary packaging materials and save on costs.

Alternative delivery methods, such as electric vehicles and bike couriers, are also being explored to reduce carbon emissions. These methods not only reduce emissions but also provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver packages.

Sustainable fulfillment practices are not only good for the environment, but they also contribute to cost savings and enhance brand reputation. By adopting eco-friendly practices, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and appeal to customers who share these values.

Customer expectations have shifted dramatically in recent years. With e-commerce giants like Amazon raising the bar, customers now expect their items within 48 hours on average.

Today, 72% of shoppers value on-time delivery as the primary reason to frequent a retailer above all else. This is a stark contrast to nine years ago, when customers would happily wait 5.5 days for items to be delivered.

Customers are also willing to pay for same-day or faster delivery, with 88% of consumers willing to do so. This highlights the importance of efficient order fulfillment in retaining customers and driving sales.

Customer expectations have changed dramatically in recent years. With e-commerce giants like Amazon setting the bar high, efficient order fulfillment is now crucial for retailers.

Nine years ago, customers were happy to wait 5.5 days for delivery, but now they expect items within 48 hours on average. This is a significant shift that retailers need to adapt to.

88% of consumers are willing to pay for same-day or faster delivery, showing just how much they value speed. This is a huge opportunity for retailers to differentiate themselves and attract customers.

The ability to satisfy a customer's needs through order fulfillment can make or break their decision to place an order. In fact, 72% of shoppers value on-time delivery as the primary reason to frequent a retailer.

However, poor delivery experiences can have serious consequences. 38% of shoppers will never shop with a retailer again if they have a bad delivery experience, and 25% have even canceled an order due to slow delivery speeds.

Here are some key statistics that highlight the importance of order fulfillment:

Locating your customers can significantly impact shipping costs and delivery times. This is because the location of your inventory in relation to your customers can affect the miles traveled by packages.

Jason Wong, CEO of Doe Lashes, places inventory near cities where customers are placing orders to reduce shipping costs. By doing so, he's able to keep costs down and delivery times fast.

If a large portion of your customer base is far from your headquarters, outsourcing fulfillment to a provider with a warehouse closer to them might be a good option. This can help cut delivery times and save on shipping costs.

Elizabeth Grojean, founder of Baloo Living, saw a significant reduction in delivery times and shipping costs by opening a fulfillment center on the East Coast. By shipping products from the East Coast, she was able to cut delivery times almost in half and save on shipping costs.

To optimize your ecommerce order fulfillment process, it's essential to choose the right strategy. Businesses can optimize eCommerce fulfillment to improve operational efficiency, which enhances customer satisfaction and drives business growth.

Consider using technology to streamline your process. An order management system (OMS) can help speed up order processing and reduce mistakes in both fulfillment and purchase, while an inventory management system (IMS) is crucial for keeping track of stock via inventory and warehouse management systems.

Here are some tech solutions to consider:

By implementing these strategies and best practices, you can improve your order fulfillment process and get products to your customers faster.

Outsourcing your ecommerce order fulfillment is an economical way to meet your business needs as you grow and expand. This can help you save time and resources that would otherwise be spent on managing logistics and order processing.

Outsourcing to a 3PL can help you improve your order processing operations by leveraging the experience of logistics professionals who work with many companies.

Partnering with the right 3PL can accelerate your business growth, freeing your time to focus on product development and marketing.

Automating your ecommerce order fulfillment with a 3PL can be like adding a new, expert team to your company overnight, allowing you to focus on what matters most.

To optimize your eCommerce fulfillment process, it's essential to have the right technology in place. A suitable Order Management System (OMS) can help speed up order processing and reduce mistakes in both fulfillment and purchase.

Using an inventory management system (IMS) is also crucial for keeping track of stock via inventory and warehouse management systems. This is fundamental to e-commerce success.

A good purchasing and supplier management system can improve your replenishment process, help you reorder at the right time, and choose the most suitable supplier.

Having a POS system that can be connected to e-commerce channels is handy for physical store retailers. This allows you to have up-to-date inventory and sales order information across both online and offline channels.

Here are some key technologies to consider for optimizing your eCommerce fulfillment process:

Using good analytics and reporting programs can help you identify both good and bad factors in your workflow. This is especially true when you're just starting out and need to tweak and adjust your processes over time.

A well-planned order fulfillment strategy saves time, making it easier to scale your business.

Having the right strategy or partner can handle more orders without needing extra space or employees, allowing you to fulfill as many orders as your marketing team can bring in.

Increased order volumes can create challenges for the fulfillment process, like the need for greater warehouse capacity.

To accommodate growth, you may need to enhance workforce planning, integrate new systems, and change logistics and shipping partnerships.

A good order fulfillment strategy can help you handle growth without sacrificing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Returns and Reverse Logistics are a crucial part of the ecommerce order fulfillment process. Returns are unavoidable in online shopping, so your returns process is integral to your fulfillment strategy.

More than 60% of potential customers will look at the returns policy before choosing to buy, so setting up a good system for exchanges and returns is essential. A good returns policy can make or break a customer's decision to purchase from your store.

You have several options for processing returns, including shipping them to your headquarters, providing refunds without asking for the merchandise back, using your fulfillment partner to process returns, or using a reverse logistics warehouse for returns. Some ecommerce stores prefer to receive returns in-house to evaluate the condition of each returned item.

Here's a summary of the return processing options:

Returns can be chaotic, especially in warehouses specializing in returns where inventory flow is unpredictable. However, with the right systems and processes in place, you can efficiently process returns, inspect returned items, and manage reverse logistics.

Exchanging products can be a straightforward process if done correctly. The fulfillment team reviews the order details to ensure that all necessary information is complete and accurate, including the customer’s contact details and shipping address.

To initiate an exchange, the customer typically follows the return guidelines and sends the package back to the store. The fulfillment team checks the returned products for any damage, and if the product qualifies for return, they process the exchange.

The exchange process involves issuing a new product or a different size or color, depending on the customer's request. The inventory management system is updated to reflect the changes, and the customer is notified of the exchange status.

Here's a step-by-step overview of the exchange process:

In some cases, the exchanged product may be re-entered into inventory for resale, set aside, or disposed of, depending on its condition and quality.

Reverse Logistics is a crucial part of the returns process, and it's essential to have a solid system in place to manage it efficiently. Returns are unavoidable in online shopping, and it's estimated that more than 60% of potential customers will look at the returns policy before choosing to buy.

Returns can be initiated for various reasons, such as product defects, wrong sizing, change of mind, or damaged items. To manage returns effectively, you need to establish clear return policies, provide return labels or instructions, inspect returned products, and determine appropriate actions based on the condition of the items.

The returns process typically involves several steps, including return authorization and tracking, inspection and assessment, refunds and exchanges, and inventory management. A return authorization process helps track and manage returned products, while inspection and assessment involve checking for any damage, missing parts, or signs of wear.

Refunds and exchanges are processed based on established return policies, which may include issuing refunds to customers' original payment methods, providing store credits, or facilitating exchanges for different products or sizes. In some cases, products can be returned to the shelves after they've been returned, which means managing inventory levels by updating inventory records, segregating returned items, and accounting for their availability for secondary markets or further processing.

Here are the key functions of reverse logistics:

By having a well-structured reverse logistics system in place, you can ensure that returns are processed efficiently, and customers are satisfied with the experience. It's essential to balance customer satisfaction with cost-effective return policies to maintain a positive reputation and reduce costs associated with returns.

Choosing a fulfillment partner is a crucial step in setting up your ecommerce business for success. The best order fulfillment provider for your online store is one that meets all your logistics needs.

There is no single best fulfillment company in the U.S., so you'll need to research and compare different options. Consider factors like experience, cost, technology, location, speed, customer service, and ethics when evaluating potential partners.

To give you a head start, here are some key factors to consider:

Outsourcing fulfillment to a 3PL can give you access to professional order processing and flexible warehouse space without the need for hiring and training staff or signing a lease.

Reducing costs is a top priority for any business, and ecommerce order fulfillment is no exception. Ecommerce warehouses are high-volume shippers, so they may be able to negotiate lower shipping rates and pass discounts on to you.

By working with a service partner to pick, pack, and ship orders, you can reduce fulfillment costs. This is especially true for small businesses, which can benefit from enterprise pricing offered by fulfillment solutions like the Shopify Fulfillment Network.

Here are some ways to save money on shipping:

In addition to these cost-saving strategies, efficient fulfillment operations can also help minimize errors, which can be costly to correct. By streamlining processes and reducing errors, you can save money on returns, replacements, and customer support.

Customers expect a seamless experience across various channels, whether online, in-store, or a combination of both. Retailers are integrating their online and physical store operations to provide options like click-and-collect, buy online pick up in store (BOPIS), ship-from-store, and return-to-store.

By utilizing their store network as fulfillment centers, businesses can optimize inventory utilization, reduce shipping distances, and offer greater convenience to customers. This is especially true for international shipping, where localizing your inventory can help address the issue of quick delivery expectations.

International shipping doesn't change customer expectations for quick delivery. It's your responsibility to ensure orders are picked, packed, and fulfilled internationally as quickly as possible.

Global shipping can be a challenge, especially when dealing with countries that have a less developed postal system. This can cause issues with order fulfillment.

Shipping to international customers takes considerably longer, unless you're using a premium and expensive air freight service. Transparency is key here, so make sure to clearly communicate the costs and timeframes to your customers.

Restricting shipping to some countries might be necessary to avoid these issues. Always be upfront with international customers about how global shipping affects returns and exchanges.

International shipping is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. It's your responsibility to ensure orders are picked, packed, and fulfilled internationally as quickly as possible.

Fulfillment should ideally support all the energy the customer is bringing to their purchase and not get in the way of their enjoyment, says Noah Chaimberg, founder of Heatonist. Localizing your inventory can help address this issue.

Storing inventory in an international warehouse and automatically routing orders there can speed up delivery times. This way, goods will have already cleared customs.

International fulfillment encompasses the processes of receiving, processing, and delivering orders to global customers in different countries. This includes managing inventory across multiple locations.

Managing inventory across multiple locations can be challenging, especially when working with different countries' legal requirements and customs procedures. It's essential to understand and comply with different countries' customs procedures.

Shipping products internationally means working with multiple logistics providers, shipping carriers, and customs brokers. Coordinating the movement of goods across borders can be complex.

International shipping costs and managing cross-border logistics can be a significant challenge. Smooth international fulfillment requires understanding and complying with different countries' legal requirements and customs procedures.

Managing currency fluctuations, handling exchange rates, and offering secure and convenient payment options for international customers can be complex. Good cross-border eCommerce also requires processing payments in different currencies.

Handling returns and customer service inquiries for cross-border orders adds complexity. Managing international returns processes and addressing language barriers can be demanding.

Many businesses plan to expand internationally and seek cross-border eCommerce order fulfillment capabilities. This involves addressing challenges such as customs compliance and international shipping logistics.

The rise of omnichannel retailing has significantly impacted eCommerce fulfillment, making it essential for businesses to adapt to customer expectations.

Customers now expect a seamless experience across various channels, whether online, in-store, or a combination of both. This means retailers need to integrate their online and physical store operations to provide options like click-and-collect and buy online pick up in store (BOPIS).

Retailers are using their store network as fulfillment centers to optimize inventory utilization, reduce shipping distances, and offer greater convenience to customers. By doing so, they can reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

Businesses can also utilize ship-from-store and return-to-store options to streamline their operations and provide a more efficient experience for customers.

Ecommerce order fulfillment can be a complex process, and unexpected challenges can arise that prevent businesses from scaling and orders from getting out on time.

One common logistical pain point faced by ecommerce merchants is that ecommerce order fulfillment is not always as straightforward as it seems.

Organizations face a variety of challenges when executing ecommerce fulfillment processes.

If your processes fall short of the mark when it comes to efficiency, you'll also fall behind the volume of orders you have to process.

Running out of inventory and risks of overselling are major challenges, where inventory won't be allocated and reserved to orders in time, and you'll likely oversell the inventory you do have.

Resolving overselling issues is still one of the core reasons why businesses consider retail operations software, like Brightpearl.

Customers increasingly expect faster delivery options, with 29% of shoppers now expecting orders to be delivered within 2-3 days, a 53% increase year-over-year.

Forty-five percent of consumers are willing to accept a 3–5-day delivery window, but only 26% think waiting a week or more is acceptable.