Term
Fulfillment Status
noun
Fulfillment status refers to information on whether an order is processed and currently awaits shipment.
What Is Fulfillment Status?
Your order is in ‘fulfillment’ means that it is processed and currently awaits shipment. Fulfillment status has different stages:
- Fulfilled: When you ship a complete order, it is labeled as fulfilled.
- Unfulfilled: When you place an order, it is described as unfulfilled.
- Partially fulfilled: If you shipped some but not all parts in order, it is described as partially fulfilled.
- Awaiting shipment: When your order has been put in the queue to be shipped (but hasn’t shipped yet).
- Scheduled: Subscription orders on prepaid payment terms are scheduled until the date of fulfillment arrives. Order out for delivery is also scheduled and can be tracked with a tracking number.
- On hold: When you hold the inventory for the order, but the delivery did not happen for some reason, the fulfillment status turns unfulfilled.
Difference Between Order Status and Fulfillment Status
Every order has an order status and a fulfillment status. Both are different stages of order fulfillment. Order status turns open when a new order comes in. Next, it goes into the fulfillment process and is finally shipped. Once shipped, the order status can go to archives. If there is an issue or the customer cancels the order, the order status becomes canceled. Fulfillment status is the entire process through which the order is received and finally handed over to the customer.
Outsourcing Order Fulfillment
Businesses that outsource order fulfillment don’t have to dive deep into the nitty-gritty of order fulfillment, since order will be delivered from the fulfilment center to the customer directly. However, prioritize licensing your business before outsourcing: do you need a business license to sell on Etsy or other sales channels?
Businesses should still look at the fulfillment status to gauge the efficiency of their dropshipping partners or suppliers, whatever dropshipping niche. You can provide customers with a tracking number so they can see the order status, while the business can keep a check on fulfillment status to ensure the delivery process runs smoothly.
Learn more about print on demand and starting a print-on-demand business.
Orders Without Tracking Number
For any order without a tracking slip, the retailer typically gets an alert saying “fulfilled.” This implies that the order has been dispatched and is on its way to the customer. If the supplier uses a renowned carrier, you can have peace of mind knowing that customers will receive their products safely.