Fulfillment status
What is Fulfillment status?
Fulfillment status shows where an order is in the shipping process.
Here’s what the main statuses mean:
- Unfulfilled - The order has been received but not shipped yet.
- Fulfilled - The full order has been shipped to the customer.
- Partially fulfilled - Only part of the order has shipped.
- Awaiting shipment - The order is packed and ready but hasn’t left the facility.
- Scheduled - This usually applies to subscriptions or pre-orders with a set fulfillment date.
- On hold - The order is paused. The items may be reserved, but something is delaying shipment.
Order status vs. fulfillment status
They sound similar, but they track different things.
- Order status refers to the overall state of the order (e.g. open, canceled, archived).
- Fulfillment status tracks the shipping process from when the order is placed to when it’s delivered.
For example:
- A new order = Order status: open, Fulfillment status: unfulfilled
- A shipped order = Order status: open, Fulfillment status: fulfilled
- A canceled order = Order status: canceled, Fulfillment status: unfulfilled
Outsourced fulfillment
If you’re using a third-party service like a print-on-demand provider or dropshipping partner, they’ll handle the shipping-but you still need to keep an eye on fulfillment status.
Why it matters:
- Helps you spot delays early
- Lets you give customers accurate updates
- Keeps your service levels consistent
Make sure your partner provides tracking numbers and updates so both you and your customers stay informed.
No tracking number?
Sometimes, especially with smaller suppliers, you’ll see an order marked as fulfilled but without a tracking number. This usually means the item has shipped, but the tracking wasn’t uploaded.
If the carrier is reliable, the package should still arrive safely-but offering tracking is always better for transparency and customer trust.
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