A customer ordering items online can often be faced with a huge amount of jargon that the customer is simply expected to understand. However, other than simply guessing what the terminology means, how are they meant to know? This article sheds light on certain terms in the fulfilment sphere, namely “awaiting fulfilment”, so you can better understand the sometimes confusing terms within the eCommerce industry.
Though “awaiting fulfilment” does have a specific meaning in eCommerce, it doesn’t mean that the order has magically disappeared. It’s quite the contrary, however, as it means that your order will probably be shipped soon. Here’s everything you need to know about your order status.
Why Is the Order Status Awaiting Fulfilment?
Unless you’re keeping a close eye on your online order, there are actually several stages that take place with an online order that can be easily missed.
Firstly, you place the order with your chosen retailer and submit your payment. From the moment you pay, the fulfilment system marks the order as completed and it is immediately sent to the retailer’s chosen logistics company. When the order is awaiting fulfilment, it joins any others awaiting processing and shipping and depending on how large the retailer and how efficient their fulfilment system is, it can be there for a little while.
When you check your order status and it is on the “awaiting fulfilment” status, it simply means that the logistics warehouse hasn’t started the order fulfilment process as of yet. The awaiting fulfilment meaning is that the process that involves the picking and packing of the items on your order into boxes ready to be shipped.
When this process is complete, the order gets a shipment number and is ready to be dispatched. When this happens, the customer will receive a confirmation email and the status changes from “awaiting fulfilment” to “awaiting shipment.”
Here at The Delivery Group, our aim is to process orders the same day they are received, even when you have a late cut-off point for next day orders. The first confirmation email a customer will receive when it ships from one of our fulfilment centres is that your order is on its way.
Certain circ*mstances can delay shipping, however. This can be caused by multiple different variables, as an item(s) on your order may be out of stock, but you’ve been allowed to back-order. In this case, you may notice the “awaiting fulfilment” or “awaiting shipment” order status will last for a longer period than usual.
Helping You Understand Other Order Statuses
As well as “awaiting fulfilment” there are a few other stages that your order will pass through when you place an order with an online retailer. This guide aims to help you better understand the extra jargon you may not know about so that you don’t have to go in blind when ordering online.
Submitted for Fulfilment
This means that your order is complete, and is on its way to the system in use by your chosen online retailer’s fulfilment company. This is the stage before “awaiting fulfilment” where the order has to be accepted.
Pending Fulfilment
At this stage, the company has received your order and it has been accepted for fulfilment, however, it is in the queue for order processing. This means that the picking and packing process has not yet been completed, so one of the team is either currently going to collect your item from its designated location, or it is about to be picked.
Partially Shipped
Only some items in the order have been shipped. This is because one or more items may be out of stock, and will need to be sent in split shipments.
Shipped
This means that your order is in the capable hands of the courier used by your online retailer’s fulfilment company. When this happens, you should get a confirmation email telling you it is on its way. This email usually features tracking information so that you know when to expect your item, and you won’t miss it if you go out. You also usually have the ability to designate a safe space if you’re going to be out, or you can delay the order to a specific day or time; though this does depend on the courier.
Delivered
Luckily this one is pretty self-explanatory. You either A: have the package in your hand, B: it is waiting for you outside, or C: your courier has pressed the “delivered” button slightly too early and it will be with you imminently. If you haven’t received your item, however, it is a good idea to check with the carrier or business where you placed the order; making sure that it hasn’t been delivered to the wrong address.
Would you like to partner with The Delivery Group? Why not discuss your options with our expert customer services team, to see how your business can get ahead.
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What’s the Difference Between Awaiting Fulfilment and Pending Fulfilment?
The word “pending” means exactly the same thing as “awaiting” when it comes to eCommerce order fulfilment – these terms are often used interchangeably by different eCommerce companies and brands.
Whichever term you tend to use, The Delivery Group has the mission of keeping processing times to a minimum. We know that eCommerce customers expect fast delivery times worldwide, and our delivery experts are committed to getting your orders shipped as fast and as efficiently as possible.
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