What is Bulk Order Fulfillment?
Bulk order fulfillment allows you to mark multiple orders as shipped and add tracking information to many orders at once. This is perfect when you’ve shipped a batch of orders and need to update them all in your system.
When to Use Bulk Fulfillment
Use this feature when you need to:
- Mark all orders from today’s shipment as fulfilled
- Add tracking numbers to multiple packages
- Update fulfillment status after dropping off packages at the carrier
- Process fulfillments from your warehouse or fulfillment center
- Close out orders that have been shipped
Before You Start
Make sure you have:
- Selected the correct orders that have actually been shipped
- Tracking numbers ready (if applicable)
- Confirmed that the orders are ready to be marked as fulfilled
- Checked that items are actually in stock and shipped
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Select Your Orders
Choose the orders you want to fulfill:
- Use filters to find unfulfilled orders
- Select specific date ranges
- Filter by product, customer, or location
- Manually select individual orders if needed
2. Choose Fulfillment Action
From the batch actions menu:
- Select “Fulfill Orders”
- The system will show you how many orders will be affected
3. Configure Fulfillment Options
You’ll need to set these options:
Tracking Information
- No Tracking: Choose this if you’re not providing tracking numbers
- Add Tracking Number: Enter a single tracking number (for identical shipments)
- Import from File: Upload a CSV file with tracking numbers for each order
Carrier Information
- Select the shipping carrier (e.g., USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL)
- This helps customers know where to track their package
Notification Settings
- Notify Customer: Send an email to customers with tracking information
- Skip Notification: Update orders without sending emails
Location
- Choose which location the items are being shipped from (if you have multiple locations)
4. Review Your Selection
Before processing:
- Check the number of orders being fulfilled
- Verify tracking information is correct
- Confirm the carrier is selected properly
- Review notification settings
5. Process the Batch Job
- Click “Fulfill Orders” to start processing
- The system will begin fulfilling orders in the background
- You’ll see a confirmation that the job has started
6. Monitor Progress
- Go to the Batch Jobs dashboard
- Find your fulfillment job in the list
- Watch the progress as orders are processed
- You’ll see how many orders have been completed
Adding Tracking Numbers
Single Tracking Number
If all orders have the same tracking number (rare case):
- Enter the tracking number in the field provided
- All selected orders will receive this tracking number
Multiple Tracking Numbers
For different tracking numbers per order:
- Prepare a CSV file with two columns:
- Order Number
- Tracking Number
- Upload the file when configuring the batch job
- The system will match tracking numbers to orders
No Tracking Number
If you’re shipping without tracking:
- Select “No tracking” option
- Orders will be marked as fulfilled without tracking information
- Customers won’t receive tracking links
Understanding Results
After processing, you’ll see:
- Successfully Fulfilled: Orders that were updated
- Failed: Orders that couldn’t be fulfilled (with reasons)
- Notifications Sent: How many customers were emailed
Common Reasons for Failures
Some orders might fail to fulfill because:
- Order was already fulfilled
- Order was canceled
- Items are out of stock
- Order is on hold
- Tracking number format is invalid
Customer Notifications
When you choose to notify customers, they’ll receive:
- Email confirmation that their order has shipped
- Tracking number (if provided)
- Link to track their package
- Estimated delivery date (if available)
- List of items in the shipment
Best Practices
Before Fulfilling
- Double-Check Selection: Make sure you’ve selected the right orders
- Verify Tracking Numbers: Ensure tracking numbers are correct and match orders
- Test with One Order: If unsure, try fulfilling a single order first
- Check Stock Levels: Confirm items were actually shipped
During Fulfillment
- Monitor Progress: Keep an eye on the batch job status
- Check for Errors: Review any failed orders immediately
- Save Confirmation: Keep a record of the batch job ID
After Fulfillment
- Review Results: Check that all expected orders were fulfilled
- Handle Failures: Process any failed orders separately
- Verify Notifications: Confirm customers received their emails
- Update Records: Note the fulfillment in your own systems if needed
Partial Fulfillments
- Bulk fulfillment processes entire orders
- For partial fulfillments, process orders individually
- Or group orders by what’s being shipped
Multiple Locations
- Group orders by fulfillment location
- Create separate batch jobs for each location
- Select the appropriate location for each batch
Tracking Integration
The system integrates with major carriers:
- Tracking links are automatically generated
- Customers can click to see package status
- Updates may sync back to your store
- Delivery confirmations can be tracked
Troubleshooting
Fulfillment Not Processing
- Check that orders are in “unfulfilled” status
- Verify you have permission to fulfill orders
- Ensure orders aren’t on hold or canceled
- Try with a smaller batch of orders
Wrong Tracking Numbers
- Use the restore feature to undo the batch job
- Or manually update individual orders
- Then create a new batch job with correct information
Customers Not Notified
- Check that “notify customer” was selected
- Verify customer email addresses are valid
- Check your email notification settings
- Emails may be in spam folders
Tips for Efficiency
- Use Filters: Set up saved filters for common fulfillment scenarios
- Template CSV Files: Keep tracking import templates ready
- Schedule Regular Times: Fulfill orders at the same time each day
- Batch by Carrier: Group orders by shipping carrier for easier processing
- Automate When Possible: Consider scheduling fulfillment jobs for recurring shipments
Next Steps
After fulfilling orders:
- Archive completed orders to keep your list organized
- Export fulfillment data for your records
- Review customer feedback and delivery performance
- Plan your next fulfillment batch