A Step-by-Step Guide: How To Fulfill Orders On Shopify

Fulfilling orders on Shopify is not just a step in the sales process but also has many important benefits for businesses. When placing an order, customers always expect to receive the product quickly and on time. If a business has an efficient order fulfillment process that ensures they can receive the goods on time or even earlier than expected, it will help enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Moreover, Shopify also helps businesses enhance their brand reputation, effectively manage inventory, optimize shipping costs, and easily handle returns. By investing in this process, businesses not only succeed in retaining customers but also promote sustainable development for your business.

Let's explore the essential knowledge about how to fulfill orders on Shopify, step by step from using the Shopify app to order management to shipping and customer care.

Exploring Different Fulfillment Methods on Shopify

When managing orders on Shopify, choosing the appropriate method to fulfill orders is crucial. Each method has its benefits and can serve the different business needs of each enterprise. Therefore, businesses should consider selecting a method that is suitable for their needs and business scale.

Below are the integrated methods to fulfill orders on Shopify and the benefits they can bring to your store.

In-house Fulfillment

In-house Fulfillment is a method in which businesses manage all aspects of the order completion process themselves. Businesses will directly control inventory, packaging, and delivery. This is a popular method that brings convenience to businesses.

However, only some businesses are suitable for this method. If your business is small or a startup, with low order volume, In-house fulfillment can be a good choice. Your business can easily control the process and build close relationships with customers.

Third-party logistics (3PL)

Unlike the In-house fulfillment method, third-party logistics is when a business hires an external company to help manage all or part of its logistics activities. This includes transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment.

Therefore, the business can focus on its core business activities without worrying about logistics. However, careful selection is necessary to ensure that the 3PL partner is suitable and can support the long-term development of the business.

>> Learn more: 

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Using Shopify apps to optimize fulfillment services

If your business has a large number of orders that need to be fulfilled and you want everything to be automated quickly, then Shopify is a perfect choice. Using the Shopify app will bring many benefits to your e-commerce business. Many apps will help automate your business management processes, allowing you to manage all aspects of your store from a single dashboard, thereby saving your business time, effort, and operational costs.

Comprehensive Guide: How To Fulfill Orders On Shopify

Fulfilling orders efficiently is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction and ensuring smooth operations in your eCommerce business. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to fulfill orders on Shopify, covering everything from receiving orders to shipping and handling returns.

Additionally, we’ll walk you through understanding the different fulfillment methods available on Shopify are crucial for optimizing your eCommerce operations. Each method has its unique advantages and challenges. Here’s a detailed overview of automated fulfillment, partial fulfillment, and dropshipping.

How to automatically fulfill orders Shopify

Before diving into the setup process for automatic fulfillment on Shopify, it’s crucial to understand the specific scenarios where this method is applicable. Here are the key conditions under which automatic fulfillment can be utilized:

• Pay orders only: Automatic fulfillment applies only to orders that have been successfully paid.
• Inventory-tracked products: Automatic fulfillment works effectively only for products that have inventory tracking enabled. Therefore, make sure all products are enabled for inventory tracking.
• Automatic fulfillment settings enabled: You need to enable the automatic fulfillment setting in your Shopify account to ensure that orders are automatically marked as fulfilled after payment confirmation.

After installing payment, we will now move on to the steps of how to fulfill orders on Shopify automatically.

# Step 1: Enable Inventory Tracking

• Access your Shopify admin and select Products.
• Choose the product you want to track.
• In the Inventory section, ensure the Track Quantity option is enabled.

# Step 2: Configure Shipping Settings

• Select Settings in the bottom left corner.
• In the Shipping and Delivery section, define your shipping zones and rates.
• If you have different products with varying shipping needs, create shipping profiles to set specific rules.

# Step 3: Set Up Automatic Fulfillment

• Select Settings > General.
• Find the Order processing section and select the option to automatically mark orders as fulfilled upon payment confirmation.

Finally, click Save at the top bar to save your changes on Shopify.

After completing the steps, you have set up automatic fulfillment on Shopify to optimize your business's shipping process. To ensure a smooth process, you need to regularly check if customer orders have been paid, provide clear notifications to customers, and establish reasonable return policies.

How to partially fulfill an order on Shopify

Automatically fulfilling a partial order on Shopify is a process where the store will immediately send some products in the customer's order and hold back the temporarily out-of-stock items to be sent later when available.

So when should you use automatic fulfillment for a partial order?

• Out-of-stock items: when some products that the customer ordered are no longer available in stock, instead of holding the entire order, you can send the available products first.
• When the customer wants to receive the order quickly.
• Inventory management.

In the Order processing section, to turn off Automatic fulfillment, you just need to click on Don't fulfill any of the order's line items automatically to switch to Partially fulfill orders mode.

The second method you can use to partially fulfill an order on Shopify is as follows:

# Step 1: Access the Order

• Go to your Shopify admin dashboard.
• Click on Orders in the left sidebar.
• Find and click on the order you wish to partially fulfill, and select it.
• Select the order, and click on Mark as fulfilled to proceed.

# Step 2: Review Order Details

Check item availability: review the items in the order and check which ones are in stock and which are not.

# Step 3: Start the Fulfillment Process

• On the order details page, click the Fulfill items button
• Check the box next to each item you want to fulfill immediately. Make sure to leave the items that are out of stock unchecked.
• Update shipping information (if necessary)

# Step 4: Complete the Fulfillment

• Add tracking information: If you have tracking information for the shipment, you can enter it here.
• Once you’ve selected the items and entered any necessary information, click the Fulfill items button to complete the partial fulfillment.

# Step 5: Notify the Customer

Below the section, you can also customize the notification message if needed. You just click on the box Send shipment details to your customer now.

How to fulfill dropship orders on Shopify

Fulfilling dropship orders on Shopify refers to the process of completing customer orders for products that are sourced from a third-party supplier, rather than held in your inventory. In a dropshipping model, the retailer (you) does not handle the physical products; instead, a supplier ships the products directly to the customer on your behalf.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively fulfill dropship orders.

# Step 1: Set Up Your Shopify Store for Dropshipping

• Choose a dropshipping app: Popular options include Oberlo, Spocket, and Printful. Install the app that best fits your product offerings.
• Import Your Product: Use your chosen dropshipping app to find and import products to your Shopify store.
• Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery in your Shopify admin to set up shipping rates and zones that align with your dropshipping supplier.

# Step 2: Process a Dropship Order

• Receive an Order: When a customer places an order on your Shopify store, you will receive a notification in your admin dashboard.
• Check Order Details: Click on Orders in your Shopify admin and select the order to review the details, including customer information and the items ordered.

# Step 3: Fulfill the Order through Your Dropshipping App

• Go to your dropshipping app: Open the app you are using (e.g., Oberlo, Spocket).
• Select the order: Find the order that corresponds to the customer order in Shopify.
• Place the order with the supplier: Most dropshipping apps have a feature that allows you to fulfill the order directly. Click the option to fulfill the order, which will send the order details to the supplier for processing.
• Enter shipping information: Ensure that the shipping address from the customer is correctly entered for the supplier.

Finally, you click on Request fulfillment and select Send fulfillment request to complete the process.

Enhancing Order Fulfillment on Shopify Using Apps

As a dropshipping seller on Shopify, you can streamline your order fulfillment process with the help of third-party apps, particularly inventory management solutions. These specialized integrations are invaluable for sellers managing large catalogs who need efficient and straightforward order sourcing and processing.

Next, let's explore how to fulfill orders on Shopify with the two most popular service apps, DSers and Zendrop.

How to fulfill orders on Shopify with DSers

DSers is an official AliExpress eCommerce app designed to suitable the dropshipping process for Shopify sellers. This powerful tool enables you to efficiently process AliExpress drop shipping orders while offering the convenience of bulk payments. With DSers, you can easily source and connect with reliable AliExpress suppliers for the products you sell on your eCommerce website.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fulfill orders using DSers.

# Step 1: Install DSers:

• Go to the Shopify App Store and search for DSer > Click on the DSers app and then click Add app.
• After downloading, log in to your DSers account or create a new account if you don’t have one. Connect your Shopify store to DSers by following the on-screen instructions.

# Step 2: Import Products

• Use DSers to browse and find products from various suppliers that you want to sell in your store.
• Select the products you wish to sell and click on the Import to Shopify button.

# Step 3: Receive an Order

• When a customer places an order on your Shopify store, you will receive a notification in your Shopify admin.
• Log in to your DSers account to view the order details.

# Step 4: Fulfill the Order

• In DSers, go to the Orders section. You will see a list of all incoming orders.
• Find the specific order you want to fulfill and click on it to view the details.
• If you have multiple suppliers for the same product, select the one you want to use for this fulfillment.
• Once you’ve confirmed the details, click the Place Order button. DSers will automatically send the order information to the supplier for processing.

Finally, you can add shipping information and track the order.

Read more: How To Arrange Stock In Warehouse More Efficiently

How to fulfill orders on Shopify with Zendrop

Zendrop is a powerful dropshipping app designed as a viable alternative to Oberlo. By utilizing Zendrop, Shopify merchants can enhance their dropshipping processes, improve order fulfillment efficiency, and expand their product offerings—all while focusing on scaling their e-commerce business.

Similar to DSers, after installing and finishing the payment, the app will handle the rest of the process. For those who prefer a hands-on approach, Zendrop allows you to manually fulfill each order, giving you greater control over your dropshipping operations.

Time for Fulfillment Orders on Shopify with EFEX

In this article, we dive into how to fulfill orders on Shopify, covering everything you need to know to keep your e-commerce business running smoothly. We break down the entire process, from when a customer places an order to how you can efficiently handle payments and shipping.

In summary, efficient order fulfillment is crucial for the success of your Shopify store, and integrating a reliable partner like EFEX can make all the difference. EFEX is a leading logistics service with warehouses in multiple countries, including Vietnam, the USA, and Singapore, v.v.

With EFEX, you gain access to a network of strategically located warehouses that allow for faster shipping times and reduced costs. Our expertise in logistics management means that every step of the fulfillment process is streamlined, from inventory management to shipping and tracking.

Whether you're a small business just starting or an established brand looking to scale, EFEX's years of experience in the industry can help you optimize your operations and enhance customer satisfaction. Contact us as we explore how this collaboration can transform your Shopify order fulfillment experience, making it more efficient and reliable than ever before.

Order Fulfillment on Shopify - Frequently Asked Questions

How to fulfill orders on Shopify Oberlo

Oberlo was officially removed from the Shopify App Store in May 2022. This decision meant that new users could no longer install Oberlo and existing users were encouraged to transition to alternative solutions for their dropshipping needs.

If you were a previous Oberlo user, consider:

• Exporting your product list: Make sure to save any product details you need for your new platform.
• Setting up your new app: Choose an alternative that fits your business model and integrate it with your Shopify store. Here are some popular alternatives you can consider: DSers, Zendrop, Spocket, Printful, and CJ Dropshipping.
• Testing new suppliers: Ensure that the new suppliers meet your quality and shipping standards.

How to fulfill orders on Shopify with Aliexpress

Fulfilling orders on Shopify with AliExpress involves using a dropshipping app like DSers or Zendrop. First, install the app and import products from AliExpress into your Shopify store. When a customer places an order, access the app to view the order details, and then purchase the items directly from AliExpress.

After the supplier ships the order, update the tracking information in Shopify to keep your customer informed. This streamlined process allows you to efficiently manage dropshipping operations and enhance customer satisfaction.

Does Shopify automatically fulfill orders dropshipping

No, Shopify does not automatically fulfill orders for dropshipping by default. However, you can enable automatic fulfillment through third-party dropshipping apps like DSers, or Zendrop. These apps can automate the order fulfillment process by placing orders with suppliers automatically once a customer purchases your Shopify store. You typically need to configure these settings within the app to activate the auto-fulfillment feature.