In the world of e-commerce fulfillment, it's common to encounter situations where not all items in an order are ready to ship at the same time. At CNFANS, managing these partial shipments
What is a Partial Shipment?
A partial shipment, or split shipment, occurs when you dispatch the available items from a customer's order separately from the items that are still pending (e.g., due to stock issues, pre-orders, or sourcing from different warehouses). Properly handling this process on the CNFANS platform prevents confusion and keeps your customers informed.
Step-by-Step: How to Split a Shipment on CNFANS
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Review and Identify
Go to your Order Management
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Initiate the Split
Select the specific order and look for the "Split Shipment""Partially Ship"
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Generate Separate Tracking
For each partial shipment you create, CNFANS will generate a unique tracking number. It is crucial to assign and record each number accurately to its corresponding package and item list.
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Notify Your Customer
Use CNFANS' notification tools or your own communication channel to immediately inform the customer. Clearly explain:
- Which items are included in this shipment.
- The unique tracking number for this package.
- The expected timeline for the remaining items.
Avoiding Confusion: Best Practices
Clear Communication is Key
Proactive, transparent communication prevents most issues. Always send a notification before
Maintain Organized Records
Keep meticulous internal records linking each tracking number to the specific items shipped. Use CNFANS' shipment notes or labels to stay organized.
Update Inventory Accurately
Once a partial shipment is created, ensure your store's inventory levels are updated in real-time to reflect the reduced available stock for the shipped items.
Consolidate When Possible
While partial shipments are sometimes unavoidable, evaluate your supply chain to minimize their frequency. Consider holding orders for a short, predefined period to see if back-ordered items become available.
Handling Customer Inquiries
When customers inquire about split orders, your response should be swift and clear:
"Hello [Customer Name], thank you for your inquiry. Your order #12345 has been split into two shipments for faster fulfillment. Shipment #A (tracking: XYZ123) containing [Item A] was dispatched on [Date]. Shipment #B with [Item B] is being prepared and we will notify you with its tracking details as soon as it's on its way. We appreciate your patience!"