A fulfillment strategy where a single customer order is divided and shipped from multiple locations or in separate packages to optimize delivery speed, reduce costs, or accommodate inventory constraints. This occurs when items are stored in different warehouses, some products are out of stock at the primary location, or when shipping lighter packages separately proves more cost-effective than consolidated shipment.
Split shipments are crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. They enable warehouses to fulfill orders even when complete inventory isn’t available at a single location, reducing backorders and delivery delays. Modern WMS platforms automatically determine optimal splitting strategies based on inventory levels, shipping costs, and delivery timeframes.
For example, if a customer orders a heavy appliance and small accessories, the WMS might ship the appliance directly from a regional distribution center while sending accessories from a local fulfillment center, ensuring faster delivery of frequently-needed items while optimizing shipping costs for bulky products.
