What Does Awaiting Fulfilment Mean?

What Does Awaiting Fulfilment Mean?

Have you recently made a sale on your eCommerce store and found the order says “Awaiting fulfilment”? Is this normal? Is there a delay?

If you’re new to the eCommerce world, such a statement can be concerning, especially if you just made your first sale. After all, you want a smooth experience for your customer.

But don’t panic. This is part of the process.

This guide breaks down what you need to understand, where “Awaiting Fulfilment” fits into the order fulfilment process, and all the tips to improve your customer experience.

What Does “Awaiting Fulfilment” Actually Mean?

As we’re talking specifically about the backend, on your Shopify or other eCommerce account, “Awaiting Fulfilment” means:

• A customer has placed an order
• Your system has processed the payment
• The order has been recorded

But the key difference is that the product remains untouched. No picking. No packaging. Your product is still sitting in the warehouse.

It doesn’t mean there is a problem. It doesn’t mean your customer is waiting at the door for the courier, expecting the delivery, either. 

Instead, the order is waiting before the fulfilment status process begins.

Why Is My Product Stuck at This Status?

Some eCommerce owners experience issues at this stage where products remain “Awaiting Fulfilment”.

But how does your order end up stuck in this stage? And how can you sort this ASAP to improve your customer experience?

1. You fulfil orders manually

If you have a team that packs your orders in-house, the package is waiting for action. To solve this issue, you can:

• Confirm stock availability
• Prepare labels
• Pack the order
• Mark the order as fulfilled
• Begin the shipping process

2. You partner with a 3PL but haven’t synced

If you partner with a third-party logistics (3PL) company, orders can stay in this phase when:

• Your store and 3PL integration aren’t in sync
• There’s a delay in order pushing
• The 3PL hasn’t confirmed the order

3. You experience a system issue

Your platform may hold the product if:

• Stock is low
• A required action is yet to be completed

In many cases, “Awaiting Fulfilment” means the product is waiting for the final checks and actions before it can proceed to the next phase. 

Think of it as an essential step rather than a restraint.

Why Does Awaiting Fulfilment Matter to You?

Customer satisfaction is the heartbeat of your business. Without it, business is nonexistent.

According to Meteor Space, 89% of online shoppers are likely to repeat purchases if they have a smooth experience. 

And you want your customers’ experience to be flawless. Here’s why:

• Speed: Customers expect rapid delivery speeds. Risking long waiting times can harm your reputation and credibility
• Increased workload: If customers send complaints, the workload rises
• Sign of workflow problems: When this happens frequently, it points to a common issue

Orders shouldn’t stay in “Awaiting Fulfilment” for any longer than two business days. Anything longer will lead to a loss of trust, repeat business, and poor reviews.

What Happens After “Awaiting Fulfilment”?

Now you know how to overcome the dreaded hurdle, what are the next steps? 

Enter the active processing phase.

What happens here determines the customers’ experience: when they receive the order, and how satisfied they will be with the overall service.

Here are the steps that follow:

1. Picking and Packing

At this point, your team or fulfilment partner is processing the order:

• Picking involves locating and collecting the ordered items in the warehouse.
• Packing is applying packaging and promotional extras before shipping.

To streamline the process, digital pick lists considerably reduce errors and improve efficiency.

At this stage, any error is detrimental to the fulfilment process. 

What will the system now display?

• “Being Fulfilled”
• “Picking Order
• “Picking Complete”
• “Packing Order”
• “Packing Complete”
• “Ready to Dispatch”

Top Tip: Successful 3PLs will pick and pack orders within 1 – 6 hours.

2. Handover to Carrier

Once the parcel is ready to leave the warehouse, it is handed to the chosen courier, and the order is commonly marked as “Fulfilled” or “Dispatched”.

An email with tracking is then sent to customers and the backend with a drop-off schedule.

MCF Tip: Multi-carrier routing selects the fastest courier based on the package weight and the delivery destination.

3. In Transit

At this stage, the parcel is being delivered to the customer. Expect a spike in customer questions during this phase, and check that tracking links are accessible to reduce this.

Live tracking reassures customers, improves experience, and reduces queries.

4. Delivered

The customer has received the product. 

Excluding returns, this is the final stage of the parcel’s process, but the overall journey isn’t over.

It’s time to request product reviews, log delivery proof in the backend, and sync the order history into your software. This is where your post-delivery email increases the likelihood of repeat purchases.

When Should You Upgrade Your Fulfilment?

If these issues are common, it may be time to consider upgrading your fulfilment:

• Orders sat in “Awaiting Fulfilment” for longer than two business days
• Fulfilment tasks become overwhelming for operational staff
• Many customer emails asking about the products’ whereabouts
• Delivery delays

If you said yes to a few of these, it’s time for a change. These errors will prove costly in the long run. 

But outsourcing to a first-rate 3PL provider can level up your fulfilment, increase customer satisfaction, and help you scale your business.

Why Partner with MCF?

MCF partners with some of the UK’s largest retailers, like The Range and Wilko. We help businesses remove fulfilment difficulties by:

• Same-day pick and pack on orders before 2 pm
• Complete integration with all eCommerce platforms
• Nationwide, tracked delivery
• Multiple warehouses across the UK
• Transparent dashboards with live order updates
• State-of-the-art software
• Flexible pricing for startups

We handle the entire fulfilment process. You focus on scaling your business to the heights you dreamed of when you started.

Boost Customer Satisfaction with Exceptional Fulfilment!

Are you looking to take your profits to the next level this year? Don’t allow fulfilment mistakes to restrict your potential.

Let MCF take the weight off your shoulders. Get a FREE quote today, save time and money, and get the repeat purchases your business deserves.