Multichannel fulfillment manages inventory and order delivery across multiple sales channels, such as marketplaces, ecommerce stores, wholesale accounts and physical locations.
How does it work?
Orders from different channels feed into a shared or coordinated system, which allocates inventory, selects a location, creates fulfillment instructions and returns tracking and status.
What makes it difficult?
Channels may use different SKUs, service levels, packaging, fees, cancellation rules and delivery promises. Inventory updates must be timely enough to prevent overselling.
Shared versus dedicated inventory
Shared inventory improves pooling but requires reliable allocation. Dedicated channel stock protects availability but can create stranded inventory.
Which measures matter?
Track order accuracy, channel fill rate, cancellation, cycle time, cost per order, inventory availability and returns.
What controls are needed?
Maintain SKU mapping, order-source identifiers, allocation rules, channel-specific documents and reconciliation between orders, inventory and settlements.
