
Automating order fulfillment in Netsuite can save online retailers up to 30% of their time and resources.
By implementing a streamlined order fulfillment process, online retailers can reduce errors and increase customer satisfaction.
Netsuite's order management capabilities can handle high volumes of orders and provide real-time visibility into inventory levels.
This allows retailers to make informed decisions and adjust their inventory levels accordingly.
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Order Fulfillment Basics
Order fulfillment can look different depending on the features your company has enabled. The three main features used in the order fulfillment process are Fulfillment Request, Pick, Pack and Ship, and Advanced Shipping. Each of these features represents an aspect of the order fulfillment process, and you can use all three, only one, or some combination of them.
Once a customer places an order, NetSuite generates a pick list to aid warehouse staff with locating and choosing the items in the order. This is part of the Pick, Pack and Ship process. The system can also generate packing slips and shipping labels to ensure items are ready for transit.
Fulfillment requests act as bridges between the sales order and the order fulfillment. They instruct individuals at either your store or your warehouse to start collecting the item or items on a sales order. This process can be automated, improving efficiency, especially for companies with multiple warehouses or locations.
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What Is Order Fulfillment?
Order fulfillment is the process of preparing and sending out orders to customers. It acts as a bridge between the sales order and the order fulfillment.
To start the order fulfillment process, you need to create a Fulfillment Request form, which can be enabled in the Transactions tab under Enable Features, in the Shipping & Receiving section.
Fulfillment requests instruct individuals at your store or warehouse to collect the items on a sales order. They can be made for multiple items on a single sales order, and for different locations listed for each item.
You can have multiple fulfillment requests for a single sales order, especially if some items are located in different places. If items have different locations, you'll need a separate fulfillment request for each location.
Enabling the Fulfillment Request feature may incur additional NetSuite fees.
Aspects of Order Fulfillment
Order fulfillment can be a complex process, but it's broken down into manageable parts. The three main features that can be used in the order fulfillment process are Fulfillment Request, Pick, Pack and Ship, and Advanced Shipping.
These features can be used separately or in combination to suit your company's needs. For example, some companies might use only the Fulfillment Request feature, while others might use all three.
The Pick, Pack and Ship process is a key part of order fulfillment. Once an order is processed, NetSuite generates a pick list to help warehouse staff locate and choose the items in the order. This process can be automated, making it easier and faster to fulfill orders.
In some cases, a fulfillment request is created before the order is processed. This allows the warehouse team to process the request by picking, packing, and shipping the items. To do this, the team goes to Transactions > Supply Chain > Fulfillment Requests > List, selects the request, and proceeds with the picking, packing, and shipping process.
Using Fulfillment Requests offers several benefits. For companies with multiple warehouses or locations, it simplifies the process of determining where to ship items from. This automation improves efficiency and reduces errors. Additionally, it provides real-time visibility into the status of orders at each stage of the fulfillment process, making it easier to identify bottlenecks and ensure customer satisfaction.
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Here are some benefits of using Fulfillment Requests:
- Multi-Warehouse Support: Automates the process of determining where to ship items from.
- Streamlined Fulfillment Process: Reduces errors and saves time by automating inventory checks and item fulfillments.
- Real-Time Visibility: Provides real-time visibility into the status of orders at each stage of the fulfillment process.
Setting Up Order Fulfillment
To set up order fulfillment in NetSuite, you'll need to understand the different features available. The Fulfillment Request feature is a key part of the process, allowing you to create a request for warehouse staff to fulfill.
You can enable the Pick, Pack and Ship feature under the Shipping & Receiving section of the Transactions subtab in Enable Features. This feature describes the process of locating and collecting the item you’re selling (pick); preparing it for shipping (pack); and finally, sending it out to the customer (ship).
To use the Pick, Pack and Ship feature, start by picking the items from the warehouse. You can do this by navigating to Transactions > Order Management > Fulfill Orders and selecting the orders you wish to fulfill.
The Item Fulfillment page is where you can see the status of each order and move it to the next stage. You can view the order details, including the items and shipping information, and update the status from picked to packed, or packed to shipped.
Smaller retail stores may not need the full Pick, Pack, and Ship feature, but can still use it to mark items as picked, packed, and shipped. Businesses that operate without a warehouse can also use this feature to manage their order fulfillment process.
Advanced Shipping is another key feature that can aid in the order fulfillment process. You can enable it under the Shipping and Receiving section of the Transactions subtab of Enable Features. This feature splits out the fulfillment process so that your shipping and accounting departments can fulfill and bill sales orders separately.
Here are the steps to enable Advanced Shipping:
- Go to Setup > Accounting > Preferences > Accounting Preferences.
- Select the Order Management subtab.
- Under the Invoicing section, select the checkbox next to Invoice in Advance of Fulfillment.
By following these steps, you can set up order fulfillment in NetSuite and streamline your shipping and accounting processes.
Pick, Pack, Ship
The Pick, Pack, Ship process is a crucial part of NetSuite order fulfillment. This feature describes the process of locating and collecting the item you're selling (pick), preparing it for shipping (pack), and finally, sending it out to the customer (ship).
To start the Pick, Pack, and Ship process, navigate to Transactions > Order Management > Fulfill Orders. Here, you can choose the customer whose order you are going to fulfill and the location you are fulfilling the order from.
You can then select the Fulfill checkbox next to any orders you wish to fulfill and click Submit.
The Item Fulfillment page allows you to see all the items on the order and move the order to the next status, such as from picked to packed, or packed to shipped.
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Integration and Automation
ShipBob's direct integration with NetSuite saves time on custom integrations, allowing you to focus on tailoring the integration to your exact needs. With ShipBob as your contractor, the groundwork is already laid, making it easier to build a seamless transfer of information between the two systems.
ShipBob's integration with NetSuite offers numerous benefits, including syncing data in real-time, centralizing business-critical ecommerce data, automating data sync, and efficient onboarding. This means you can keep using NetSuite as your source of truth without switching between platforms.
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Here are some key benefits of the ShipBob and NetSuite integration:
- Syncing data between NetSuite and ShipBob in real-time.
- Centralizing your business-critical ecommerce data while maintaining NetSuite as your enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
- Automating data sync between platforms, so you can keep using NetSuite as your source of truth without switching between platforms.
- Efficient onboarding with ShipBob, which means you’ll start shipping even faster.
Checkbox Options
Checkbox Options play a crucial role in streamlining your fulfillment process. You can choose to default new fulfillment transactions to zero received/fulfilled, which means you won't have to manually deselect items that haven't been fulfilled.
Leaving the first checkbox unchecked will automatically mark all items as fulfilled on new transactions. This can save you time, but be careful not to overlook any items that haven't been fulfilled.
The second checkbox allows you to fulfill orders with a larger quantity than the quantity left on the order, known as overage. This can be helpful if you're running low on stock but want to fulfill the order as soon as possible.
You can also filter the fulfillment list based on the location marked on the sales order with the third checkbox. This can help you prioritize orders based on their location.
Sending order fulfillment confirmation emails is made possible by the fourth checkbox. These emails can keep customers informed about the status of their orders.
Using a website template to craft your fulfillment emails is enabled by the fifth checkbox. This can save you time and ensure consistency in your email communications.
The sixth checkbox allows you to update the date of the transaction when the fulfillment status changes. This can help keep your records up to date and accurate.
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Carrier Integration
Carrier integration is a game-changer for businesses, allowing them to streamline their shipping processes.
NetSuite integrates with multiple shipping carriers, making it easy to manage shipments from a single interface. This means you can say goodbye to manual tracking and label printing.
Real-time shipment tracking is just one of the benefits of carrier integration - it also enables you to print labels directly from the NetSuite interface. This saves time and reduces errors.
NetSuite supports popular carriers like UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL, giving you the flexibility to choose the best carrier for your business needs.
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API Integration
API integration offers a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to streamline their operations. You only pay once for the integration, and over time, it can save you money compared to middleware or other integration methods.
Customization options are vast with API integration. You can create an integration that meets the unique needs of your business, and adapt it as your business grows.
API connections allow for real-time data sharing, which can be a game-changer for businesses. With an API connection, you can set up webhook subscriptions to specific topics, such as orders, shipping, or inventory, and receive updates immediately.
Here are some benefits of API integration:
- You only pay once, saving money in the long run.
- Customization options are infinite, allowing you to create an integration tailored to your business needs.
- Real-time data sharing enables fast and efficient data exchange.
Inventory Management
Inventory management is a breeze with the right tools. With the ShipBob and NetSuite integration, you can manage your inventory in NetSuite and rest assured that the updates will be synced with ShipBob's platform.
You can create and update inventory items, as well as create and update kits in NetSuite for ShipBob to fulfill. This integration allows you to use one platform to manage the entirety of your inventory.
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Inventory items are your traditional products with tracked inventory counts, kits are made of multiple products that are sold together as a whole, and assembly items are items that are manufactured and are made of other components. Here are some key inventory items to consider:
- Inventory items: traditional products with tracked inventory counts
- Kits: made of multiple products sold together as a whole
- Assembly items: manufactured items made of other components
With the ShipBob and NetSuite integration, you can sync inventory counts from ShipBob to NetSuite, either by specific product or network-wide, for "True Up" syncs. This ensures that your inventory data is always up-to-date and accurate.
Dropdown Lists
Dropdown lists are a powerful tool in NetSuite's inventory management system. They allow you to filter the packing slip list by orders as picked or packed.
You can also use dropdown lists to set item fulfillment restrictions, such as limiting fulfillment to committed items or ignoring item commitment altogether.
To manage your inventory efficiently, you can filter the packing slip list by orders as picked or packed. This helps you keep track of which orders have been fulfilled and which ones still need attention.

Dropdown lists can also be used to view and manage information at different points of the fulfillment process, including order status and shipping methods. This helps you stay organized and ensure that orders are fulfilled correctly.
With dropdown lists, you can view order status to see when orders are pending, in progress, shipped, or canceled. This gives you a clear picture of the fulfillment process and helps you identify any issues that need to be addressed.
Inventory Management & Cycle Counting
Inventory management is a crucial aspect of running a successful business, and having the right tools in place can make all the difference. With the right integration, you can manage your inventory in one platform and rest assured that the updates will be synced with your fulfillment provider's platform.
Inventory items are your traditional products with tracked inventory counts. Kits, on the other hand, are made of multiple products sold together as a whole. Assembly items are items that are manufactured and are made of other components.
Having accurate inventory data is essential for making informed business decisions. The NetSuite Inventory Count feature helps you plan for cycle counts that facilitate accurate inventory management.
Inventory forecasting is critical to the financial health of your business. By optimizing your stock levels, you can avoid overstocking and understocking, which can be costly. The inventory visibility you gain across all your warehouses and distribution centers helps set inventory and reorder levels.
You can sync inventory counts from ShipBob to NetSuite, either by specific product or network-wide, for "True Up" syncs. This ensures that your inventory data is always up-to-date and accurate.
Here are the different types of inventory items:
- Inventory items: traditional products with tracked inventory counts.
- Kits: made of multiple products sold together as a whole.
- Assembly items: items that are manufactured and are made of other components.
Warehouse and Logistics
NetSuite's Warehouse and Logistics features are designed to streamline your order fulfillment process. With Warehouse Management and Outbound Logistics, you can optimize pick and pack and shipping, making it easier to get your products to customers.
You can track containers with NetSuite's Inbound Shipment Management, setting quality assurance standards for inspections of inbound inventory. This helps ensure that your products meet the highest standards before they reach your customers.
NetSuite's Warehouse locations include East Coast, West Coast, American, and National fulfillment services and 3PL warehouses, giving you flexibility and scalability to meet your business needs.
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Warehouse Outbound Logistics
NetSuite's warehouse management system feature helps you optimize pick and pack and shipping if you operate a fulfillment warehouse.
The feature is especially useful for optimizing warehouse operations, ensuring that orders are fulfilled efficiently and accurately.
To use this feature, navigate to the Warehouse Management System section, where you can set up and manage your warehouse operations.
You can also use the Pick, Pack, and Ship feature to streamline the order fulfillment process, which includes locating and collecting the item, preparing it for shipping, and sending it out to the customer.
To start the Pick, Pack, and Ship process, go to Transactions > Order Management > Fulfill Orders, and select the customer and location you want to fulfill the order from.
The feature allows you to move the order status from picked to packed, and then from packed to shipped, all from the Item Fulfillment page.
Smaller retail stores may not need the full Pick, Pack, and Ship feature, but they can still mark items as picked, packed, and shipped directly on the fulfillment request.
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Advanced Shipping is another key feature that can aid in the order fulfillment process, allowing your shipping and accounting departments to fulfill and bill sales orders separately.
With Advanced Shipping, you can also use the preference Invoice in Advance of Fulfillment, which allows you to send an invoice for an entire order when only part of the order has been fulfilled.
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Warehouse Locations
Setting up warehouse locations is crucial for efficient order fulfillment. You can choose from East Coast, West Coast, American, or National fulfillment services & 3PL warehouses.
Having multiple warehouse locations can help you reach a wider customer base. For example, having an East Coast and West Coast warehouse can ensure faster shipping times for customers on both coasts.
To set up a warehouse location, you'll need to follow a few steps. Here's a quick rundown:
- Go to Lists > Supply Chain > Locations.
- Select the relevant location where you want to enable fulfillment requests.
- Check the box for Available for Fulfillment Requests.
- Save your changes.
Having multiple warehouse locations can also help you manage inventory more effectively. By storing inventory in different locations, you can reduce shipping times and increase customer satisfaction.
Here are some common warehouse locations to consider:
Best Practices and Solutions
Automating the creation of fulfillment requests can save time and reduce the potential for human error. By configuring rules to generate requests based on inventory availability or other order criteria, you can streamline your order fulfillment process.
Regularly reviewing your fulfillment preferences is crucial to ensure they align with your current business needs. This means updating your routing logic if your fulfillment process changes, such as adding new warehouses.
Monitoring your fulfillment performance is key to ensuring optimal operations. Use NetSuite's dashboards to track key performance indicators like fulfillment time, order accuracy, and warehouse efficiency.
Proper training is essential for your warehouse and fulfillment teams to process requests efficiently. This helps avoid bottlenecks and improves overall fulfillment speed.
Here are some specific steps to follow:
- Automate fulfillment requests based on pre-defined triggers like inventory availability or order criteria.
- Set up routing logic to prioritize the right warehouse or location based on proximity to the customer, inventory availability, or cost-efficiency.
- Use reporting and dashboard tools to track the efficiency of your fulfillment process and identify areas for improvement.
Monitoring your fulfillment performance is a continuous process. By tracking your fulfillment time, order accuracy, and warehouse efficiency, you can identify bottlenecks and make data-driven decisions to improve your operations.
ShipBob's Integration Solutions
ShipBob has a native integration with NetSuite for businesses that utilize ShipBob's fulfillment solutions, saving time on custom integrations.
This integration is like building a house, where ShipBob acts as the contractor, leveling the foundation and laying the groundwork, so you can customize the structure to your needs.
The benefits of ShipBob's NetSuite integration include syncing data between NetSuite and ShipBob in real-time, centralizing your business-critical ecommerce data, and automating data sync between platforms.
Some of the key benefits of this integration include:
- Syncing data between NetSuite and ShipBob in real-time.
- Centralizing your business-critical ecommerce data while maintaining NetSuite as your enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
- Automating data sync between platforms, so you can keep using NetSuite as your source of truth without switching between platforms.
- Efficient onboarding with ShipBob, which means you'll start shipping even faster.
To set up the integration, you'll need to add a custom field in NetSuite and set up NetSuite to allow the ShipBob integration to update NetSuite orders.
The integration also allows you to pass orders from NetSuite to ShipBob, or pull key data from ShipBob to NetSuite for accounting purposes, making it a semi-customizable solution for customers who use the ERP solution.
ShipBob has created and will maintain the direct integration with NetSuite, so you can focus on what matters: your business.
To get started with the integration, request a quote to connect with ShipBob's team of experts, who will guide you through the process and help you implement the integration.
Return and Refund
You can manage returns and refunds with ease using ShipBob's integration with NetSuite. This integration allows you to sync return information from ShipBob to NetSuite, making it easy to track and process returns.
Return information from ShipBob syncs back to NetSuite, enabling you to manage returns and refunds in one place. This helps streamline your return process and reduces errors.
To configure return and refund settings, you can toggle return sync on and off, set a start-refund date, and filter by subsidiaries, sources, and statuses. This flexibility allows you to customize your return process to fit your business needs.
Here are some key settings to consider when configuring return and refund settings:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 steps of order fulfillment?
The 7 steps of order fulfillment are receiving inventory, storing it, picking the order, packing it, shipping, delivering, and handling returns. This process ensures efficient and timely delivery of products to customers.
What is an item fulfillment in NetSuite?
An item fulfillment in NetSuite records the shipment of items on an order to the customer. It combines fulfillment and invoicing processes when Advanced Shipping is not enabled.
How to fulfill a transfer order in NetSuite?
To fulfill a transfer order in NetSuite, navigate to Transactions > Sales > Fulfill Orders and select Transfer Order in the Transaction Type field. Alternatively, view and fulfill individual orders by going to Transactions > Inventory > Enter Transfer Orders > List.
Sources
- https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/saas/netsuite/ns-online-help/section_4737787881.html
- https://suiterep.com/2022/03/22/the-netsuite-order-fulfillment-process/
- https://www.shipbob.com/blog/netsuite-fulfillment/
- https://redstagfulfillment.com/netsuite-order-fulfillment/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/netsuite-fulfillment-request-feature-salora-erp-23emf
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