Order Management
Part of Order management systems
Handling split orders in an OMS
Keep quantities, fulfilment parts and customer updates coherent when one order is shipped or collected in several parts.
Treat a split order as one customer commitment with several fulfilment parts. Keep each part's assigned line quantities and delivery method visible. Leave every unfinished quantity open until it is fulfilled, collected, cancelled or otherwise resolved.
Account for every part
An order may split when stock sits at different locations, items cannot ship together, or some items are collected while others are shipped. A pickup part needs collection states, not a parcel tracking number.
Before release, inspect these records for each line:
Record / Question it answers
- Original line and quantity
- What did the customer order?
- Fulfilment part and assigned quantity
- Which source is responsible for these units?
- Delivery method
- Is this part shipped, collected or handled another way?
- Completed, cancelled and outstanding quantities
- What has happened to every ordered unit?
- Part status and owner
- Who acts if this part stalls?
Reconcile completed, cancelled and outstanding quantities against each original order line. A single order-level badge cannot identify which parcel contains which item or which line remains open.
Fulfilment Part Tracking Across Systems
- ShopifySupports split fulfilments with separate tracking numbers and emails; mobile app does not allow splitting/merging
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order ManagementLinks one order to multiple fulfilment orders; tracks products and tracking lines via entity relationships
Key Records to Inspect Before Releasing a Split Order
- Original line and quantityWhat did the customer originally order?
- Fulfilment part and assigned quantityWhich warehouse or source is responsible for these units?
- Delivery methodIs this part shipped, collected, or handled differently?
- Completed, cancelled and outstanding quantitiesHas every unit been processed? Are any still open?
- Part status and ownerWho is responsible if this part stalls?
Release and confirm each part
Give each source a distinct instruction or fulfilment record in the proposed workflow. When one source completes work, update only its confirmed lines and quantities.
If another source reports a shortage, retain the remaining obligation while staff decide whether to wait, reassign it or seek a customer decision. Check the first source's work before creating a replacement assignment.
Microsoft's Intelligent Order Management data model relates one order to multiple fulfilment orders. It links order products to fulfilment order products and tracking lines.
Shopify allows part of an order to be fulfilled. Shipped fulfilments can have separate tracking numbers. Separate parts may generate separate shipping confirmation emails when notifications are sent.
Shopify also states that splitting or merging a fulfilment in its admin is unavailable in the mobile app. That action requires a desktop device or the web version on mobile. Automatic fulfilment settings and third-party services can change which manual actions staff can perform.
Keep the customer view clear
Show which items have been fulfilled and which remain in preparation, using language supported by the sales channel. Attach tracking to the correct shipped part.
For a pickup part, show its collection progress. Decide which system sends each notification so connected applications do not issue conflicting messages.
After marking an order fulfilled in Shopify, package the items and attach a shipping label to the package.
For a proposed demonstration, use a two-line order sourced from two warehouses. Complete one part, short-pick the other and resolve the remainder. Inspect assigned quantities, open work, tracking, customer status and notification history after each step.
Order Fulfilment Status Summary
