Split orders across multiple fulfilment locations
Authors:
Michael Wholohan, Holger Lierse
Changed on:
14 Nov 2025
Problem
When complete order fulfilment from a single location isn't possible, retailers need intelligent logic to determine if and how to split orders across multiple fulfilment nodes.
Without this capability, they either cancel items unnecessarily or create inefficient multi-location fulfilment scenarios that increase costs. This results in lost revenue from avoidable cancellations, inflated shipping expenses from unoptimised splits, and poor customer experiences from excessive or poorly planned partial shipments.
Example
A home improvement retailer received orders containing items stored across different warehouse zones and store locations. Their system had no logic to determine optimal splitting, so warehouse staff made ad-hoc decisions resulting in inconsistent fulfilment patterns. Some orders were unnecessarily split into 4-5 shipments when 2 would have sufficed, while others had items cancelled that were actually available at alternative locations. This lack of intelligent split logic resulted in excessive shipping costs, inventory write-offs from poor allocation decisions, and unpredictable customer experiences.
Solution Overview
When single-location fulfilment is impossible, Fluent Order Management leverages its Responsive Sourcing Framework to apply intelligent, cost-aware logic to determine the optimal way to split an order across multiple fulfilment nodes.
The defined optimised split logic within the responsive sourcing framework analyses inventory and costs for various split scenarios, aiming to fulfil the maximum number of items while using the minimum number of shipments. This decision is supported by line-item commitment, which ensures that inventory is precisely reserved at the chosen split locations, preventing unnecessary cancellations and write-offs.
Additionally, retailers can configure Split Cost Constraints to enforce a maximum allowable cost or number of shipments for any given order, preventing excessive splitting from eroding margins. Finally, for orders that are split, Fluent tracks the progress of each partial shipment and can orchestrate Consolidated Shipping where possible, to minimise customer confusion and ensure shipments arrive closely together.
By implementing Fluent OMS's intelligent order splitting logic, retailers gains control and efficiency in complex fulfillment scenarios by:
- Minimising Shipping Costs: The responsive sourcing eliminates ad-hoc, inefficient splitting, leading to fewer overall shipments per order and a direct reduction in logistics expenses.
- Increasing Revenue Capture: Fewer items are unnecessarily cancelled, ensuring that available inventory across the network is utilised, preventing inventory write-offs, and preserving revenue.
- Consistent Customer Experience: Order splitting becomes predictable and optimised, replacing chaotic, ad-hoc deliveries with a streamlined process that minimises confusion for the customer, reducing the "Where is my order" calls into the customer service centre.
Solution
Responsive Sourcing Framework Overview
The Responsive Sourcing Framework is a configurable, scalable alternative to custom Workflows and Rules for managing sourcing strategies. You’ll learn how to define and optimize sourcing logic using Sourcing Profiles, Strategies, Conditions, and Criteria. The Framework empowers both technical and business users with faster implementation, greater control, and transparency into how sourcing decisions are made and why.
