Partial delivery occurs when only part of a customer’s order is delivered initially, with the remaining items arriving later. This often happens when items are sourced from different locations, managed by various delivery partners, or packed at different times. Properly handling partial deliveries ensures better inventory management, customer satisfaction, and smoother operations.
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What Is a Partial Shipment?
Partial shipment means delivering parts of an order in multiple packages instead of sending everything together. Let’s say you ordered three products, but only two are in stock right now—the seller might ship those two first and send the remaining one later. That’s a partial shipment.
It’s commonly used when some items in the order are delayed, come from different warehouses, or are bulky and need special handling. Instead of making the customer wait for everything, businesses send what’s ready, keeping things moving and customers happy.
Why Do Merchants Need Partial Shipment Capabilities?
- Not all products in an order are always available at the same time.
- It helps speed up delivery for ready-to-ship items.
- Keeps customers satisfied, they get at least part of their order instead of waiting endlessly.
- Useful during festive or sale seasons when stockouts happen frequently.
- Great for businesses with multiple warehouses or suppliers.
Why Is Partial Shipment Important?
- Builds trust, customers feel the seller is proactive.
- Reduces cancellations – people are less likely to cancel if some items are already shipped.
- Boosts cash flow – products move faster, and invoicing can start earlier.
- Helps manage inventory more efficiently – no need to hold back ready items.
- Makes the supply chain more flexible – sellers can react quickly to changes in stock or delivery timelines.
How Partial Deliveries Work?
1. Order Placement
A customer places an order containing multiple items through your online store or sales platform.
2. Order Review
You begin the fulfillment process by verifying the stock availability of each item across various warehouses or locations.
3. Dispatch Decision
If some items are ready for dispatch while others are delayed due to location, stock, or processing times, you opt to proceed with a partial delivery.
4. Initial Shipment
You pack and ship the available items first. The customer receives a notification that part of their order is out for delivery.
5. First Delivery
The available items are delivered to the customer’s address as scheduled.
6. Pending Items Handling
You continue to prepare the remaining items as they become available, ensuring they pass quality checks or are restocked.
7. Follow-up Notification
You notify the customer about the status of the remaining items, providing updates on their delivery timeline.
8. Final Delivery
The rest of the order is delivered, completing the customer’s order and finalising the fulfilment cycle.
What Makes Partial Shipments Challenging for Sellers?
- It increases logistics cost – multiple shipments mean more packaging and delivery charges.
- Harder to track – sellers and customers need to follow multiple parcels.
- More chances of errors – wrong items or missed deliveries.
- Returns and exchanges can get messy, especially if not all items are delivered together.
- Needs solid coordination between inventory, order management, and shipping teams.
How Does Automation Help with Partial Shipments?
- Automation tools help detect which items are ready and trigger shipping without manual input.
- Integration with inventory systems allows real-time tracking of stock availability.
- Smart rules can be set, like auto-splitting if delivery exceeds X days or based on item priority.
- Reduces manual errors and speeds up the entire process.
- Helps give customers tracking updates for each shipment automatically.
What Does Partially Delivered Mean?
‘Partially delivered’ simply means the full order hasn’t been delivered yet; only some of the items have reached the customer. It’s common in eCommerce and wholesale when goods are shipped in parts. The remaining items will follow soon, and the order status will change to ‘delivered’ only when all items are received.
Example: You ordered 5 chairs, and only 3 were delivered today. That’s a partial delivery.
Partial Truckload Shipments (PTL)
Partial Truckload (PTL) is a freight shipping method where your goods share space on a truck with shipments from other sellers. It sits between Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (FTL).
- Ideal when the shipment is too big for LTL but not enough for FTL.
- Helps save costs—you pay only for the space you use.
- Often quicker than LTL because there are fewer stops and handlings.
- Best for medium-sized shipments—like 6 to 18 pallets or 5,000–25,000 lbs.
Why Choose to Ship Partially?
- Faster delivery of ready items = happier customers.
- Avoids delays caused by a single out-of-stock product.
- Keeps operations moving, especially when dealing with urgent or perishable goods.
- Reduces pressure on storage space.
- Gives flexibility in the supply chain and a better customer experience.
Partial Delivery Indicator
A partial delivery indicator helps you track if an order will be delivered in full or in parts. It shows how many deliveries are allowed for one order and how they should be handled. For example, some customers may want everything in one delivery, while others are okay with receiving items in parts.
Using these indicators improves your operations. You know exactly what has been delivered and what is pending. It also helps customers clearly see which items are on the way and which have already reached the delivery address. This reduces confusion, avoids repeated customer calls, and makes delivery agents’ jobs easier.
This transparency is also essential from a cost perspective. The report says, 49% of customers abandon their carts due to unexpected shipping costs, often tied to split shipments, making clear communication and cost management crucial.
By using the right indicator, you can plan deliveries better, avoid delays, and keep both your team and your customers informed.
Conclusion
Partial delivery means only a portion of an order is delivered at a time, with the remaining items arriving separately. It often occurs due to separate shipping sources, varied packaging times, or multiple delivery partners. Understanding how it works helps you handle customer expectations and track orders more efficiently. Managing partial deliveries well ensures smoother operations, improves customer satisfaction, and supports better business performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. What should I do if I receive a partial delivery?
Review your order details to confirm what’s missing. Then reach out to the seller or support team to get an update on when the remaining items will be delivered.
2. Are partial deliveries common in all types of orders?
No, they are more common in multi-item or large-volume orders. Orders involving different sellers, warehouses, or delivery partners are more likely to be partially delivered.
3. How can businesses minimise the occurrence of partial deliveries?
Businesses can reduce them by maintaining accurate inventory, streamlining order processing, and coordinating shipments from fewer locations. Reliable logistics partners and clear communication also help.
4. Is partial delivery the same as partial shipment?
Yes, both refer to the same process—when only part of an order is dispatched or delivered, and the rest is scheduled to arrive later.
