What is split shipment?

A split shipment is a delivery method where products from the same order are shipped separately instead of being delivered in one package or shipment. This usually happens when products are stored in different warehouses, have different availability dates, or require different shipping methods.

Split shipments can occur when:

• Products are in different warehouses: Each location ships the items it has in stock.
• Some products are backordered: Available products ship first while unavailable items are sent later.
• Products have different delivery requirements: Certain items may require specialized carriers or handling.
• Orders are fulfilled by different suppliers or 3PL providers.
• Partial fulfillment is needed: The business sends available products without waiting for the entire order.

Example: A B2B customer orders 1,000 units of packaging and 200 machines. The packaging is available in Mumbai, while the machines are stored in Delhi. The business may ship each part separately, resulting in two shipments for one order.

Split shipments can help businesses deliver available products sooner and use inventory across multiple locations efficiently. However, they can also increase shipping costs and create multiple tracking numbers, so customers should receive clear shipment and delivery information.