How to Fulfill Orders on Shopify in 2026

Last Updated on January 12, 2026 by Himanshu Rawat

Order fulfillment is one of the most critical parts of running a successful Shopify store. From the moment a customer places an order to the time it arrives at their doorstep, every step impacts customer satisfaction, reviews, and repeat sales.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fulfill orders on Shopify, covering manual fulfillment, automated fulfillment, dropshipping, print‑on‑demand, and best practices to streamline the entire process.

What Is Order Fulfillment on Shopify?

Order fulfillment on Shopify is the end-to-end workflow that begins the moment a customer places an order and ends when that order is successfully delivered and marked as complete in your Shopify admin.

In simple terms, it explains how Shopify store owners fulfill orders on Shopify, manage shipping, update tracking details, and complete the order lifecycle.

It includes several connected steps:

1. Receiving a customer order

First, as soon as a customer completes checkout, the order appears in your Shopify dashboard with details such as items purchased, payment status, shipping address, and delivery method.

2. Processing and packing the items

Next is order processing and packing. You review the order, confirm inventory availability, and prepare the items for shipment. 

This may involve picking products from your inventory, packaging them securely, and attaching the correct shipping labels and documentation.

3. Shipping the order

Then comes shipping the order. The package is handed over to a shipping carrier or logistics partner. Shopify allows you to buy shipping labels directly, connect carrier accounts, or rely on third-party services to handle delivery to handle delivery when you fulfill orders on Shopify.

5. Providing tracking details

After shipping, tracking information is provided. Once a tracking number is added, Shopify can automatically notify the customer so they can follow their shipment in real time. This improves transparency and builds trust.

6. Marking the order as fulfilled in Shopify 

Finally, marking the order as fulfilled. When an order is shipped (or delivered, depending on your workflow), it is marked as fulfilled in Shopify. This updates your records, adjusts inventory levels, and completes the order lifecycle.

Shopify offers flexible order fulfillment options. You can fulfill orders manually, automatically after payment, or through third-party services like dropshipping or fulfillment centers, allowing you to choose what best fits your business needs.

Step 1: Receive an Order in Shopify

When a customer places an order on your store, Shopify automatically captures and records all the order details in your Orders section. At the same time, both you and the customer receive an order confirmation email, ensuring transparency and immediate acknowledgment of the purchase.

By default, the order status will show as Unfulfilled, which means the items have been paid for but have not yet been processed and shipped.

To review the order details:

• Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard
• Navigate to Orders
• Click on the specific order you want to fulfil to view customer information, items purchased, payment status, and shipping details

Step 2: Review and Prepare the Order

Before moving ahead with fulfillment, it’s important to carefully review the order details to avoid errors or delays. Take a moment to double-check the following:

• Customer’s shipping address to ensure it is complete and accurate
• Products, variants, and quantities to confirm the correct items are being sent
• Payment status (Paid or Pending) to make sure the order is ready for fulfillment
• Any special customer notes or instructions, such as gift messages or delivery preferences

Once everything is verified, begin preparing the order by picking the correct items from your inventory and packing them securely. Proper packaging helps protect the products during transit and ensures a positive delivery experience for your customer.

Step 3: Choose Your Fulfillment Method

Shopify offers several fulfillment options, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your business model and order volume when you fulfill orders on Shopify.

1. Manual Fulfillment (Self-Fulfilled)

If you manage packing and shipping on your own, manual fulfillment is the most straightforward option. To fulfill an order manually:

• Open the order in your Shopify admin
• Click Mark as fulfilled
• Enter the shipping carrier and tracking number (if available)
• Click Fulfill item(s) to complete the process

Once the order is marked as fulfilled, Shopify automatically sends a shipping confirmation email to the customer, including tracking details if provided. This keeps customers informed and helps build trust.

Best for: Small businesses, handmade or custom products, and local sellers who prefer hands-on control over packing and shipping.

2. Automatic Fulfillment

Shopify also allows you to automatically mark orders as fulfilled as soon as payment is received. This means you don’t need to manually review or update the order status, saving time and effort.

To enable automatic fulfillment:

• Go to Settings → Checkout in your Shopify admin
• Scroll down to the Order processing section
• Select Automatically fulfill the order’s line items

Once enabled, Shopify will instantly mark eligible orders as fulfilled after successful payment and notify the customer automatically.

Important: This option should only be used if you sell digital products, services, or non-shippable items (such as downloads, subscriptions, or virtual services). For physical products, automatic fulfillment can lead to errors since items may be marked as shipped before they are actually prepared and delivered.

3. Third-Party Fulfillment Services

For businesses that want to scale or handle a high volume of orders, Shopify supports integration with third-party fulfillment services. These partners manage storage, packing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on sales and marketing.

You can connect popular fulfillment providers such as:

• Shopify Fulfillment Network
• Amazon MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment)
• ShipBob, ShipStation, Deliverr

How it works once connected:

• Orders from your Shopify store are automatically sent to the fulfillment partner
• The service picks, packs, and ships the products on your behalf
• Shipping updates and tracking details are synced back to Shopify and shared with the customer automatically

This setup reduces manual effort, speeds up delivery times, and ensures consistent fulfillment as your order volume grows.

Best for: Scaling businesses, brands with large inventories, and high-volume stores that need reliable and fast order fulfillment.

4. Dropshipping Fulfillment

Dropshipping fulfillment is a popular option if you don’t want to hold or manage inventory yourself. When using dropshipping apps such as DSers, Spocket, or Zendrop, the fulfillment process is largely automated.

How it works:

• A customer places an order on your Shopify store
• The order automatically syncs with your connected supplier through the app
• You confirm and place the order with one click (or automatically, depending on settings)
• The supplier packs and ships the product directly to the customer
• Tracking information is automatically sent back to Shopify and shared with the customer

This method eliminates the need for warehousing, reduces upfront costs, and simplifies order management.

Best for: Beginners, new Shopify store owners, and businesses that want to operate with minimal inventory and lower risk.

5. Print-on-Demand Fulfillment

Print-on-demand (POD) fulfillment is ideal for selling custom or personalized products such as T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, and posters without holding inventory.

How it works:

• Connect a print-on-demand app like Printify or Printful to your Shopify store
• When a customer places an order, the details are automatically sent to the POD provider
• The product is printed on demand using your design
• The provider handles packing and shipping directly to the customer
• Tracking information is synced back to Shopify automatically

Since items are produced only after an order is placed, there’s no need to manage stock or handle fulfillment manually.

Best for: Creators, designers, and ecommerce stores offering custom or branded products with minimal upfront investment.

Step 4: Add Tracking and Notify Customers

Adding tracking information is an important part of the fulfillment process, as it builds customer trust and significantly reduces “Where is my order?” support inquiries.

When fulfilling an order in Shopify:

• Select or add the shipping carrier name
• Enter the tracking number provided by the carrier or fulfillment service
• Make sure Send shipment details to customer is enabled before completing fulfillment

Once this is done, Shopify automatically sends a shipment confirmation email to the customer with tracking details. Customers can click the tracking link in the email to monitor their order status in real time, creating a smoother and more transparent post-purchase experience.

Step 5: Manage Fulfillment Statuses

Shopify uses clear fulfillment statuses to help you easily track the progress of every order and stay organized as your store grows. Understanding these statuses allows you to quickly identify which orders need attention.

• Unfulfilled – The order has been placed and paid for, but items have not yet been shipped
• Fulfilled – The entire order has been shipped, and tracking details have been sent to the customer
• Partially Fulfilled – Some items in the order have been shipped, while others are still pending
• Scheduled – Fulfillment is planned for a future date, useful for pre-orders or delayed shipping

You can use Shopify’s order filters to sort and view orders by fulfillment status, making it easier to prioritize tasks, manage workflows, and ensure no orders are missed.

Handling Partial Fulfillments

Partial fulfillment helps when items in an order are shipped at different times.

• Fulfill available items first: Ship the items that are ready instead of waiting for the entire order.
• Add tracking for each shipment: Enter the carrier and tracking number for every shipment so customers can track them individually.
• Fulfill remaining items later: Complete fulfillment for the pending items once they are ready to ship.

Shopify automatically updates the order status to Partially Fulfilled or Fulfilled, keeping everything organized and transparent.

Handling Returns and Refunds

For returns:

• Receive the item back
• Inspect the product
• Go to Orders → Refund
• Choose the refund amount and reason

Clear return policies help reduce disputes and chargebacks.

Best Practices for Smooth Shopify Fulfillment

Following best practices helps ensure timely deliveries, happy customers, and fewer fulfillment issues.

• Use reliable shipping carriers: Choose trusted carriers with consistent delivery times to minimize delays and lost packages. Reliable carriers reduce delivery failures by 30%, ensuring 90% on-time performance critical for repeat purchases.
• Automate fulfillment wherever possible: Use apps like DSers or ShipStation to auto-sync orders, generate labels, and update statuses, slashing manual processing time by 70%. Automation prevents overselling via inventory sync and handles peaks without extra staff
• Always provide tracking details: Sharing tracking information builds trust and reduces customer support inquiries.
• Set clear shipping timelines on product pages: Let customers know expected processing and delivery times to manage expectations.
• Monitor fulfillment performance regularly: Review delivery times, delays, and order statuses to identify and fix issues quickly.
• Use fulfillment apps to save time: Apps can handle labeling, tracking, and order syncing, allowing you to focus on growing your store.

Final Thoughts

Order fulfillment on Shopify doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re shipping products yourself, dropshipping, or using a fulfillment partner, Shopify provides all the tools you need to manage orders efficiently.

By choosing the right fulfillment method and following best practices, you can deliver faster, reduce errors, and create a smooth post‑purchase experience that keeps customers coming back.

If you’re just getting started, begin with manual fulfillment and gradually automate as your store grows.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Can I fulfil orders on Shopify without using a fulfillment service?

Yes. Shopify allows you to fulfil orders manually by packing and shipping products yourself. You can mark orders as fulfilled directly from the Orders section and add tracking details for customers.

2. What happens if I don’t mark an order as fulfilled?

If an order is not marked as fulfilled, customers will not receive shipping confirmation or tracking information. This can lead to confusion, increased support tickets, and lower customer satisfaction.

3. Can I partially fulfil an order on Shopify?

Yes. Shopify supports partial fulfillment. If some items are ready to ship before others, you can fulfil those items first and ship the remaining products later. Each shipment can have its own tracking number.

4. Does Shopify automatically send tracking details to customers?

Yes. When you add a tracking number and enable shipment notifications during fulfillment, Shopify automatically emails the customer with tracking details and a link to track their order.

5. Which fulfillment method is best for beginners?

For beginners, dropshipping or manual fulfillment is often the easiest option. These methods require minimal setup and allow you to understand the fulfillment process before scaling with automation or third-party services.