Outboundzending

Outboundzending is the process of dispatching goods from a warehouse, distribution center, or fulfilment facility to customers, retailers, or other destinations. In logistics and supply chain management, it represents the outbound leg of the order fulfillment cycle and is typically contrasted with inboundzending, which covers incoming shipments from suppliers.

Typical steps include order receipt, picking and packing, labeling and documentation, staging for shipping, carrier selection, dispatch, and transfer to the carrier. The process is often supported by warehouse management systems (WMS) and transportation management systems (TMS), and relies on accurate data about orders, SKUs, weights, and dimensions. Real-time tracking and exception handling are common features.

Key performance metrics for outboundzending include on-time departure, on-time delivery, order accuracy, dock-to-ship time, cost per order, and damage or loss rates. Efficiency improves through standardized packing, consolidation, route optimization, carrier contracts, and automation in sorting, packing, and labeling.

Challenges include peak-period demand, multi-site networks, inventory visibility gaps, cross-border documentation, and regulatory compliance. In omnichannel environments, outboundzending must integrate with e-commerce platforms and retail systems to align inventory, pricing, and fulfillment across channels.

See also inboundzending, fulfillment, dispatch, shipping, logistics, warehouse management, and transportation management.