This type of application streamlines the fulfillment process for businesses that sell and distribute physical goods. Functionally, it manages the selection of items from storage (picking), the consolidation of those items into packages (packing), and the arrangement for delivery to the customer (shipping). A common example is its use within e-commerce businesses to efficiently handle customer orders from placement to final delivery.
Efficiently managing order fulfillment is critical for business profitability and customer satisfaction. Automating these previously manual processes can lead to reduced labor costs, fewer errors in order fulfillment, and faster delivery times. Historically, businesses relied on manual processes and spreadsheets, leading to inefficiencies and scalability limitations. The introduction of dedicated applications has enabled businesses to handle higher volumes of orders with greater accuracy and speed.