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Managing Pre-orders
on Fulfil

Fulfil

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Fulfil is a cloud-based ERP solution that integrates with Shopify to synchronize product data, orders, and inventory. It supports negative inventory for pre-orders or overselling, offers partial fulfillment workflows, and allows for custom processes based on Shopify tags/metafields.

This guide will break down how Fulfil handles key pre-order functions like negative stock, Shopify’s “On Hold” status, and fulfilment workflows—so you’ll know what to expect, where it excels, and any workarounds you may need.

How ERPs and pre-orders work together in the modern ecommerce stack

As the central source of truth for your ecommerce operations, ERPs play a crucial role in pre-orders—primarily in two areas:

Product & inventory management (tracking stock, syncing availability).
Order processing (handling pre-order statuses and fulfilment flows).

Below is a typical flow. Click through to see how Shopify, the ERP and pre-order application interact.

1

Order & Inventory Sync

The ERP synchronizes orders and inventory across various sales channels (e.g., Shopify, Amazon, retail POS).

Key Considerations for Managing Pre-orders on Fulfil

In the diagram above you may have noticed the word “should” being used a couple of times… That’s because not all ERPs fully support Shopify’s pre-order features out of the box. Some may lack support for negative inventory counts or fail to respect Shopify’s “On Hold” order status, requiring workarounds or additional configuration. Read on to see how Fulfil interacts with Shopify pre-orders and what you might need to adjust.

Syncing Shopify Products

syncing_shopify_products: Fulfil integrates with Shopify to synchronize product data—titles, SKUs, and inventory levels—so your sales channels remain consistent.
• Centralized Product Data: Titles, SKUs, and other product attributes are updated in Fulfil and pushed to Shopify.
• Inventory Level Updates: Real-time synchronization ensures accurate stock counts, reducing overselling.
• Order Management: Online Shopify and Shopify POS orders import into Fulfil for unified processing.

Syncing Shopify Orders

Yes, Fulfil synchronizes Shopify order data—statuses, customer details, line items—to streamline order management.
• Order Synchronization: Automatically imports online sales orders for centralized visibility.
• Customer Details: Pulls billing/shipping info from Shopify into Fulfil for comprehensive customer profiles.
• Real-Time Status: Fulfilling an order in Fulfil updates Shopify with shipment tracking and status changes.

Handling Negative Inventory

Yes, Fulfil ERP supports negative inventory to handle pre-orders or overselling scenarios.
• Negative Inventory Tracking: Lets you process orders despite zero or insufficient stock, capturing demand in real time.
• Stock Reconciliation: Once inventory arrives, Fulfil updates these orders so you can fulfill them promptly.

Respecting Shopify’s “On Hold” Status

Fulfil integrates with Shopify but doesn’t have explicit documentation on supporting Shopify’s “on hold” status. In Shopify, putting an order “on hold” delays fulfillment until the hold is lifted. While Fulfil may receive order status updates, official references to “on hold” are not clearly detailed. You could build a workaround if needed, such as using custom tags or notes in Shopify that Fulfil can recognize.

Pre-Order-Specific Features

Yes, Fulfil ERP provides features and workflows to handle pre-orders efficiently:
• Backorder Management: Accept orders for out-of-stock items; fulfill them once inventory is replenished.
• Inventory Allocation: Reserve incoming stock for pre-orders so customers’ orders are prioritized when it arrives.
• Order Status Tracking: Real-time monitoring of pre-orders and automated notifications to keep customers informed.
• Customizable Workflows: Tailor order handling steps to align with your specific pre-order processes.

Custom Workflows with Order Tags, Line-item Properties or Metafields

Fulfil can utilize Shopify tags and metafields to create custom workflows. By mapping these fields in Fulfil, you can automate tasks based on order or product attributes—like special handling for pre-order items, VIP customers, or unique shipping rules.

Supporting Full vs. Partial Order Fulfilment

Yes, Fulfil ERP supports both full and partial order fulfillment.
• Partial Fulfillment: In-stock items can ship first, with backordered products dispatched when available.
• Multiple Shipments: You can split orders across warehouses or shipments if needed, keeping customers informed as items ship.

Summary

Fulfil support for
Shopify Pre-orders

Pre-order touchpoint	Fulfil support
Products sync with Shopify	✅ Syncs product data (titles, SKUs, inventory) with Shopify
Orders sync with Shopify	✅ Imports orders, statuses, and customer info from Shopify
Negative inventory support	✅ Allows negative stock for pre-orders/overselling
Shopify “On Hold” status recognition	⚠️ “On hold” not clearly detailed; may need a custom workaround
Specific pre-order support	✅ Backorder management, inventory allocation, and real-time tracking
Custom workflows	✅ Supports Shopify tags/metafields for tailored automations
Partial fulfilment support	✅ Ships partial orders, letting in-stock items go first

Strengths & Limitations

✅ Strengths
• Ecomm focussed ERP
• Powerful Shopify sync for products and orders
• Negative inventory setting for pre-orders
• Flexible workflows and partial fulfillment

⚠️ Limitations
• No official mention of direct “on hold” sync
• Some custom flow configuration may require developer input