Increasing Order Accuracy in Your Fulfillment Center

Scott Hothem • December 16, 2013

A fundamental pillar of a strong fulfillment center is accuracy.  Order accuracy is the one tangible, logistical element that ties your company to your consumer.  As soon as a customer places an order for your product, whether your fulfillment provider recognizes it or not (and they should), a bond is formed.  You’ve spent too much time, money, and effort enticing customers to purchase, just to have the ball dropped when they actually open their wallets.  Breaking this trust with your consumer can be absolutely detrimental to your business and your brand.  Besides damaging your company’s reputation, it has a significant impact to your margins and bottom line.  A study by MHI shows that 39% of retail companies face a key challenge with inaccurate order delivery dates.


Fulfillment accounts for 50-60% of your labor expenses, far and away the most intensive and expensive costs your distribution center will incur.  However, the massive significance of fulfillment operations in keeping your customers satisfied more than justifies this steep investment.  And as with any investment, keeping tabs on the efficiency of the fulfillment performance is the only way to earn a return and avoid unnecessary delay and expenditures.


Observing your distribution center during a shift can provide a handful of reasons for your poor order accuracy results.  In particular, two areas are likely having the greatest impact on your accuracy, or lack thereof.  Stocking activity is typically a major component in fulfillment errors.  A study by intelligrated.com shows that stocking activity is responsible for nearly a quarter of all order fulfillment mistakes.


Ideally, stocking is done before picking, synchronizing, or slotting.  Performing these activities in this particular sequence will reduce the instances of having unavailable merchandise. Further, providing more slots for high-velocity items and separating similar type items from each other are two easy ways to reduce fulfillment errors.  According to a Supply Chain Quarterly survey, stocking practices were a leading factor in 76% of companies with accuracy issues.


In addition to stocking activity, picking motions pose a tremendous threat to order accuracy.  Creating the most efficient picking motion possible will alleviate many of the mistakes within your supply chain.  Items that are difficult to reach or heavier products that are organized incorrectly increase the likelihood of inaccurate picking.  Creating distinct zones for different types of products and balancing such zones with the appropriate equipment can reduce these concerns.  Optimizing the picking protocol for a mid-sized retailer can improve order accuracy by 34%, as stated in a 2012 case study by Logistics Planning.


Given the urgency and utmost importance to deliver the correct order to your customers, there are proven methods you can put in place to increase your order accuracy.  Partnering with a qualified fulfillment provider can be an effective way to enhance your order accuracy and has a direct correlation to your customer service, brand reputation, and bottom line.

Recent Blog Posts

By Faith Artieda May 28, 2026
This year marks an important milestone for Barrett Distribution — 20 years of participating in The Great Game of Business® (GGOB) , a program that has helped shape our culture, strengthen employee engagement, and create a stronger sense of teamwork and shared success across the organization. Over the past two decades, GGOB has become much more than a business program at Barrett. It has become part of the way we communicate, collaborate, and grow together as a company. Through open-book management principles, weekly huddles, forecasting, scoreboards, and Mini Games, employees across Barrett locations have had the opportunity to better understand the business and actively contribute to its success. One of the most meaningful impacts of GGOB has been the way it brings people together. In an industry built on precision, service, and operational excellence, collaboration is essential. Barrett’s success depends on teams working together across departments, facilities, and regions — and GGOB has helped strengthen those connections by creating a culture centered around communication, accountability, and involvement. GGOB encourages employees to think beyond their individual roles and understand how their work impacts customers, coworkers, and overall company performance. Whether it’s improving warehouse efficiency, supporting transportation operations, enhancing customer service, or identifying process improvements, employees are empowered to contribute ideas and solutions that help move Barrett forward.  As Tim Barret, Founder of Barrett, states, "...we share all of the financial results with all of the employees, and they have a vested interest since they will receive a payout result." That sense of involvement creates stronger engagement across the organization. Employees are not simply completing daily tasks — they are participating in the success of the business. By understanding company goals and key performance drivers, teams are able to work together with a shared purpose and celebrate accomplishments collectively. Community and collaboration have always been important values at Barrett, and GGOB has helped reinforce those values over the last 20 years. The program creates opportunities for employees to learn from one another, support one another, and recognize the impact each person has on the organization. It encourages transparency and open communication, helping employees feel more connected to leadership, their teams, and the company’s long-term vision. As Barrett has continued to grow nationwide, maintaining a strong culture has remained a priority. GGOB has played an important role in helping preserve the family-oriented environment that Barrett is known for, even as the company has expanded operations and welcomed new employees across the country. The program helps create consistency in communication and engagement while keeping employees connected to the bigger picture. To help celebrate this 20-year anniversary, Barrett owner Tim Barrett recently participated in a video discussion reflecting on the company’s GGOB journey and the impact it has had on Barrett over the years. The conversation highlighted how collaboration, employee involvement, and shared accountability continue to contribute to the company’s success today. This milestone is ultimately a celebration of the people who make Barrett successful every day. The dedication, teamwork, creativity, and commitment shown by employees across the organization are what continue to drive Barrett forward. Twenty years later, The Great Game of Business continues to strengthen the culture of collaboration and engagement that makes Barrett special — and the future of the game is stronger than ever.
By Faith Artieda May 26, 2026
How Barrett Is Improving Inventory Accuracy with AI-Powered Warehouse Visibility
By Faith Artieda May 20, 2026
Choosing the right fulfillment partner is one of the most important — and often most difficult — decisions a growing brand can make. As customer expectations continue to rise, brands are being asked to deliver faster shipping, better inventory visibility, seamless omnichannel experiences, and retail compliance at scale. At the same time, the process of finding the right 3PL partner can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That’s why Barrett Distribution Centers is excited to partner with Fulfill.com. Who Is Fulfill.com? Fulfill.com is a fast-growing platform that helps eCommerce and omnichannel brands find the right third-party logistics (3PL) partner for their business. Their team works directly with brands to simplify the 3PL search process by connecting them with vetted fulfillment providers that match their operational needs, growth goals, product requirements, and shipping profiles. Founded by entrepreneurs with firsthand experience navigating fulfillment challenges, Fulfill.com was built to solve a common industry problem: too many brands waste valuable time and money trying to find a reliable logistics partner. Instead of forcing brands to sort through endless provider options on their own, Fulfill.com streamlines the process through industry expertise, technology, and a carefully curated network of fulfillment providers across multiple verticals. For brands, that means less guesswork and a faster path toward finding a fulfillment partner that can truly support long-term growth. Why the Partnership Makes Sense At Barrett, we’ve always believed fulfillment should feel like a partnership — not just a vendor relationship.  Since 1941, Barrett Distribution has helped brands scale through customized logistics solutions designed around their specific operational needs. From direct-to-consumer fulfillment and retail distribution to transportation management and value-added services, Barrett focuses on building flexible, scalable solutions that evolve alongside its customers. That customer-first mindset is one of the biggest reasons this partnership with Fulfill.com feels like such a natural fit. Both companies share a common goal: helping brands build stronger, smarter supply chains without unnecessary complexity. What Really Makes a Great 3PL Partner? Recently, Bryan Corbett, Barrett’s VP of Customer Solutions & Marketing, sat down with Dan White, COO of Fulfill.com, during a visit to Barrett’s NJ2 warehouse to discuss what stands out when evaluating 3PL providers across the industry.
More Posts