What Is an E-commerce Fulfillment Specialist? Role & Salary
Quick answer: An e-commerce fulfillment specialist is the person who turns online orders into shipped parcels: they receive order information, pick the right products, pack them safely, arrange shipping and keep inventory data accurate. It is an entry-level warehouse role that usually needs a high school education, and online brands either hire specialists in-house or outsource the work to a fulfillment company.
Warehouse operations rely heavily on fulfillment specialists. They are in charge of completing sales orders. Fulfillment specialists work by receiving orders and quickly and efficiently filling them.
What is a Fulfillment Specialist?
A fulfillment specialist handles the orders that come into a warehouse. Order information is received, the appropriate products are located in the warehouse, and orders are shipped out to clients. Additionally, they ship and pack items, making sure they arrive on schedule and undamaged. To increase productivity, they must use delivery software, take calls, and notify their superiors of any problems. Without outstanding interpersonal and customer service qualities, it is impossible to become a proficient fulfillment specialist. For a potential candidate to land a position as a fulfillment specialist, a GED or high school education is sufficient. Being proficient with fulfillment software is valued by many businesses.
What Do They Do?
Many fulfillment experts have a variety of abilities that they use to carry out their duties.
Fulfillment specialists are in charge of quickly and effectively preparing and processing orders in a warehouse setting. Receiving orders and invoices, comprehending customer needs, taking part in loading and unloading deliveries, finding and obtaining orders from particular locations, keeping an eye on product inventory, and developing strategies to optimize the order fulfillment process are just a few of their duties. Additionally, it’s critical for a fulfillment specialist to keep open lines of communication with the warehouse personnel while enforcing corporate rules and procedures.
Responsibilities and Roles
Ensure the smooth and efficient flow of daily packing operations, as well as high levels of customer service.
Product delivery and return from our customers, stores, and other fulfillment centers are prepared, processed, and sorted.
Perform stocktakes and quality inspections of the goods in the warehouse.
Perform order fulfillment tasks, such as correct order picking and packaging, backend system updates, and delivery arrangements.
On a daily basis, maintain and manage accurate inventory data of physical inventory records throughout our own reliable and trusted platform and other e-commerce platforms.
Establishing and keeping up new listings on various e-commerce sites.
To fulfill customer orders in accordance with established procedures and service level agreements, coordinate with necessary corporate functions.
Job Description for E-commerce Fulfillment Specialist
You might be asking yourself, “Should I become a fulfillment specialist?” after learning what a fulfillment specialist performs. You could make a decision using the information in this section. When this article was first written, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected “little or no change” in employment for fulfillment experts compared to other occupations: about 1% growth between 2018 and 2028, with 46,900 fulfillment expert jobs expected to become available by 2028.
In 2022 salary data, the typical yearly wage for a fulfillment specialist was $28,565, or $13.73 per hour, and most fulfillment specialists made between $22,000 and $36,000 annually. The highest-paid fulfillment specialists make $14,000 more than the lowest-paid ones, according to this data.
As a fulfillment specialist, you might be interested in learning about additional career options. There is no one-size-fits-all career. As a result, we found some further positions that you might find interesting. An inventory control specialist, a materials specialist, a customer service specialist, and a customer relations specialist are a few positions you might be interested in.
E-commerce Fulfillment Specialist Salary
The salary of fulfillment specialists is affected by their location. In Washington, Nevada, California, Hawaii, and Alaska, fulfillment specialists earn the most. In 2022 data, fulfillment specialists in the US made an average salary of $28,565 per year or $13.73 per hour. At the lower end of the scale, the bottom 10% made about $22,000 a year, while the top 10% made $36,000. Wages change every year, so check current local job listings for up-to-date pay.
E-commerce Fulfillment Specialist Gender Distribution
Gender Distribution
Workforce data collected in 2022 showed:
- 52.7% of fulfillment specialists were female, compared to 47.3% male.
- White accounted for 61.8% of all fulfillment specialists, making it the most prevalent racial or ethnic group.
- Spanish was the most often spoken foreign language among fulfillment specialists, at 59.7%.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one eCommerce app for your business, as well as other fulfillment services, get in touch with our team today.
FAQ
What is an e-commerce fulfillment specialist?
An e-commerce fulfillment specialist is a warehouse professional who processes online orders: receiving order information, locating and picking products, packing them safely, arranging shipment and keeping inventory records accurate so orders arrive on time and undamaged.
What does a fulfillment specialist do every day?
Typical daily tasks include picking and packing orders, printing shipping labels, receiving and putting away stock, running stock counts and quality checks, updating order and inventory systems, and handling returns.
What is the difference between a fulfillment specialist and an e-commerce fulfillment consultant?
A fulfillment specialist works hands-on in the warehouse processing orders. A fulfillment consultant advises brands on how to set up or improve their fulfillment, such as choosing a 3PL, warehouse locations, shipping carriers and order management software.
What skills does a fulfillment specialist need?
Attention to detail, speed and accuracy in picking and packing, basic computer skills for warehouse and order management software, good communication with the team and customers, and the ability to follow safety and quality procedures.
Should I hire fulfillment specialists or use a fulfillment company?
Hiring in-house makes sense when you run your own warehouse with steady volume. Smaller and fast-growing brands often outsource to a fulfillment company, which already has trained staff, warehouse space, software and shipping contracts.