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For small businesses fulfilling orders in-house, most shipping errors don’t come from a lack of effort — they come from missing verification points between teams. Items are picked in the warehouse, packed later, and often handled again by delivery staff, with no clear system enforcing consistency at each step.
The new 3-stage order fulfillment workflow in HandiFox Online adds an extra layer of barcode-enabled verification, helping teams catch mistakes before orders leave the building or reach the customer. This update is designed for businesses that need tighter control without sacrificing flexibility.
Is the Two-Stage Pick & Pack Workflow Going Away?
No, the existing two-stage Pick & Pack workflow is here to stay.
If Pick and Pack already meets your needs, you can continue using it exactly as before. HandiFox allows you to switch between two-stage and three-stage fulfillment to test which approach fits your operation best.
Important: Switching back and forth regularly is not recommended, as it can introduce confusion in reports and fulfillment history.
You’ll find the updated settings under HandiFox Online Settings → Fulfillment, where “Shipment” has been renamed to Fulfillment to reflect the broader scope of the workflow.
What’s New in the Updated Two-Stage Fulfillment
Even if you stay with Pick & Pack, this update introduces several improvements focused on control and clarity.
You can now:
- Rename Stage 2, along with its status and report name
- Use Check All (formerly Pack All) to skip item-by-item verification when speed matters
- Enable Check Quantity to require scanning every unit against the ordered quantity
- Block manual quantity edits to enforce scan-only workflows
- Allow partial fulfillment when not all items are checked or scanned
Existing options such as including backordered items on reports and updating invoices across multiple fulfillments remain available.
Switching to 3-Stage Order Fulfillment in HandiFox Online
The biggest change in this release is the ability to add a third verification stage.
Previously, fulfillment consisted of two default stages: Pick and Pack. Now, you can introduce a third stage and name each step based on how your team operates.
For illustration, we’ll use:
- Stage 1: Pick
- Stage 2: Pack
- Stage 3: Deliver
To enable this:
- Go to Fulfillment settings → Sales Orders
- Select 3 stages
- Name stages 2 and 3, including their statuses and report names
- Configure verification rules for the third stage
The third stage uses the same control options as packing:
- optional “Check All”
- scan-required verification
- ability (or restriction) to complete partial fulfillments
How Pick–Pack–Deliver Works in Practice
Once enabled, fulfillment becomes a clearly defined handoff between teams.
From the Open Sales Orders list, clicking into an order shows a new Fulfillment status panel that records:
- completed stages
- completion dates
- responsible users
- printable reports for each stage
Stage 1: Pick
Warehouse staff pick items based on the order. Depending on your settings, they either scan items or enter quantities manually. Once saved, the order status updates to Picked.
Stage 2: Pack
Packing validates what was picked. Quantities must match what was previously picked — if fewer items are available, the pick stage must be corrected before packing can continue.
Stage 3: Deliver
The final stage verifies what is actually delivered. This step is especially useful for delivery teams, route drivers, or staff completing orders on-site. Delivered quantities cannot exceed what was packed, but partial delivery is allowed if enabled in settings.
What Happens After the Final Stage?
Once all stages are complete:
- Fully fulfilled orders automatically generate invoices
- Partially fulfilled orders can be partially invoiced (if allowed)
- Backordered items can be fulfilled later, updating the original invoice automatically
This ensures inventory, fulfillment, and accounting remain aligned without manual reconciliation.
Improved Visibility with the New Pick Status
To make fulfillment progress easier to track, HandiFox adds a new Pick status in the Sales Transactions window. This allows teams to filter and review orders based on where they are in the fulfillment process — especially helpful when multiple teams are involved.
When 3-Stage Fulfillment Makes the Most Sense
Pick and Pack are typically warehouse-based. The third stage extends verification beyond the warehouse, making it ideal for:
- warehouse + delivery team workflows
- partial shipments
- high-value or regulated items
- proof-of-delivery scenarios
If your team needs tighter control over what leaves the warehouse and what reaches the customer, three-stage fulfillment provides that final checkpoint.
If you’re new to structured fulfillment or want help choosing between two or three stages, request a live demo or training session with a HandiFox representative.
