Glossary & Terms
Purpose
This guide defines the most common terms used throughout your eFulfillment Service (EFS) Fulfillment Control Panel (FCP), support documentation, and account communications. Understanding these terms will help you navigate the system and communicate effectively with the EFS team.
1. Account
Your company’s profile within the EFS system. Each account includes all users, integrations, SKUs, inventory, and billing records associated with your business.
2. Administrator
A user with full access to all areas of the Fulfillment Control Panel. Administrators can add users, modify integrations, update billing settings, and change permissions.
3. API (Application Programming Interface)
A technical connection that allows your online store or marketplace (like Shopify, Amazon, or eBay) to exchange data automatically with the EFS system. API integrations enable automated order imports, inventory syncing, and tracking updates.
4. ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice)
A digital notice sent to the warehouse before an inbound shipment arrives. In the FCP, this is called a Receiving Form and lets the warehouse know what products to expect, how many boxes or pallets are arriving, and which SKUs are included.
5. Backorder
A customer order that cannot be fulfilled immediately because there is not enough stock available. Backordered items will ship automatically once new inventory is received and processed.
6. Dashboard
The main page of your FCP account. It provides quick links to Orders, Inventory, Receivings, Reports, and Integrations, along with a summary of recent activity.
7. Discrepancy
A mismatch between the quantity of items expected in a shipment and what was actually received. Discrepancies are logged during the receiving process and must be resolved before the inventory is available for fulfillment.
8. Fulfillment Control Panel (FCP)
The online portal used to manage your account with eFulfillment Service. It is where you view and manage orders, monitor inventory, track shipments, and connect your ecommerce platforms.
9. Integration
A connection between your online store or marketplace and the FCP. Integrations automatically sync order data, inventory counts, and tracking numbers between systems. Examples include Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, eBay, and Channel Advisor.
10. Inventory
All products stored in the EFS warehouse under your account. Inventory levels update automatically as orders ship or new stock is received.
- On-Hand Quantity: Total units physically in the warehouse.
- Allocated Quantity: Units assigned to pending orders.
- Available Quantity: Units ready to sell (on-hand minus allocated).
11. Order Status
Each order in the FCP is assigned a status that reflects its stage in the fulfillment process:
- New: Received and awaiting processing.
- In Process: Being picked and packed.
- Shipped: Completed and tracking number uploaded.
- Hold: Paused pending issue resolution or inventory.
- Cancelled: Stopped by request or error.
12. Receiving
The process of checking in and adding your inbound inventory shipment into the EFS warehouse system. A Receiving record is created before shipping to EFS so staff can identify and match your incoming boxes or pallets.
13. SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
A unique identifier for each product you sell. SKUs must be consistent between your ecommerce store and the EFS system so orders and inventory sync correctly.
14. Ship Mapping
The setup that connects your store’s shipping options (like “Standard” or “Express”) to EFS’s internal shipping codes. Mapping ensures orders import with the correct carrier and service level.
15. Support Ticket
A record of communication with the EFS Support Team created when you contact them through the Help Center, email, or the Support tab inside the FCP. Each ticket has a unique ID and tracks responses until the issue is resolved.
16. Tracking Update
Information sent from EFS to your online store once an order ships. The update includes a tracking number and changes the order’s status to “Shipped” on your storefront or marketplace.
17. Warehouse
The physical facility where your inventory is stored, processed, and shipped from. eFulfillment Service’s warehouse is located in Traverse City, Michigan.
18. WMS (Warehouse Management System)
The internal software EFS uses to manage warehouse operations. When you connect a store integration, your orders and inventory data sync directly with this system to ensure accurate fulfillment.
Next Steps
Once you are familiar with the terms used in your account, continue to the next guide: Order Processing Flow. This explains how orders move from your store into the Fulfillment Control Panel and through each stage of fulfillment.