TikTok is a well-known name in the social commerce industry, updated with features supporting seamless buying and selling of products. The website has everything the seller requires, from the audience to the Seller Center page, where you can manage listings, products, sales, inventory, etc. The sales channel was in line to compete with giants of the e-commerce industry, but it just lagged in one area: a fulfillment service; hence, it came up with Ship by TikTok. This blog is going to explain this latest TikTok Shipment feature along with the standard timelines to be followed by the seller for smooth order fulfillment.

Building the Basics of Ship by TikTok

This is one of three different types of shipping options provided by the social commerce platform: 

• Ship by TikTok or TikTok Shipping
• Ship by Seller or Seller Shipping
• Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)

Sellers are provided with different Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) as options. They can choose their right partner from the Seller Center for seamless order fulfillment and delivery, which will take care of everything from picking, packing to logistics, customs, and tracking. The aim is to simplify the shipping process for TikTok Shop sellers. Also, the buyers get a better shopping experience.

Fulfillment Procedure for Shipping by TikTok Simplified

Let’s quickly jump into the procedure that you will have to follow while TikTok Shop order fulfillment. Here goes the four simple steps: 

Step 1: Order Review

Check if the products ordered by the consumer are available in the inventory. Once done, confirm or cancel the order based on availability. 

Step 2: Prepare Shipment 

Next, select “Arrange Shipment” and go ahead with the packing and labelling of the order as preparation for shipment. Make sure that the packaging is done following the guidelines. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts: 

Do’s

• Pack the order according to the packing list, which can be downloaded from the Seller Center. 
• Using the right, sturdy, and safe material for packing is a must (depending on the nature of the product) to prevent loss or damage. 
• Use large-sized dunnage like air pillows, large paper sheets, bubble wraps, etc. 
• Use the right size of package carton to minimize the unused space. 
• Safely fix the shipping label to the package while ensuring visibility of the relevant customer information like name, address, and other details. 
• Remove or hide the unnecessary barcodes from the package. 
• Notify the LSP beforehand if the package includes something sensitive. 

Don’ts

• Make use of any packaging material that has a potential safety or health risk.
• Stack the cartons or boxes with bagging, elastic tape, or extra straps.
• Add any unnecessary marketing material inside the package. 
• Put any message that induces the return of the parcel for benefits. 
• Insert any message that induces the customer to give a positive review. 
• Include any links, QR codes, or contact info of your shop.

Step 3: Pass it to the Carrier

There are two ways in which seller send their package to the LSP: 

Pick-up

Schedule a pickup and give the package to the LSP within 1 working day from the date when the order was placed. Then the LSP will update the order status to “Shipped” on its own once the order is collected and scanned. 

Drop-off

Make a selection of the nearest drop-off point from the Seller Center. Next, just drop off the package at the selected point within 1 working day from the date when the order was placed. Then the LSP will update the order status to “Shipped” on its own once the order is collected and scanned.  

Step 4: Check with Delivery Status 

Hereforth, the LSP is responsible for the fulfillment of the order. The order status will be updated to “Delivered” in the Seller Center once the parcel has reached the buyer. The seller can check the same anytime.

Order Fulfillment Timelines  

Sellers need to follow certain timelines to get their standard orders shipped by TikTok. The TikTok Shop order fulfillment timelines are explained below: 

Seller needs to get their orders “Shipped” by 23:59H, on the 1st working day from the day when the customer actually placed the order.

• Also, if the seller decides to get the order picked up from their location, they need to change the order status to “To Ship - Awaiting Collection.” 
• As mentioned earlier, the carrier will take the parcel forward from this stage if the shipment is made on time and change the order status to “Delivered”.
• In a situation where the carrier fails to make the delivery in the promised timeframe, the order status should be “Delayed”. 
• In abnormal situations like lost or damaged parcels, the carrier would cancel the order or notify the customer to ask for a refund. 
• To streamline the TikTok shopping experience for its customers, TikTok Shop has an auto-cancellation feature that automatically cancels orders and refunds the buyers if timelines are not followed. 
• Auto-Cancellation for Standard Orders is initiated in two cases: 

1. The order status is not set to "To Ship - Awaiting Collection," and the order is not prepared for shipping by 23:59H, two working days after it was placed.
2. Although the order is prepared for shipping, the logistics provider has not yet picked it up by 23:59H, three working days after the order was placed.

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Continue Reading: Comparison between TikTok Shipping and Seller Shipping

Manage Order Fulfillment Effortlessly with TikTok Shipping

Earlier, sellers on TikTok Shop struggled with finding the right fulfillment partner for their orders. Today, the sellers have ample compatible options under Ship by TikTok, which not just streamlines the procedure but also supports the timely fulfillment of orders. Sellers simply have to follow the standard timelines provided by the social commerce website and leave the rest to the carrier. With pick-up and drop-off options, sellers get the much-needed flexibility through which their packed order can reach the fulfillment service provider. Also, laid out packaging guidelines help the seller to avoid any unwanted conditions like damaged or lost packages. Ship by TikTok is a well-thought and smartly established fulfillment service, streamlining the fulfillment process for the sellers.