What is Order Priority?

Order priority is a ranking system that determines the sequence in which orders are processed and fulfilled. Rather than processing orders strictly in the order they were received (FIFO), a priority system factors in urgency (shipping method), customer importance (VIP status), channel requirements (marketplace SLAs), and business rules (high-margin orders, subscription renewals) to ensure the most critical orders are handled first.

Why It Matters

Not all orders are created equal. An expedited order from a VIP customer has very different handling requirements than a standard-shipping order from a first-time buyer. Without a priority system, your warehouse treats every order the same, which means high-value and time-sensitive orders wait in line behind routine ones. This leads to SLA violations, premium customer dissatisfaction, and missed delivery promises.

How It Works

• Priority Rules: Define rules that automatically assign priority levels based on shipping method, customer tier, channel SLA, order value, product type, or custom business logic.
• Priority Levels: Typical systems use 3–5 levels: Critical (same-day ship), High (next-day ship), Standard (2–3 day ship), Low (economy), and Held (pending review).
• Dynamic Adjustment: Priorities can escalate automatically as SLA deadlines approach. A standard order nearing its ship-by cutoff might be elevated to high priority.
• Warehouse Execution: Pick waves and batch assignments pull high-priority orders first, ensuring they move through the warehouse ahead of lower-priority work.

How Nventory Helps

Nventory’s order priority engine automatically scores and ranks orders based on configurable rules across all channels. The system ensures high-priority orders are surfaced first in picking queues, escalates orders approaching SLA deadlines, and provides priority-based analytics so you can track how effectively your team is meeting commitments across different priority tiers.