Selling on Walmart Marketplace opens up a world of opportunities for online retailers. With Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), sellers can simplify logistics, speed up deliveries, and improve customer satisfaction. WFS is designed to help merchants scale faster by handing over the difficult parts of order fulfillment to Walmart’s reliable system. But to get the most out of this service, sellers must know how to properly manage and optimize their operations.
This blog explores practical steps sellers can take to make the most of Walmart Fulfillment Services while also highlighting how tools like Willow Commerce can support a smooth and successful selling experience.
What Is Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)?
Walmart Fulfillment Services is a third-party logistics solution provided by Walmart. Similar to Amazon FBA, WFS allows sellers to store their products in Walmart’s warehouses. Once a customer places an order, Walmart takes care of packing, shipping, customer service, and returns.
WFS gives sellers access to Walmart’s trusted supply chain and fast delivery options, which can improve customer satisfaction and boost product visibility on Walmart’s platform.
Benefits of Using Walmart Fulfillment Services
1. Faster Shipping and Delivery:
WFS enables sellers to offer two-day shipping to eligible customers, making their listings more attractive and increasing conversion rates.
2. Trusted Customer Service:
Walmart manages post-sale customer support, which helps sellers reduce workload and maintain high satisfaction ratings.
3. Simplified Returns:
Walmart handles returns through its in-store and mail-back process, making it easier for both sellers and customers.
4. Buy Box Advantage:
Using WFS can increase the chances of winning the Buy Box, especially for competitive product listings.
5. Improved Visibility:
Products fulfilled by Walmart often appear higher in search results, increasing discoverability and traffic.
How Sellers Can Optimize Their Operations with WFS
To truly benefit from Walmart Fulfillment Services, sellers should focus on efficient processes and smart integrations. Here’s how:
1. Prepare Inventory Smartly
Before sending products to a Walmart fulfillment center, sellers must ensure proper packaging, labeling, and documentation. Organizing inventory into sellable and shippable units avoids unnecessary delays.
2. Forecast Demand Accurately
Keeping track of which products sell well and when is key to avoiding stockouts or overstocking. Analyze seasonal trends and historical data to estimate inventory needs and restock in advance.
3. Track Performance Metrics
Walmart provides tools to monitor order fulfillment rates, shipping accuracy, and customer feedback. Regularly check these metrics to identify weak spots and fix issues quickly.
4. Keep Product Listings Updated
Make sure product information such as descriptions, prices, and images are accurate and up to date. This avoids customer confusion and ensures compliance with Walmart’s listing guidelines.
5. Bundle and Cross-Sell
Group related products into bundles to increase average order value. Also, use cross-selling tactics to promote additional items to customers.
Automate and Simplify with Willow Commerce
One of the easiest ways to streamline Walmart Fulfillment Services is by using smart integration tools like Willow Commerce. As a verified Walmart Solution Provider, Willow Commerce offers complete WFS management features to sellers.
Here’s how Willow Commerce helps optimize operations:
- Import WFS Shipments Easily: Sellers can bring all their existing WFS shipments into the platform for unified tracking.
- Reserve Inventory Automatically: Ensure that products remain in stock for WFS with automated inventory reservation.
- One-Click Fulfillment Setup: Choose which products will be fulfilled by WFS, either individually or in bulk.
- WFS Labeling: Generate compliant box labels for smooth warehouse acceptance.
- Packing Made Simple: Willow Commerce helps sellers pack shipments with accuracy using a clear box-content workflow.
- Export and Upload Data: Save time by exporting box details and uploading them into the Walmart Seller Center.
- Tracking Integration: Easily import tracking numbers to monitor order progress and ensure smooth delivery.
- Advanced Warehouse Management (WMS): Using Skustack, sellers can pick and manage inventory efficiently.
By handling everything from product setup to shipping and tracking, Willow Commerce reduces the manual workload and helps sellers stay focused on growth.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the right tools, mistakes can slow down operations. Here are a few to avoid:
- Sending Unprepared Inventory: Items without proper packaging or barcodes can be rejected by Walmart’s warehouses.
- Ignoring Performance Metrics: Not monitoring KPIs can result in poor seller scores and lower visibility.
- Overstocking Low Sellers: Tying up capital in slow-moving inventory leads to higher storage costs.
- Manual Data Entry: Entering shipment and tracking information manually increases the risk of errors.
Walmart Fulfillment Services gives third-party sellers a powerful way to grow their business while offering customers fast, reliable service. By focusing on inventory planning, performance tracking, and automation through tools like Willow Commerce, sellers can reduce friction and get the best results from their partnership with Walmart.
Whether you’re new to Walmart Marketplace or looking to scale your operations, WFS—when managed well—can help your business reach new heights while saving time, money, and effort.
