The process of accepting, inspecting, and putting away incoming inventory at a warehouse.
Receiving is the first step in the 3PL process: when your inventory arrives at the warehouse from a manufacturer, supplier, or freight carrier, the 3PL team unloads, counts, inspects, and scans each unit into the WMS. Proper receiving is critical — inventory errors at this stage compound throughout the fulfillment lifecycle.
A professional receiving process includes: verifying the quantity against the purchase order or advance shipment notice (ASN), inspecting for damage, scanning each SKU barcode into the WMS, and physically putting the inventory away in assigned bin locations. The entire process should be completed and reflected in your inventory dashboard within 24-48 hours of arrival (ask your 3PL for their receiving SLA).
Receiving fees are typically charged per pallet received, per carton received, or per hour of labor. Poorly packed or unlabeled shipments often trigger additional fees and processing delays. Sending your 3PL a pre-shipment receiving guide (product dimensions, barcodes, carton counts) dramatically speeds up inbound processing.
A brand ships 500 cartons of product from China via ocean freight. The 3PL receives the container, counts all 500 cartons against the ASN, opens 10% for random inspection, scans all barcodes into WMS, and puts inventory in assigned bin locations within 36 hours — all reflected in the client portal.
A receiving SLA is the guaranteed time from inventory arrival to when it's available for orders in the WMS. Industry standard is 24-48 business hours. Some 3PLs offer same-day receiving for a premium fee. During peak seasons, receiving SLAs often extend — get this in writing.
A good 3PL will document the discrepancy immediately, photograph the shipment, and notify you within hours. You then file a claim with your supplier. This is why ASNs (advance shipment notices) with exact quantities and photos are critical — they give you the documentation you need.
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