Fulfillment Accuracy Benchmarks That Keep Wholesale Errors From Sneaking In

Fulfillment accuracy benchmarks sound straightforward until a retailer rejection exposes errors you did not even know existed. Search trends show operators asking what is a good accuracy rate or why do my orders keep getting flagged, usually after a retailer sends a chargeback with photographic evidence of your warehouse’s less-than-stellar pick work.

If you have ever seen a pallet returned for a single incorrect unit, you already know accuracy benchmarks matter.

Why fulfillment accuracy benchmarks matter in wholesale

Wholesale accuracy is not just about sending the right item. It is about sending the right item in the right quantity with the right carton label, the right pallet structure, and the right ASN. Every step is graded. Retail partners expect accuracy percentages that would make a surgeon sweat.

Joel Malmquist, VP of Customer Experience at G10, explained the stakes. "If you do not do it right, you get those massive chargebacks." Accuracy benchmarks directly protect margin.

Where accuracy benchmarks usually break down

Many warehouses track accuracy only at the pick level. But wholesale errors occur at every stage: receiving, putaway, picking, packing, labeling, palletization, and ASN creation. A warehouse that claims 99 percent accuracy may still miss dozens of details that retailers catch instantly.

Connor Perkins, Director of Fulfillment, sees this repeatedly. "One of the pain points our clients have experienced with previous 3PLs is inventory accuracy. Maybe their previous 3PL was not great at picking the orders accurately. So they were losing money by shipping wrong items or wrong quantities of items." Missed accuracy benchmarks create cascading problems.

Why D2C-first 3PLs cannot hit wholesale accuracy benchmarks

D2C operations judge accuracy differently. A mislabeled tote or slightly incorrect count rarely triggers penalties. Wholesale accuracy is binary: right or wrong, accepted or rejected. D2C-first WMS platforms do not enforce carton-level or pallet-level accuracy, making their benchmarks meaningless for wholesale requirements.

Bryan Wright, CTO and COO, explained the systems gap. "A bad WMS will not track inventory 100 percent. A good WMS tracks inventory through the warehouse at every point you touch it." Wholesale accuracy depends on granular visibility.

How slow communication drags accuracy down

Accuracy requires clarity. When routing guide updates, carton rules, or PO changes take days to communicate, teams keep working from outdated information. Retailers notice first, and they rarely forgive quietly.

Joel sees this problem all the time. "At some 3PLs you get thrown into a ticketed queue, and you get different people replying every time. It can take days, if not weeks, to get a resolution." Accuracy benchmarks collapse in that environment.

"You call one person. That is it. And things get done," Joel said, describing G10’s model.

What strong fulfillment accuracy benchmarks look like

Good benchmarks measure accuracy at every step: receiving accuracy, pick accuracy, pack accuracy, carton accuracy, pallet accuracy, ASN accuracy, and appointment accuracy. Brands need benchmarks that reflect the retailer experience, not just internal operations.

Connor described how accuracy begins during onboarding. "When we onboard a client who sells into places like Amazon or Walmart, the process changes depending on where they are selling. We work through all of their routing guide requirements and make sure the warehouse is ready before the first order ever drops."

Accuracy under pressure at G10

The real test of accuracy benchmarks appears when volume spikes or timelines shrink. Weak 3PLs loosen accuracy standards during chaos. G10 tightens them.

Joel shared one example from a late inbound shipment for Target. "Our supervisor, warehouse manager, and several employees worked the entire day into the night, then came back at 5 a.m. to make sure we had the routing completed." Accuracy never slipped.

Another example came during a viral D2C surge. "The client asked, Can you help us? And we said, Yeah, we gotcha. Then we sent a truck to the carrier at midnight." Even under chaos, benchmarks held.

The bottom line for wholesale brands

Fulfillment accuracy benchmarks determine whether wholesale operations stay profitable or bleed margin quietly. When accuracy is measured correctly and achieved consistently, retailers trust your brand and orders flow smoothly.

If you want accuracy benchmarks that protect your business instead of flattering it, reach out to G10. You will get real accuracy, meaningful metrics, and wholesale performance that stands up to retailer scrutiny.