During which part of the sales order fulfillment process is the formal order placed by a customer?

The sales order fulfillment process begins with the moment a customer places a formal order for products or services, and this critical step is encapsulated in the concept of Order Booking. During Order Booking, the details of the customer's request are captured, including the items being ordered, quantities, and any specific instructions. This is where the transaction is officially recorded in the company's system, and it sets the stage for the subsequent phases of the fulfillment process, such as processing, inventory allocation, and preparation for shipping.

While Order Fulfillment, Order Shipping, and Order Payment are all integral parts of the overall process, they occur after the customer's formal order has been placed. Order Fulfillment typically refers to the activities involved in preparing and completing the order for delivery, Order Shipping focuses on the logistics of getting the order to the customer, and Order Payment pertains to the financial transaction involved in purchasing the goods or services. Therefore, Order Booking is distinctly the phase where the customer's formal intention to purchase is translated into a recorded order within the system.