A packed order sitting on the dock doesn’t count as “shipped” no matter what the WMS status says. Handoff time is the gap between “label printed” and “carrier scanned.” It’s the last stage of fulfillment and the one most likely to be invisible.
Why It Matters Even When Delivery Is On Time
A late handoff that still delivers on time isn’t a success story. It means the carrier burned through delivery buffer to compensate. That works in July. It breaks on Black Friday when every carrier is at capacity and there’s no buffer left.
What to Watch For
Consistent handoff times (low variance) mean well-coordinated carrier pickup schedules. Erratic handoff times mean your orders are at the mercy of carrier availability. Track P95, not just the average.