Order accuracy asks the simplest question a customer cares about: did they get exactly what they ordered? Wrong item, wrong quantity, or a missing line all count against it. For a competent 3PL, 99%+ is table stakes; below 98% is a red flag.
How Brands See It
You don’t need your 3PL’s internal number. You can rebuild order accuracy from the brand side through return reasons and support tickets (“wrong item,” “missing item”). For an earlier signal, carrier weight data can catch a mispick before the customer complains. When the shipped weight doesn’t match what the order should weigh, something went in the box that shouldn’t have.
Why It Degrades
Accuracy usually slips when processing time is under pressure, during volume spikes or short-staffed shifts when picking gets rushed. It’s the “correct” companion to fill rate and a core part of OTIF.