As you expand your ecommerce business internationally, you’ll face a new set of challenges—especially when it comes to global fulfillment. One of these potential obstacles is understanding the variations in terminology across different regions.
In the midst of navigating international logistics and making your processes run smoothly, you may encounter the term “fulfilment” while researching how to fulfill orders abroad. You might wonder, “How is fulfilment different from fulfillment?”
If this has you puzzled, keep reading to explore the differences between fulfillment vs. fulfilment and which spelling you should use.
What is fulfillment? In ecommerce, fulfillment refers to the complete process of receiving new orders and delivering them to the end customer. This process involves several steps such as order processing, receiving, warehousing, picking, packing, shipping, and tracking orders.
While this process is consistent across the globe, the spelling of the word itself may vary.
Fulfillment vs. fulfilment: Which one is correct? It depends on where you are. “Fulfillment” is the American spelling, while “fulfilment” is used in British and Australian English. So, the correct spelling depends on whether you’re using American or British/Australian English.
In fact, there are many words that differ in spelling between American and British/Australian English. For example, British and Australian English add a “u” to words like “labor” and “flavor,” making them “labour” and “flavour.” Additionally, “centered” in American English is spelled as “centred” in British and Australian English.
Some terms are also used differently across regions despite having the same meaning. For instance, in American English, you’ll encounter “zip code,” while in British and Australian English, it’s referred to as a “postcode.” While the word “carrier” is used in both American and British English, Australians tend to use “courier” instead.
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When shipping to or from America or England, which spelling is correct? The correct spelling depends on where you’re shipping from. If you’re shipping from the U.S., “fulfillment” would be the appropriate spelling. For shipments from the U.K. or other countries that use British English, “fulfilment” is the correct choice. This also includes countries like Australia and India. In Canada, both spellings are acceptable.
Ultimately, the spelling difference shouldn’t cause too much confusion. The more complicated aspects of global shipping typically involve navigating tariffs, customs regulations, insurance, address formats, and transit times. Additionally, shipping restricted items can present challenges.
By working with a trusted global shipping partner, you can rely on them to manage these complexities and ensure a seamless fulfillment process.
How FulfillMe can fulfil(l) for ecommerce sellers in different countries Whether you’re shipping from the U.S. or from another country, having a reliable logistics partner is essential for smooth international fulfillment. FulfillMe, with its global network of fulfillment centers, is equipped to handle international orders for ecommerce sellers in various regions.
For sellers shipping to the U.K., FulfillMe offers a fulfillment center located in Manchester, near the Port of Liverpool. This strategic location allows for efficient receipt and distribution of international inventory. With its proximity to carriers like Royal Mail and DPD, orders can be fulfilled quickly, offering a smooth experience for your U.K. customers.
FulfillMe also has fulfillment centers in Canada. These two centers, in Ottawa and Toronto, help ensure fast and affordable fulfillment of domestic orders, delivering to Canadian metro areas in just 2-4 days. From here, orders can be sent out to the rest of the world.
For sellers targeting Australian customers, FulfillMe offers fulfillment centers in Melbourne and Sydney. Orders are shipped using couriers like Australia Post, ensuring delivery within 1-7 business days, or 1-3 days for expedited shipping.
FulfillMe powers the international fulfillment needs of many growing ecommerce brands. For instance, Ombraz, a company that sells sunglasses to customers in 55 countries, has moved its inventory to FulfillMe’s centers in Canada and Europe to streamline fulfillment and cut costs.
“We found that sending inventory to Europe involved less paperwork and was faster than expected. The process of getting inventory to FulfillMe’s fulfillment center location in Europe was very streamlined,” says Nikolai Paloni, Co-Founder of Ombraz Sunglasses.
FAQs Fulfillment vs. fulfilment FAQs Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about fulfillment across countries.
How do you spell fulfillment in Australia? In Australia, the correct spelling is “fulfilment,” which aligns with British English.
What words do British and English spell differently? British English and American English share many similarities, but certain words are spelled differently. For example, British English uses “organise” while American English spells it “organize.” Additionally, in British English, “catalog” becomes “catalogue.”
Does FulfillMe have fulfillment centers in the U.K.? Yes, FulfillMe has fulfillment centers across the globe, including one in Manchester, U.K. This location is strategically positioned near the Port of Liverpool for efficient international distribution.
