Retailers are under pressure to offer same-day pickup and faster delivery without inflating fulfillment costs. Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) and Ship-from-Store (SFS) have emerged as two fulfillment strategies that solve both problems, but only when supported by the right Order Management System (OMS).
U.S. BOPIS retail sales were projected to reach $154.3 billion in 2025, accounting for 10.5% of e-Commerce sales, and BOPIS sales are expected to grow 13.6% annually through 2030. For retailers, the question is no longer whether to offer store-based fulfillment, but how to build OMS infrastructure that makes BOPIS and SFS operationally viable.
How BOPIS and ship-from-store work with an OMS
BOPIS allows customers to purchase online and pick up their orders at a nearby store. Ship from store (SFS) uses store inventory to fulfill online orders for home delivery, turning physical locations into mini distribution centers.
According to Forrester's 2025 OMS market analysis, more retailers are adopting modular OMS solutions specifically to support store-based fulfillment models like BOPIS and SFS.
When a customer places a BOPIS or SFS order, the OMS performs several critical functions:
- Checks real-time inventory at the selected store (or nearest stores for SFS)
- Routes the order to the optimal fulfillment location based on stock, proximity, and capacity
- Notifies store staff to pick, pack, and stage the order
- Updates inventory across all channels immediately to prevent overselling
- Triggers customer notifications for pickup readiness or shipping confirmation
Without a centralized OMS, each step requires manual coordination, creating delays that erode customer trust.
A deeper look at
omnichannel order management shows why unified orchestration is essential for multi-channel retailers.
OMS features required for BOPIS and SFS success
Not every OMS can support store-based fulfillment. Retailers evaluating solutions should prioritize these capabilities:
- Real-time inventory visibility across warehouses, stores, Third-Party Logistics (3PL) partners, and drop-ship vendors from a single dashboard
- Intelligent order routing that evaluates stock levels, store capacity, staffing, and shipping cost before assigning each order
- Store fulfillment workflows with mobile-friendly pick, pack, and ship interfaces for store associates
- Safety stock controls that reserve minimum inventory for walk-in customers while allocating remaining units for online orders
- Automated customer notifications for order confirmation, pickup readiness, and delivery tracking
- Returns and exchanges processing that handles in-store returns for online orders without manual workarounds
A comprehensive
OMS buyer's guide can help retailers compare platforms against these requirements before committing to a vendor.
How OMS handles inventory allocation for BOPIS vs. online orders
Inventory allocation is the most complex aspect of store-based fulfillment. Walk-in customers, BOPIS orders, and SFS shipments all compete for the same store inventory. An OMS solves the conflict through rules-based allocation that balances demand across every channel automatically.
Key allocation mechanisms that an OMS applies include:
- Safety stock thresholds: The OMS reserves a minimum number of units (for example, the last 3 units of a product) for walk-in customers, making only the remaining inventory available for BOPIS and SFS orders
- Real-time channel updates: When a unit sells in-store or gets allocated to an online order, the OMS updates availability across all channels instantly to prevent overselling
- Location-based prioritization: The OMS evaluates which store has the healthiest stock levels before routing an order, avoiding depletion at high-traffic locations
For retailers managing
purchase order replenishment alongside store fulfillment, connecting procurement data to the OMS ensures restocking happens before safety stock levels are breached.
Advantages of BOPIS and SFS for retailers
Retailers who implement BOPIS and SFS with a capable OMS gain measurable benefits across revenue, cost, and customer satisfaction.
- Higher basket sizes: 85% of U.S. BOPIS shoppers make additional purchases during store pickup
- Reduced shipping costs: Fulfilling from stores closer to customers lowers last-mile delivery expenses compared to central warehouse shipments
- Faster delivery: SFS enables same-day or next-day delivery by reducing the distance between inventory and the customer
- Improved inventory turnover: Slow-moving store inventory gets exposure to online demand, reducing markdowns
- Lower return rates: BOPIS customers inspect products at pickup, reducing post-purchase returns
Risks and challenges of store-based fulfillment
BOPIS and SFS are not without operational risks. Retailers should plan for these challenges before launching store fulfillment programs.
- Inventory accuracy gaps: If stock data is outdated by even a few minutes, customers may arrive for pickup only to hear an item has been sold. Real-time synchronization across all channels is essential to prevent cancellations and lost trust.
- Store operations overload: Associates handling both in-person customers and online fulfillment simultaneously face competing priorities. Without dedicated fulfillment windows and proper staffing, service quality drops for both groups.
- Limited fulfillment space: Retail stores were designed for selling, not packing and shipping. Carving out dedicated pick, pack, and staging areas within existing store layouts requires careful planning.
- Technology integration gaps: Disconnected Point of Sale (POS), inventory, and OMS systems create data silos that lead to overselling, missed orders, and delayed customer notifications.
Reviewing
order management best practices and
Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation guidance before launch reduces the likelihood of these issues.
Measuring BOPIS and SFS performance with OMS analytics
An OMS should provide dashboards to track store fulfillment performance. Key metrics to monitor include:
- Order accuracy rate: Percentage of BOPIS/SFS orders fulfilled without errors or substitutions
- Pick-to-ready time: Average time from order receipt to customer notification for pickup readiness
- Additional purchase rate: Revenue from in-store purchases made during BOPIS pickup visits
- Fulfillment cost per order: Comparison of store fulfillment costs vs. warehouse fulfillment costs
- Cancel and no-show rate: Percentage of BOPIS orders cancelled or never collected
Regular review of these metrics helps retailers identify underperforming stores, adjust staffing schedules, and refine routing rules for maximum efficiency.
Building your store fulfillment infrastructure
BOPIS and SFS represent a fundamental shift in how retailers use physical stores. Success depends on an OMS that delivers real-time inventory visibility, intelligent routing, and store-level fulfillment workflows.
TOMS (Tejas Order Management System) supports multi-channel order orchestration, automated routing, and store fulfillment operations, with integration into TWMS for end-to-end warehouse and store inventory management.
To see how TOMS supports your BOPIS and SFS rollout, book a demo or contact us at sales@tejassoftware.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BOPIS, and how does it work with an order management system?
BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store) lets customers purchase online and collect at a store. An OMS coordinates inventory checks, order routing, store notifications, and pickup readiness alerts in real-time.
How does ship-from-store fulfillment improve delivery speed?
SFS ships orders from the nearest store instead of a distant warehouse, reducing transit distance and enabling same-day or next-day delivery at lower shipping costs.
What OMS features are required for successful BOPIS implementation?
Real-time inventory visibility, intelligent order routing, store fulfillment workflows, safety stock controls, automated customer notifications, and integrated returns processing.
How does an OMS manage inventory allocation for BOPIS vs. online orders?
The OMS applies safety stock thresholds to reserve minimum units for walk-in customers, then allocates remaining store inventory for BOPIS and SFS orders across all channels.
What are the biggest challenges retailers face with BOPIS rollout?
Inventory accuracy gaps, store associate overload from handling both in-store and online orders, and a lack of dedicated fulfillment space within retail locations.
How can retailers measure BOPIS success with OMS analytics?
Track order accuracy rate, pick-to-ready time, additional purchase rate during pickups, fulfillment cost per order, and cancel/no-show rates across all store locations.
