What are inbound processing fees and when do I pay them?

Inbound processing fees are the costs for receiving and adding your inventory to the warehouse: accepting the delivery, checking it, registering it in the system, and putting it away in a designated location. At Cenfil, these costs are not charged as long as your inventory is delivered according to the instructions.

What the delivery instructions require

The most important requirement is a correct and scannable barcode for each item. With a barcode, an item can be scanned upon receipt and immediately linked to the correct SKU number. That’s the step that ensures your inventory is accurate and leaves no doubt about which item goes into the box during the picking process.

If that barcode is missing, or if the delivery deviates from the instructions, extra work is required. Items must then be sorted manually and fitted with a barcode. These additional handling steps may be billed at the applicable rate.

What happens upon receipt

A delivery is accepted, counted, and verified against the order details. The items are then scanned and stored in a designated location so that they appear in your inventory and can be picked. From that point on, you’ll see them in your Picqer account.

If the delivery matches the registration, it is one continuous step. If anything deviates, whether in quantity or item type, it must be sorted out first before your inventory is accurate again.

Why a barcode makes such a big difference

A scannable barcode is not just an administrative formality. It is the difference between a shipment entering your inventory in one smooth go and a shipment that has to be sorted out piece by piece. For items that look similar, such as color or size variants, this difference is greatest.

What to arrange in advance

• Make sure every item has its own scannable barcode
• Ask your supplier to apply the barcode during production if possible
• Register new items before the delivery is on its way
• Ensure deliveries are announced in advance and follow the agreed instructions

Review the delivery instructions before your first delivery is scheduled. That’s when you can avoid receiving fees—not after the pallet has already arrived. You can see how this item compares to the rest of the costs in the cost overview.

When comparing proposals

Ask other providers how they charge for inbound stock processing: per pallet, per box, per item, or per hour. That cost applies to every delivery, so if you restock your product range frequently, it will have a much bigger impact than it might initially seem.