Top Mistakes in How to Manage Drop-Shipments and Vendor Inventory—And How to Fix Them
Drop-shipping and vendor-managed inventory (VMI) have become critical tools for building materials distributors who want to expand product offerings without increasing warehouse costs. But these models aren’t without risk—and when poorly managed, they can introduce confusion, hidden costs, and customer dissatisfaction.
Here are the top mistakes companies make when managing drop-shipments and vendor inventory—and how to fix them using an ERP built for this complexity.
Mistake #1: No Visibility into Vendor Stock Levels
The Problem:
Your team sells items assuming vendors have them in stock—but they don’t. Orders stall, customers are left in the dark, and your brand takes the hit.
The Fix:
Implement ERP tools that sync vendor stock data into your system—or at minimum, use “virtual inventory” placeholders tied to vendor confirmations. This allows sales reps to quote only what’s truly available.
Mistake #2: Treating Drop-Ship Orders Like In-House Deliveries
The Problem:
Without a distinct workflow, drop-shipped orders are processed the same as warehouse orders, leading to incorrect picking instructions, invoicing issues, or missed tracking.
The Fix:
Use ERP logic to route drop-ship orders through a separate fulfillment path. Track order acknowledgment, vendor shipment, and delivery confirmation inside your system with clear audit trails.
Mistake #3: No Proof-of-Delivery from Vendors
The Problem:
You find out too late that a vendor delivered the wrong product—or never delivered at all. You’re left resolving a problem you didn’t cause.
The Fix:
Require vendors to submit digital proof-of-delivery (photos, signatures, timestamps) through a vendor portal linked to your ERP. Automate delivery confirmation workflows for clean documentation and faster issue resolution.
Mistake #4: Manual Matching of Vendor Invoices and Shipments
The Problem:
Invoices arrive before the shipment does—or worse, for the wrong quantity. Your AP team spends hours manually matching orders to deliveries.
The Fix:
Enable 3-way matching in your ERP between the purchase order, delivery record, and vendor invoice. When all three match, payment is approved automatically. When something’s off, it’s flagged for review.
Mistake #5: No Performance Metrics for Drop-Ship Vendors
The Problem:
You keep using underperforming vendors because there’s no data showing how bad things really are.
The Fix:
Set up ERP dashboards that track:
On-time delivery rate
Order accuracy
Return frequency
Customer complaints tied to vendor SKUs
Use these insights to reward top vendors and coach or replace poor performers.
Final Thoughts
Drop-shipments and vendor-managed inventory can be a huge advantage—but only when you control the process digitally. With the right ERP tools in place, you can:
Eliminate delivery guesswork
Improve order accuracy
Speed up vendor communication
Provide a smoother, more reliable customer experience
🧩 Need help tightening up your vendor inventory strategy? Let’s build a drop-ship workflow that works.
