What is handling time?
Handling time is the time between when a buyer places an order until the order is handed over to your shipping carrier.
The terminology used for handling time varies across Amazon, Walmart and SKULabs. Amazon uses the term Handling Time or Fulfillment Latency, Walmart uses the term Fulfillment Lag Time, and SKULabs uses the term Latency.
Why do I need to update handling time?
Amazon and Walmart use handling time as part of the delivery promise calculation to show shoppers the expected delivery time on a listing offer and checkout page.
Amazon's seller account level default handling time is between same-day and 2 days. Unless handling time is provided when pushing stock, Amazon's API resets listings' handling time to your Amazon seller account level default handling time.
Walmart Canada requires fulfillment lag time with each stock update request and rejects the request if it is missing. Walmart US keeps the lag time you last sent for each item, so it only needs an update when the value changes.
How do I use SKULabs to update handling time?
Set the Latency value of an item or kit to the number of days it takes to ship the item or kit. SKULabs sends it with your stock updates.
To update an item or kit's Latency, open the item or kit, click Edit, enter the value for Latency and Save.
To update multiple items or kits in bulk using CSV, use:
Items details CSV import - include only the SKU and Latency columns
Kits CSV import - include complete kit and component item information plus the Latency column
Note: once an item or kit's Latency is set, the same value is pushed to all Amazon, Walmart US and Walmart Canada stores that are enabled to sync stock. Use Latency values that work for all of those stores. Contact SKULabs support if different stores must have different handling times.
When is the new value sent?
Latency goes out with the next stock update for that item or kit, the same as for Amazon. A stock update happens when the quantity changes, when stale stock is re-pushed, or when you re-push stock for the store. Changing only Latency does not start a stock update on its own.
For Walmart US, SKULabs sends lag time only for items whose Latency changed since the last value Walmart accepted. The result shows in the store's Sync Reports as a line like SKU Lag time: 1 Success or SKU Lag time: 3 Error, with Walmart's message.
Walmart US rules
Latency must be a whole number of days. A value like 1.5 is skipped and the Sync Report shows "Walmart requires a whole number of days".
Walmart requires category approval for lag times of 2 days or more. Without approval, Walmart rejects the value and the Sync Report shows an error line for that SKU. Request approval in Walmart Seller Center.
A lag time error does not stop the quantity update. Your stock still syncs.
What are the marketplaces SKULabs supports updating handling time?
SKULabs supports updating handling time for all Amazon marketplaces, Walmart US and Walmart Canada. Contact SKULabs support if you need to push fulfillment lag time for Walmart Mexico.