Tiktok Shop Academy

FBT Inbound Request (IBR) Creation and Management Process

04/08/2026

Fulfillment

Inbound Request Rules and Timeliness Requirements

  1. Multi-destination inbound plan requirement: All IBRs under the same inbound plan (Plan ID) (going to different destinations) must complete arrival at the warehouse within 14 days from the arrival of the first IBR. Overdue IBRs will be determined as inbound exceptions (arrival time overdue violation).
  2. Partial inbound violation: Under the same inbound plan, delivering only part of the IBRs, or having some IBRs manually cancelled or automatically cancelled due to timeout, will be considered an inbound request cancellation violation. For inbound requests with multiple destinations (two HUBs or D2FC), if modification or cancellation is required, all inbound requests under the same inbound plan must be cancelled.
  1. Correct location and warehouse: Goods in the inbound request must be delivered to the correct location and warehouse confirmed on the inbound request. Delivering an IBR to the wrong warehouse will result in an inbound exception;
  2. Inbound request auto-closure policy: After the inbound request is shipped, the goods must be delivered to the correct warehouse within 75 days. Inbound requests with no goods arriving at the warehouse 75 days after creation will be automatically closed, and the seller will be notified. If you need to modify the inbound plan, you must delete the inbound request in the system in a timely manner. Note: For inbound requests with multiple destinations (two HUBs or D2FC), all inbound requests under the same inbound plan must be cancelled; otherwise, inbound exceptions will occur.
  3. Inbound request quantity requirement: When delivering goods, you must ensure that the correct SKUs and inbound quantities (at both the SKU level and carton level) are delivered to the correct warehouse. Over-delivery and short-delivery are not allowed.
  4. ETA requirement: Please ensure that your goods are delivered according to the estimated arrival time filled in when creating the inbound request. If there is any change to the ETA, please complete the ETA update in the system in a timely manner.
  5. Single HUB delivery time requirement: For inbound requests delivered to a single HUB, you must ensure that all cartons are delivered to the warehouse within 7 days from the arrival of the first carton at the warehouse.
  6. Dual HUB and D2FC delivery time requirements:

    Truck Delivery Appointment Rules

    FBT Freight delivery appointment function and process overviewa. Please make the appointment at least 4 business days in advance.
    b. Only truck deliveries require an appointment. Each carton must have a carton label attached!! Pallet labels must be attached under palletized freight scenarios!! Currently, only palletized truck delivery is supported. Express courier delivery to the warehouse does not require an appointment.
    c. All truck deliveries to the warehouse, regardless of (FTL, LTL, FCL, or LCL), must be booked with an appointment. Note: DHL/FedEx freight truck deliveries are also considered truck delivery. Express courier delivery to the warehouse does not require an appointment.
    d. Warehouse delivery time requirement: The driver must arrive at the warehouse on time according to the scheduled appointment. If the driver fails to arrive at the warehouse on the appointment date and the appointment is not cancelled, it will be deemed a No Show exception;
    e. Appointment cancellation time requirement: If your delivery plan changes, please cancel the appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Late cancellation will be deemed an exception.
    f. Inbound requests without an appointment: Inbound requests without an appointment will be rejected by the warehouse, or an inbound exception notice will be generated after the warehouse receives the goods. Each appointment can be associated with a maximum of 10 IBRs. For deliveries involving multiple IBRs under one appointment, please ensure that you and your freight forwarder associate and add all IBRs that need to be delivered when making the appointment.
    g. Multiple appointment requirements:
    • Each appointment corresponds to one truck, and each appointment can deliver a maximum of one truck.
    • If a seller has multiple trucks for a single IBR, appointments must be made separately. Each IBR can be scheduled for up to five appointments.

    How to Create an Inbound Request (IBR)

    #StepKey ActionsSystem Screenshot Example
    一、Create a New Inbound Request
    0Create Inbound RequestEnter the FBT system -> Inbound Orders -> Create inbound order
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    二、Fill in Inbound SKUs and Packing Information
    1.1
    Add Goods to Inbound
    1. Click [+ Add] and select goods with status Matched
    2. Click [Ready to pack] to proceed to the next step
    3. Supports adding inbound products via single selection / template upload
      Special note: Goods with status Unmatched are not allowed to be inbounded.
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    1.2Inbound Goods Quantity RequirementEach single Good must ship at least 10 units.
    2.1Manage Product Carton Packing Specifications(New feature launched in May 2024)This feature supports custom carton packing specifications at the product level. After maintaining standard packing specs for products with fixed carton standards, subsequent replenishments can be simplified. (Each product supports up to 3 carton specifications.)Example: Product A usually has 3 carton specifications, custom named as:
    • Example: Standard Large Carton: 300 units per carton
    • Example: Standard Medium Carton: 100 units per carton
    • Example: Standard Small Carton: 30 units per carton
    Create carton specifications:
    • Packing Template Name (Carton name): Sellers can customize the name for easy identification and memory;
    • Units per carton: Sellers must fill in according to the actual number of units packed per carton on the pallet;
    • Carton weight: Carton weight
    • Carton dimensions: Carton length, width, and height
    After the seller enters the number of cartons, the system will automatically calculate the total inbound quantity based on the preset specifications.It is strongly recommended to ship single-SKU full cartons to simplify the inbound process. See 3.1 for details. If mixed cartons are required, see Steps 3.2 / 3.3.
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    2.2Manage Product Pallet Specifications(New feature launched in April 2025)This feature supports custom pallet specifications at the product level. After maintaining standard pallet specs for products with fixed pallet standards, subsequent replenishments can be simplified, and warehouse allocation will be based on the pallet level.Create pallet specifications:
    1. Pallet Template Name: Sellers can customize the name for easy identification and memory;
    2. Cartons per Pallet: Sellers must fill in based on the actual number of cartons loaded on each pallet;
    3. Carton Template Name:
    If carton specs have already been created following 2.1, the corresponding carton template can be directly selected. If not created, click “Create Carton Template” and follow 2.1 to complete carton creation.Notes when selecting pallet specifications:
    1. For SKUs replenished using standard pallets, each replenishment plan must include no fewer than 4 pallets;
    2. When creating an inbound request using pallet specs, please ensure that the actual palletized unit count and carton count exactly match the pallet specifications entered in the system, otherwise inbound quantity discrepancies may occur.
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    2.3Manage Mixed Carton Product QuantitiesFor products requiring mixed cartons, select “Individual units” under Packing type, and fill in the actual inbound quantity.If most products are shipped in full cartons and only some tail cartons require mixing:
    1. Refer to 2.1 to complete the setup and input for the full-carton portion;
    2. Click “+” on the right to add a packing specification;
    3. Add a new packing specification, select “Individual units”, and enter the quantity of mixed units.
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    3.1Confirm Packing Details
    • Page input
    • Full-carton / Palletized shipment
    		Click [Ready to pack] at the bottom right to confirm packing. Please recheck the carton/pallet quantities and product unit counts, then click “Ready to ship” to confirm.
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    3.2Confirm Packing Details
    • Page input
    Mixed-carton shipment    		Click [Ready to pack] at the bottom right to confirm packing.Mixed-carton packing details (dimensions and quantities can be flexibly set): Using the example shown on the right, a total of 2 mixed cartons are created (viewed vertically):
    • C0001: 10 units of A + 10 units of B, weight 10 lb, 10 × 10 × 15 inches
    • C0002: 10 units of A + 5 units of B, weight 5 lb, 5 × 5 × 15 inches
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    3.3Confirm Packing Details
    • Template input
    • Mixed-carton shipment
    1. After entering the number of mixed cartons, click [Download template] to download the template.
    Please carefully read the filling requirements in Instructions.
    1. In the template table, fill in (by column) the quantity of each product per carton, carton dimensions, and weight.
    Ensure that the total packed quantity matches the total inbound product quantity.
    1. Upload the completed template. The system will perform validation and checks.
    2. Click [Ready to ship] at the bottom of the page to proceed to the next step.
    Special note: Mixed cartons should be avoided unless necessary. If tail inventory must be mixed, the number of Goods mixed in one carton must not exceed 5, and physical separation between Goods must be ensured, such as using cardboard dividers, strapping, etc. Failure to do so may affect inbound and shelving timeliness.
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    三、Confirm Delivery to 1 Hub / 2 Hubs / or Direct to FC(Single HUB or Dual HUB or Direct to FC)
    4Select Hub or Fulfillment Center Delivery
    1. Click “Ready to ship” or “Save”, and the page will redirect to the inbound mode selection page. Sellers must first fill in the estimated arrival time.
    2. Sellers may choose among the following three options:
    Direct to FC, Dual HUB, or Single HUB:
    1. Ship to Single HUB:
      Warehouse allocation will be performed by the platform. For goods arriving at the hub, HUB Placement Fee will be charged according to the rate card. After selecting the shipping mode, fill in freight information and select the destination warehouse.
      1. Direct to Fulfillment Center (FC):
        Sellers must ship according to the system’s warehouse allocation recommendations. Sellers must strictly follow the allocated quantities. Any quantity discrepancies, misrouted shipments, or partial shipments will incur a Routing Non-compliance Fee.
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        4.1 Select Ship to Single HUBClick Confirm to confirm the shipping method. Refer to Step 5.
        4.2Select Direct to FC or Dual HUB
        1. Click Confirm to confirm the platform’s warehouse allocation results:
          1. Confirm the allocation results and click “Confirm shipping”.
        The inbound request will be split into multiple inbound requests based on the allocation results.
        1. If unable to ship according to the allocation results, click “Previous” to reselect Hub or FC delivery.
          If the total inbound quantity needs to be adjusted, the inbound request must be cancelled and recreated.
          1. For the split inbound requests, sellers must click “Ship” for each inbound request to complete shipping.
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          四、Confirm Shipping Method
          5Confirm Shipping Method
          1. Select Load type:
            1. Small parcel: Express shipment such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. When selecting Small parcel, the total number of cartons must not exceed 200 cartons.
            2. Freight: Truck delivery to the warehouse. When selecting Freight, only pallet unloading is supported.
          Sellers must fill in pallet quantity and Pallet load type.
          1. Freight types include: FTL (the entire truck contains goods from one seller); LTL (the truck contains goods from multiple sellers and only partial unloading occurs at the warehouse)
              Sellers may confirm details with the freight forwarder in advance.
              1. Select the destination warehouse and fill in Expected arrival week (the seller's estimated arrival week). The expected arrival time affects the available appointment window. Sellers can only book delivery appointments within one week before or after the expected arrival time. If the expected arrival time changes, please update it promptly!! (see 3.5)
              2. After all information is completed, click [Confirm shipment].
              1. Select Load type，choose the destination warehouse,fill in expected arrival time（expected time）：
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              5.1Freight – Select Palletized or Carton ReceivingSellers may choose carton receiving or pallet receiving:
              1. Pallet receiving:
                1. Only supported for shipments inbounded to HUBs. Pallet receiving shortens processing time at the hub. For shipments meeting pallet receiving requirements (see link below) and with details filled in, sellers do not need to attach carton labels, only pallet labels are required. At the hub, receiving and outbound will be processed at the pallet level to reduce handling time. Pallet Receiving Operation Manual
                2. If accurate pallet information cannot be provided, or palletizing is performed by a third party, or if the seller prefers carton labels, select [Third party packing and shipping], fill in the overseas warehouse or freight forwarder name, and skip pallet details.
                3. For pallet receiving, sellers must fill in the actual pallet quantity and actual carton count per pallet, and ensure the actual delivered pallet specs and quantities exactly match the system input, otherwise inbound quantity discrepancies may occur.
              If accurate information cannot be provided, follow the above process to skip.
              1. Carton receiving:
              If the shipment does not meet pallet receiving requirements or [Third party packing and shipping] is selected, pallet information maintenance can be skipped. Goods will be received at the warehouse at the carton level.IMPORTANT!
              1. When creating an inbound request using pallet receiving, ensure that the actual palletized product quantity and carton count exactly match the pallet specifications entered in the system, otherwise inbound quantity discrepancies may occur.
              2. Carton vs pallet receiving only affects labeling and warehouse receiving operations, and is not related to the delivery method. If Freight is selected, pallets are required regardless of carton or pallet receiving.
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              五、Print and Attach Carton Labels, Product Labels, etc.
              6.1Print and Attach Carton Labels / Pallet Labels
              • Carton receiving
              1. Printing requirements:
                1. Carton label: mandatory, must be printed and attached
                2. Packing and picking list: no need to print or attach
                3. FBT Goods label: optional; only required when products have no barcode and FBT barcodes must be downloaded and attached
              2. Carton label attachment instructions:
                1. Attach according to the carton number mapping, do not attach incorrectly
                2. Attach 2 labels per carton, affixed to the carton side, firmly attached to prevent detachment
                3. When palletizing, ensure the side with the carton label faces outward
              3. Special note: For products containing hazardous materials or batteries, hazard labels must be attached to the outer carton. Refer to [1.4 – Requirements for attaching hazard labels to outer cartons for hazardous inbound goods].
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              6.2Print and Attach Carton Labels / Pallet Labels
              • Pallet receiving
              1. Printing requirements:
                1. Pallet label: mandatory, must be printed and attached
                2. Packing and picking list: no need to print or attach
                3. FBT Goods label: optional; only required when products have no barcode and FBT barcodes must be downloaded and attached
              2. Pallet label attachment instructions:
                1. Attach according to the pallet label mapping, do not attach incorrectly
                2. Attach 4 labels per pallet, affixed to all four sides, firmly attached to prevent detachment
              3. Special note: For products containing hazardous materials or batteries, hazard labels must be attached to the outer carton. Refer to [1.4 – Requirements for attaching hazard labels to outer cartons for hazardous inbound goods].
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              六、Fill in Tracking Information
              7Fill in Shipping Information
              1. If Small parcel is selected:
                1. Enter the courier tracking number in Tracking number.
              If there are multiple tracking numbers, enter all tracking numbers printed on the cartons (including sub-tracking numbers).
              1. If Freight is selected:
                1. Enter the pallet quantity in Number of shipments;
                2. PRO number is optional. If provided by the carrier, enter it.
              2. After completing all information, click [Submit] to complete submission.
              Special notes:
              1. After shipment, sellers must promptly fill in logistics information.
              2. For palletized truck deliveries, after creating the inbound request, sellers must book an inbound appointment in advance according to Operation Manual 1.3.2 before delivery.
              1. Small parcel
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              1. pallet
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              How to Schedule a Delivery — Truck Delivery Requires an Appointment; Parcel Delivery Does Not

              ⚠️⚠️ Which inbound shipments require an appointment, and which do not?
              1. Shipments delivered via standard parcel carriers such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. do not require an appointment, and the warehouse will accept them;
              Note: UPS, FedEx, DHL freight services are not considered small parcel delivery.
              1. If the final-mile delivery to the FBT warehouse is via truck, including LTL, FTL, and other truck delivery methods, an advance delivery appointment is required.
              ⚠️⚠️How to schedule an appointment?
              • In the FBT system, complete the appointment during Step 5 of the inbound request workflow. Please refer to the following process overview:
              • It is recommended to schedule the appointment at least one week in advance.
              • During appointment scheduling, ensure proper freight forwarder coordination and information synchronization, and do not create duplicate appointments for the same inbound request.
              • When scheduling the appointment, ensure the email address entered is accurate, and monitor the inbox used for appointment scheduling.
              • After receiving the appointment confirmation email from the warehouse (with an appointment barcode) or once the system shows the appointment is approved, the driver must bring a printed or electronic copy of the appointment confirmation email, or a screenshot of the system confirmation, and deliver to the warehouse at the confirmed appointment time.
              • For detailed instructions on using the FBT inbound appointment system, please refer https://scm-us.tiktok.com/merchant-university/course-details/26919489030
              Is palletization required for full-container truck delivery?When sellers deliver goods to an FBT warehouse via truck delivery, palletization is mandatory. For floor-loaded containers (non-palletized full containers), the warehouse will reject the shipment.

              How to Upload Small Parcel Shipments

              ❗️ Sellers must enter tracking numbers immediately after obtaining them. Based on the tracking number and its estimated delivery time, the warehouse will perform volume forecasting and labor planning. Inaccurate or delayed input may impact warehouse operation efficiency;❗️ Subsequent assessments will be conducted on [Completion Rate] and [Accuracy]. Assessment rules will be announced later. Sellers are strongly advised to take this seriously.
              Fill in Shipping Information
              1. If Small parcel is selected:
                1. Enter the courier tracking number in Add tracking info. If there are multiple tracking numbers, enter all tracking numbers affixed to the cartons (including sub-tracking numbers).
                2. When entering tracking numbers, sellers must first select the courier carrier. Both single entry and bulk upload via spreadsheet are supported;
                3. After completing all information, click [Submit] to complete submission.
                4. The system will track the parcel delivery status based on the tracking number you provided and sync related information back to the platform.
                5. You can view the following statuses later in Details:
                  1. Working: Filling in inbound product information
                  2. Ready to ship: Filling in inbound packing details
                  3. To be received: Waiting for receipt after clicking Ship
                  4. Delivered: Parcel has been delivered to the receiving warehouse
                  5. Arrived at hub: Receiving warehouse begins processing
                  6. Internal transit: In transit to the shelving warehouse
                  7. Receiving: Shelving warehouse counting and shelving
                  8. Received: Shelving warehouse has completed shelving
              2. After completing all information, click [Submit] to complete submission.
              Special Notes:
              1. After shipment, sellers must promptly update logistics information.
              2. For palletized truck delivery, after creating the inbound request, sellers must book a delivery appointment in advance according to Operation Manual Section 1.3.2 before delivering to the warehouse.
              1. Small parcel
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              2. pallet
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              ⚠️⚠️ FBT Inbound Cargo Preparation Requirements ⚠️⚠️

              (Summary of Product Barcode / Carton Label / Palletization Requirements – Must Know & Must Read)
              Specification TypeSpecification / Requirement DescriptionExample
              What are the barcode requirements for FBT inbound products?One item, one barcode. Each product barcode must be unique and must correspond one-to-one with the product listing SKU.
              1. The Seller Center product listing SKU, FBT Goods, and the barcode affixed to the physical product must correspond one-to-one. Even if: The physical products are identical under different product listings within the same shop, or the physical products are identical across different shops.
              FBT still requires:Different product listings to create different Goods;Each Goods to use a different product barcode;Each Goods to be stocked into the FBT warehouse separately.
              1. When creating Goods and entering barcodes, and when affixing barcodes during replenishment, the following requirements apply:
                1. Each Goods must have a unique barcode;
                2. The barcode must be affixed to the outer product packaging, unobstructed, undamaged, and clearly visible;
              jagged barcodes or blurred printed barcodes are not supported, and the barcode must be scannable without opening the package;
              1. There must be no other barcodes on the outer product packaging besides the product barcode;
              2. Supported barcode sizes currently include:
                5×3 cm, 6×4 cm, 7×3 cm, 7×5 cm, 10×6 cm. For other sizes, sellers must provide the barcode size and images before shipment for FBT confirmation;
                1. Products must use linear barcodes; QR codes are not supported;
                2. After scanning, the barcode value must be numeric only, alphabetic only, or alphanumeric.
                  Barcodes containing spaces or special symbols (such as “-”) are not supported.
                  1. If a product model is upgraded or revised:
                    1. If old and new versions need to be stocked in the warehouse simultaneously,
                  the old and new versions must be created as separate Goods, and different barcodes must be affixed for inbounding. After old inventory is sold out, the product listing can be unbound from the old Goods and rebound to the new Goods.
                  1. If old and new versions will not be stocked simultaneously,
                    the new version may use the old Goods and barcode, and inbounding can begin after the old inventory is fully depleted.
                    1. FBT barcode example
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                    2. UPC code barcode example
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                    What are the FBT carton label requirements?
                    1. FBT carton labels must be printed and affixed.
                    2. Carton label affixing requirements:
                      1. Sellers must download carton labels directly from the FBT system. Third-party carton labels are not allowed as replacements;
                      2. Two labels per carton, affixed to two adjacent sides, firmly attached to prevent falling off;
                      3. Attach carton labels according to the carton number mapping, and do not mislabel;
                      4. Minimum carton label print size: 10 cm × 15 cm;
                    Maximum carton longest side: 66 cm;Maximum single-carton weight: 23 kg.
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                    What are the palletization requirements for truck delivery into FBT warehouses?
                    1. All shipments delivered by truck must be palletized. When palletizing, ensure the side of the carton with the carton label faces outward.
                    2. For single-SKU-per-carton shipments (large products with only one unit per carton),
                    Sellers must download and affix the FBT pallet label (Pallet mark) from the FBT system:
                    1. Affix according to the pallet number mapping, do not mislabel;
                    2. Four labels per pallet, affixed to all four sides, firmly attached to prevent falling off.
                    1. During palletization, different IBRs must not be mixed on the same pallet:
                      1. IBRs from different shops are NOT allowed to be mixed on the same pallet;
                      2. Multiple IBRs from the same shop are NOT allowed to be mixed on the same pallet.
                    Maximum inbound pallet size: 48 × 40 × 72 inches (including pallet height); Maximum pallet weight: 1500 lbs (approximately 680 kg); Double-stacked pallets are not supported.
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                    What are the appointment requirements for truck delivery into the warehouse?If the final-mile delivery to the FBT warehouse is via truck delivery, including LTL, FTL, and other methods, an advance delivery appointment is required. Please note the following when making an appointment:
                    1. Schedule the appointment at least one week in advance. Ensure proper freight forwarder coordination and information synchronization, and do not create duplicate appointments for the same inbound request;
                    2. When scheduling the appointment, ensure the email address entered is accurate and monitor the inbox used for scheduling;
                    3. After receiving the warehouse appointment confirmation email or system appointment confirmation, the driver must carry a printed or electronic copy of the confirmation email or system confirmation screenshot, and deliver to the warehouse on time according to the confirmed appointment window. Late arrivals or missed appointments may result in shipment rejection.
                    		System appointment confirmation screenshot
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