How We Automated Multi-Supplier Cross-Dock for an Auto Parts Distributor with 500K SKUs
Cross-dock processing
Manual → 100% automated
Mono order transit
Hours → Minutes
A Barcelona-based e-commerce distributor specializing in automotive body parts -- not mechanical parts, but panels, bumpers, and bodywork components. Their catalog spans 200,000 to 500,000 references, far too many to stock. This means virtually 100% of orders are fulfilled via cross-dock from suppliers. They serve two customer segments: standard B2C customers and garages, plus a premium channel through a major French marketplace.
The Challenge
The core challenge is scale and complexity. With hundreds of thousands of SKUs and zero inventory, every single order triggers a purchase from a supplier. But a single product -- say a black Tesla Model 3 bumper -- can be sourced from multiple suppliers at different prices, stock levels, and delivery times. Supplier stock and pricing data changes multiple times per day. Premium channel customers require specific supplier certification, not all suppliers qualify. And when suppliers deliver, they often bundle multiple purchase orders into a single shipment, making reception a nightmare with traditional PO-by-PO scanning.
Top challenges:
- 200-500K SKU catalog impossible to stock, requiring 100% cross-dock
- Multiple suppliers per product with prices and stock changing daily
- Suppliers delivering multiple POs in a single shipment
The Solution
We designed a comprehensive cross-dock procurement and reception system tailored to their high-volume, zero-inventory model.
What We Configured
Automated supplier stock and price imports running multiple times daily, giving myFulfillment real-time visibility into every supplier's availability and pricing. Automatic primary supplier selection based on stock availability, purchase price, and delivery time. Purchase orders are automatically split into mono orders (single-product orders that can ship immediately upon receipt) and multi orders (products that need to wait for other items before the customer order can ship). Premium channel routing ensures orders from certified channels are only sourced from qualified suppliers.
What We Custom-Built
A free reception system where warehouse operators simply scan all products from a supplier delivery without selecting specific purchase orders. The system creates a bulk reception record. After scanning is complete, an allocation matrix shows all received products in columns and all pending purchase orders in rows, with automatic allocation to the oldest orders. The buyer validates or adjusts the matrix, and products are allocated to their respective POs. For mono cross-dock orders, received products transit directly to a packing station where the system matches them to the customer order, the operator packs and labels, and the product leaves the warehouse within minutes.
Free reception system: operators scan all received products without matching to specific POs, then an allocation matrix automatically assigns received items to the oldest waiting purchase orders. The buyer simply validates the proposed allocation.
Key benefits:
- Automated supplier selection based on stock, price, and delivery time
- Mono/multi PO splitting for immediate shipping when possible
- Free reception with allocation matrix eliminating PO-by-PO matching
The Results
Cross-dock processing
Manual → 100% automated
Mono order transit
Hours → Minutes
The system processes 100% of orders through cross-dock without manual intervention. Mono orders -- where a single product from a single supplier fulfills the entire customer order -- follow an extremely short path through the warehouse: reception, immediate routing to packing, label, and ship. Multi orders are restocked and automatically released when all required items arrive. The free reception system eliminated the biggest bottleneck: matching bulk supplier deliveries to individual purchase orders.
Understand this case in video
Not just for auto parts
The same zero-stock, multi-supplier cross-dock model works for any distributor with a massive catalog they can't physically warehouse.
- Electronics component distributors sourcing from dozens of manufacturers
- Industrial MRO suppliers with 100K+ references and next-day delivery promises
- Plumbing and HVAC parts distributors aggregating multiple supplier catalogs
- Any marketplace-first seller running entirely on supplier stock
Check out more
How a Hunting Equipment Specialist Sells the Full Warehouse Catalog From Any Store Counter
2 physical locations + online storeRead storyLifestyle & seasonal goodsHow a Lifestyle Retailer Eliminated Stockouts with Intelligent Replenishment Forecasting
12,000+ SKUsRead storyBio & organic cosmeticsHow Similar Matching Gave a Bio Cosmetics Brand Competitive Visibility for the First Time
5,000+ SKUs, Magento + Google ShoppingRead storyBedroom products e-commerceHow We Replaced Scissors with Algorithms for a Multi-Country Bedroom Products Seller
5 Shopify sites + 20 marketplaces, FR + ESRead storyElectrical equipment (B2C + pros)How We Built a Custom Cable Cutting Workflow for an Electrical Retailer
B2C + professional electriciansRead storyParapharmacy / Health & wellnessHow Inverted Pricing Reports Turned Market Data into Supplier Negotiation Leverage
5,000-6,000 SKUs, Shopify + Google ShoppingRead storyHome equipment retailHow We Guaranteed Profitability Across 10+ Marketplaces for a Home Equipment Retailer
10+ marketplaces, thousands of SKUsRead storyHigh-tech / Consumer electronicsHow AutoPilot AI Focuses Repricing on the Products That Actually Matter
~1,000 SKUs, multiple marketplacesRead storyThird-party logistics (3PL)How We Built Error-Proof Warehouse Workflows for a Lyon-Based 3PL
Local e-commerce clientsRead storyHome & garden e-commerceHow a Multi-Channel Retailer Replaced Excel Chaos with One-Screen Order Management
5 sales channelsRead storyHealth supplements & cosmeticsHow a Health & Wellness Retailer Achieved 100% Lot Traceability with FIFO Enforcement
800+ SKUs with expiry datesRead storyFashion & accessories DTCHow a DTC Fashion Brand Re-Internalized Logistics from Their 3PL in 3 Days
2,000+ orders/monthRead storyGifts & gadgets retailHow a UK Retailer Escaped Shopify POS and Unified 5 Stores on One Platform
5 physical stores + Shopify onlineRead storyElectronics e-commerceHow an Electronics Distributor Eliminated 90% of Label Errors with Centralized Shipping
3,000+ daily shipmentsRead storyE-commerce (multi-industry)How 50% of Our Clients Automate Cross-Dock and Dropship Supplier Fulfillment
50%+ of myFulfillment clientsRead storyMotorcycle parts & accessoriesHow AI Matching Achieved 99% Accuracy on 200,000 Complex Motorcycle Parts
200,000+ SKUs, PrestaShop + Google ShoppingRead storyGifts & gadgets retailHow a UK Retailer Turned 5 Stores Into Omnichannel Fulfillment Nodes
5 physical stores + Shopify onlineRead storyGardening & pet supplies retailHow a Gardening Retailer Got 34% More Clicks Without Raising Ad Spend
25,000+ SKUs, 50+ year-old family businessRead storyHunting & outdoor equipmentHow a Hunting Equipment Specialist Deploys 5 POS Terminals in Minutes at Trade Shows
2 physical locations + online storeRead storyMulti-brand retail / e-commerceHow We Built an Omnichannel B2B2C System Connecting Retail Stores to E-Commerce Inventory
E-commerce + retail storesRead storyCandle & fragrance manufacturingHow BOM-Based Stock Calculation Tripled Sellable Inventory for a Candle Manufacturer
4 e-commerce sitesRead storyHome & garden equipmentHow a Brittany Retailer Turned Warehouse Walk-Ins Into 25% of Revenue
€3M revenue, 10+ marketplacesRead storyReady to see similar results?
Book a demo and we'll show you how we can solve the same challenges for your business.
Free 20-min call · No commitment