Total fulfillment management: principles, practices and use cases

• Proposes the Total Fulfillment Management (TFM) framework for logistics synchronization. • Introduces nine synchronization practices across warehousing and transportation. • Presents Fulfillment Synchronization Strategy (FSS) as the operational core of TFM. • Demonstrates synchronization practices through two case studies from TRE publications. • Explores horizontal and vertical synchronization to optimize fulfillment efficiency. This study presents a novel framework called Total Fulfillment Management (TFM), which integrates inbound warehousing and outbound transportation operations into a unified system. TFM draws inspiration from the time-tested philosophies of Total Quality Management and Just-In-Time production, adapting these principles to the modern logistics context. This paper introduces the Fulfillment Synchronization Strategy (FSS) as the operational core of TFM, designed to optimize internal and external resources and improve operational efficiency through real-time data-driven, synchronized decision-making. Within the FSS, a total of nine synchronization practices are defined. Through the integration of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain, TFM offers a holistic system approach for businesses seeking to enhance their fulfillment operations. Key research avenues and use cases highlight the potential impact of TFM on the evolving logistics landscape.