Warehousing Practices and Order Fulfilment Efficiency in E-Commerce Firms in Abuja, North Central Nigeria

This research investigates the relationship between warehousing practices and order fulfilment efficiency among e-commerce firms operating in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The rapid growth of online retail in urban Nigeria has placed significant pressure on warehouse operations, compelling companies to adopt more structured storage, picking, and dispatch systems. Using a descriptive research design, data will be gathered through structured questionnaires administered to warehouse supervisors and logistics officers in 18 e-commerce companies in the Abuja metropolitan area. The study examines specific warehousing variables including storage layout, inventory accuracy, technology adoption, and workforce training. Order fulfilment efficiency is measured through delivery timeliness, order accuracy rates, and return management effectiveness. Findings from related studies suggest that poor warehousing layouts and inadequate use of barcode scanning technology remain key barriers to fulfilment speed in Nigerian e-commerce. This study will test whether similar patterns exist in Abuja-based firms and document best practices that have improved operational outcomes. Regression analysis will be employed to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between the selected warehousing variables and fulfilment performance. Results are intended to guide operational improvements for logistics managers and policy recommendations for industry associations supporting e-commerce growth in Nigeria. Keywords: warehousing, order fulfilment, e-commerce, Abuja, logistics efficiency.