> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vortexiq.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Late Dispatch Rate, Walmart Marketplace > Late Dispatch Rate for Walmart Marketplace stores. Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre. How to read it, why it matters, and how to act on it. **Card class:** [Hero](/nerve-centre/overview#card-classes-explained) • **Category:** [Marketplace](/nerve-centre/connectors#connectors-by-type) ## At a glance > This card tracks the share of seller-fulfilled orders dispatched after their estimated ship date over the selected period. Walmart penalises late dispatches with bid-visibility cuts above its lower penalty threshold and account-suspension risk when the rate stays high. Sellers watch it because the on-time dispatch SLA is the account-health KPI most easily broken by everyday warehouse hiccups. | | | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **What it counts** | The percentage of seller-fulfilled Walmart orders dispatched after their estimated ship date in the selected period. | | **Sample type** | Backend API data from Walmart Marketplace, refreshed on the standard data refresh. | | **Why it matters** | Late dispatches breach Walmart's on-time SLA, triggering bid-visibility cuts and, if sustained, suspension risk and loss of Pro Seller status. | | **Reading the value** | Lower is better; a reading above the alert threshold means dispatches are slipping into Walmart's penalty zone. | | **Currency** | percent | | **Time window** | `30D vsP` | | **Alert trigger** | `>1% (Walmart penalty threshold)` | | **Sentiment key** | `wal_late_dispatch_rate` | | **Roles** | owner, operations | ## Calculation Vortex IQ divides orders dispatched after their estimated ship date by total seller-fulfilled orders over the selected window and compares against the prior period for direction. The figure is shown as a gauge against Walmart's published penalty threshold. As the At a glance summary notes, the lower penalty line drives visibility cuts while sustained high rates risk suspension; the worked example below shows how a short operational disruption can move the rate. ## Worked example *A representative reading of **Late Dispatch Rate** for a typical merchant on Walmart Marketplace.* Over the 30 days to 12 Mar 26 a seller sees Late Dispatch Rate climb from a representative 0.6% to 1.4%, above Walmart's penalty threshold and up versus the prior period. The spike traces back to a two-day carrier pickup gap mid-month. The reading means the on-time SLA is now in the penalty zone and search visibility is at risk, so the action is to clear the backlog, add a backup carrier for peak days, and watch the rolling rate fall back under the threshold. For deeper investigation, use Vortex Mind to trace upstream causes; for natural-language exploration, ask Ask Viq. ## Sibling cards merchants should reference together | Card | Why merchants reach for it | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [`wal_sla_compliance`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/walmart-marketplace/on-time-dispatch-rate) | The positive mirror of this rate; shows on-time SLA headroom. | | [`wal_alert_dispatch_sla_miss`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/walmart-marketplace/late-dispatches-risking-pro-seller-status) | Lists the specific open orders about to push this rate higher. | | [`wal_pending_dispatch`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/walmart-marketplace/pending-dispatch) | The dispatch queue that determines whether the rate will rise. | | [`wal_cancellation_rate`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/walmart-marketplace/cancellation-rate) | The sibling account-health KPI often affected by the same disruptions. | | [`wal_alert_account_health_drop`](/nerve-centre/kpi-cards/walmart-marketplace/walmart-account-health-lqs-sla-cancel-crossed-threshold) | The composite tripwire that fires when this rate breaches. | ## Reconciling against Walmart Seller Center **Where to look in Walmart Seller Center:** Verify against the Performance or Scorecard area, where Walmart reports on-time dispatch and the penalty threshold currently applied, and the Order Management area for the underlying late orders. The scorecard shows how the rate maps to your account-health standing. **Why the Vortex IQ value may legitimately differ:** | Reason | Direction | What to do | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------ | | **Period boundary.** Vortex IQ uses 30D vsP rolling by default; Seller Center may use calendar periods. | Variable | Match the period range. | | **Time zone.** Seller Center uses the account time zone; Vortex IQ aligns to the merchant reporting time zone. | Marginal | Confirm time zone match. | | **Filter scope.** Profile-level filters (fulfilment type, test orders) may narrow the Vortex IQ view. | Variable | Match filter settings. | **Cross-connector reconciliation:** complement with sibling cards in the same category for the full diagnostic picture. For divergence investigations, use Vortex Mind. ## Known limitations / merchant FAQs **Q: How often does Late Dispatch Rate update?** The card refreshes on the standard data refresh (typically every 30-60 minutes for live integrations). For real-time signals, force a manual refresh from the dashboard. **Q: Why does my Walmart Seller Center show a different number?** Seller Center counts an order as on-time once a valid tracking event is recorded, while Vortex IQ uses a rolling window that may sample the dispatch confirmation at a different moment. Time-zone and filter scope (fulfilment type or test orders) can also shift which orders are counted as late. **Q: Do WFS orders affect this rate?** No, WFS orders are dispatched by Walmart, so they sit outside your seller-fulfilled dispatch SLA; this card reflects only the orders you ship yourself. **Q: Can I customise the alert threshold?** Yes, sensitivity thresholds are configurable per profile in the Sensitivity tab. Adjust to match your business baseline rather than relying on the generic default. *** ### Tracked live in Vortex IQ Nerve Centre *Late Dispatch Rate* is one of hundreds of KPI pulses Vortex IQ tracks across Walmart Marketplace and 70+ other ecommerce connectors. Nerve Centre runs the detection layer; Vortex Mind investigates the cause when something moves; Ask Viq lets you interrogate any number in plain English. [Start for free](https://app.vortexiq.ai/login) or [book a demo](https://www.vortexiq.ai/contact-us) to see this metric running on your own data.