The phrase indicates a state where an order has been placed and received by a business, but the actions necessary to complete that order, such as gathering the items, packaging them, and preparing them for shipment, have not yet been executed. For example, an online retail customer might see this status displayed against their purchase, meaning the merchant is actively processing the transaction but the goods are not yet dispatched.
Understanding this order status is crucial for both consumers and businesses. For customers, it sets an expectation regarding delivery timelines and prevents unnecessary inquiries. For businesses, it represents a crucial window for quality control, inventory management, and efficient logistics. Its existence in the transaction lifecycle provides a clear marker of operational progress and allows for proactive issue resolution should any problems arise before the order leaves the warehouse or store.