How to Enable Serial Numbers on a Product

A serial number is a unique identifier assigned incrementally or sequentially to an item. It is used to identify the place and time of manufacture, determine the legality of its origin, and identify features of the device, such as color or storage capacity. The serial number is also used for warranty control and version control. 

Using the Serial Number product setting in ShipHero will allow you to identify when and from where specific product was shipped to your customer and the order information that accompanies it.

Easily keep track of all products shipped with serial numbers using the Serial Number Report.  

Things to Consider

• Serial numbers cannot be turned off once enabled for a product.
• Serial numbers do not work on Kits or Built Kits.
• Serial numbers are not supported via the Bulk Ship flow.
• Serial numbers do not need to be strictly numerical and may contain letters and other typographical symbols or may consist entirely of a character string.

Enabling Serial Number Tracking on a Product

Serial number tracking can be enabled on a product several ways in ShipHero; however, keep in mind, as mentioned above, once this setting is enabled for a product it cannot be turned off using the product editing tools within the ShipHero platform.

Editing Method	Instructions	Example Image
Single SKU: Product details page	Open the product details page and select the Edit icon. Check the box next to Needs Serial Number Click Update.
Multiple SKUs:  Inventory > Products page	Go to the Inventory > Products page and check the box next to the products to be edited  Click Bulk Edit. Select Yes under Needs Serial Number. Click Process.
Multiple SKUs: Bulk Edit CSV	To enable this setting via CSV input 1 as the value for the Needs Serial Number column.	Here is more information about using the Bulk Edit CSV.

Allowing Multiple Products to Have the Same Serial Number

If the quantity of the product with the serial number setting enabled is greater than one on an order, you will be prompted to enter a different serial number for each unit. By default, the same serial number cannot be used more than once on the same order.

In some cases the same serial number needs to be applied to multiple units on a single order. To enable this setting, 

1. Go to the My Account > Settings > App Settings page.
2. Scroll down the page until you see the line item "Allow duplicate Serial Numbers in an order." and select the checkbox.
3. Then hit Save Changes.

How To Enter a Serial Number

Serial numbers can only be added to a product during the packing stage via the Packing App or the Shipping.Shiphero.com platform. Serial numbers are not supported in the ShipHero Mobile single order fulfillment flow.

When packing from a desktop, if a product requires a serial number a prompt will appear when packing the item:

1. Enter or scan the serial number of the product being shipped 
2. Click Save.

You will see the serial number referenced on the packed item and once the label is generated it also shows on the listed items of a shipping label located on the order details page.

Packed items view	Shipped items label view