A serial number is a unique identifier assigned to a specific item. It is used to track the manufacture date, verify origin legality, and identify device specifications such as color or storage capacity. ShipHero utilizes serial numbers for warranty management and version control.
Enabling the Needs Serial Number setting allows you to identify exactly which unit was shipped to a customer and link that specific unit to their order information.
You can monitor all products shipped with serial numbers using the Serial Number Report.
Things to Consider
- Serial numbers are not compatible with Kits or Built Kits.
- Serial numbers are not supported via the Bulk Ship fulfillment flow.
- Serial numbers are not limited to numbers; they may contain letters, symbols, or character strings.
- Disabling Settings: If the Needs serial number setting is disabled, historical data remains preserved in the Serial Number Report.
Enabling Serial Number Tracking on a Product
You can enable serial number tracking using several methods. Note that once this setting is enabled for a product, it cannot be disabled using standard product editing tools within the platform.
| Editing Method | Instructions |
| Single SKU (Product Details) | 1. Open the product details page and click the Edit icon. 2. Select the checkbox for Needs Serial Number. 3. Click Update. |
| Multiple SKUs (Products Page) | 1. Navigate to Inventory Products. 2. Select the products you wish to edit. 3. Click Bulk Edit. 4. Set Needs Serial Number to Yes. 5. Click Process. |
| Multiple SKUs (CSV Import) | Use the Bulk Edit CSV. Input 1 in the Needs Serial Number column to enable tracking. |
Allowing Duplicate Serial Numbers in an Order
By default, ShipHero requires a unique serial number for every unit in an order. If an order contains multiple units of the same SKU, you must enter a different serial number for each. If your workflow requires the same serial number for multiple units in one order, follow these steps:
- Go to the My Account > Settings > App Settings page.
- Locate the setting Allow duplicate Serial Numbers in an order.
- Select the checkbox and click Save Changes.
How to Enter a Serial Number
Serial numbers are recorded during the packing stage. This is supported in the Packing App and the shipping.shiphero.com platform. Serial number entry is not supported in the ShipHero Mobile single order fulfillment flow.
When packing an item that requires a serial number on a desktop, a prompt will appear:
- Scan or manually enter the serial number for the unit being packed.
- Click Save.
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The serial number will be displayed on the packed item view. Once the shipping label is generated, the serial number will also appear in the shipped items section of the order details page.
| Packed items view | Shipped items label view |
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