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How to Enable Serial Numbers on a Product

Updated

A serial number is a unique identifier assigned to a specific item, used to track manufacture date, verify origin, and identify device specifications. ShipHero uses serial numbers for warranty management and version control.

Enabling Needs Serial Number lets you identify exactly which unit was shipped to a customer and link it to their order.

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 in the Bulk Ship fulfillment flow.
  • Serial numbers are not limited to numbers — they may contain letters, symbols, or any character string.
  • Disabling the Setting: If Needs Serial Number is disabled, historical data is preserved in the Serial Number Report.

Enabling Serial Number Tracking on a Product

Serial number tracking can be enabled using any of the methods below.

Important

Once Needs Serial Number is enabled for a product, it cannot be disabled using standard product editing tools.

Editing Method Instructions
Single SKU (Product Details)
  1. Open the product details page and click the Edit icon.
  2. Select the Needs Serial Number checkbox.
  3. Click Update.
Multiple SKUs (Products Page)
  1. Go to Inventory > Products.
  2. Select the products 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. Enter 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 each unit in an order. If your workflow requires the same serial number for multiple units in one order, follow these steps:

  1. Go to My Account > Settings > App Settings.
  2. Locate Allow duplicate Serial Numbers in an order.
  3. Select the checkbox and click Save Changes.

How to Enter a Serial Number

Serial numbers are recorded during the packing stage in the Packing App and on shipping.shiphero.com. Serial number entry is not supported in the ShipHero Mobile single order fulfillment flow.

When packing an item that requires a serial number:

  1. Scan or manually enter the serial number for the unit being packed.
  2. Click Save.

The serial number appears on the packed item view. Once the shipping label is generated, it also appears in the shipped items section of the order details page.

Packed items view Shipped items label view
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