NOTE: This change was rolled out July 2024 and is now active for all accounts using ShipHero.
A change is being made to how we treat inventory when it is picked into a tote during Multi-Item and Single Item batch picking. Currently, when an item is picked into a tote the inventory is still associated with the bin it was picked from and the inventory is only removed when the order ships. With this change, the inventory will be removed from the picking location as soon as it’s picked into a tote.
Q: Why are you making this change?
A: By changing this functionality, it will simplify processes and better reflect what’s actually happening in the warehouse. Currently, when inventory is kept in the picking location, the record of how many units are in the bin is not accurate since some of the units are actually in a tote. To account for that, we make adjustments to the quantity displayed and put in place safeguards when transferring inventory. While effective, the more functionality we build, the more this discrepancy comes up.
Q: Will I have to change any processes once this is turned on?
A: No! The change should be completely transparent to your users. For any API considerations, please see below.
Q: What about during the transition, will I need to make sure all totes are empty?
A: No! We keep track of whether or not inventory was removed from the location and will properly handle both cases at the same time.
Q: Will this have any impact on the API?
A: If you are using the Robot API, then no. Inventory will still be in the picking location until the order ships. As detailed above, we keep track of whether or not inventory was removed, so you can safely use the Robot API and the mobile app in the same environment. The plan is to eventually change the Robot API as well. We will reach out to those API users before making any changes.
If you are using tote_picks from the API to keep track, we’ve added a new field called deducted that you can use to see if the inventory in the tote was removed from the picking location or not.
Q: Will this change affect static slotting accounts as well?
A: Yes, this change will affect both static and dynamic slotting accounts.
DEPRECATED FEATURE: Static Slotting was officially deprecated on September 30, 2025. It is no longer supported. Please upgrade your account to Dynamic Slotting immediately. You can find out more about Dynamic Slotting HERE.
Please contact your CSM or Support@shiphero.com for assistance with the Static to Dynamic slotting transition.
Q: What about if I clear a tote - what happens to the inventory?
A: Inventory will be moved back to the picking location automatically. You can also use the tote transfer page to put inventory in a specific location.
Q: Will this affect the inventory change log?
A: Yes. The inventory change log will reflect when the item was picked. The text of the log will be "Order [Order Number] picked into tote [tote name]."
Q: Can I stay with the old way of removing inventory?
A: We plan to move all accounts to the new functionality over the next few weeks. If you’d like to work with us on a cutover time or have other questions or concerns about this change, please reach out to your CSM.