This change was rolled out in July 2024 and is now active for all ShipHero accounts.
When an item is picked into a tote during Multi-Item or Single Item batch picking, ShipHero now removes the inventory from the picking location immediately — rather than waiting until the order ships.
Previously, inventory stayed associated with the bin it was picked from until the order shipped. This caused discrepancies between the recorded bin quantity and the actual physical count, requiring workarounds when displaying quantities and transferring inventory. This change ensures bin counts are always accurate and reflect what's physically in the warehouse.
Impact on Operations
This change is transparent to warehouse users — no process changes are required.
API Considerations
If you use the Robot API, inventory will continue to remain in the picking location until the order ships. ShipHero tracks which method was used, so the Robot API and the mobile app can be used safely in the same environment. The Robot API will be updated in a future release — affected users will be notified before any changes are made.
If you use tote_picks from the API to track inventory, a new deducted field has been added. This field indicates whether the inventory in the tote has already been removed from the picking location.
Clearing a Tote
If a tote is cleared, inventory is automatically returned to the picking location. You can also use the tote transfer page to move inventory to a specific location.
Inventory Change Log
The inventory change log now records when an item is picked into a tote. The log entry reads: "Order [Order Number] picked into tote [tote name]."