Direct Pack is an alternative to bulk shipping that allows for greater control over order accuracy and more customization over the orders and pack-out process. It’s also a great alternative to multi-item batch picking for customers in warehouses that have a small footprint and a limited number of SKUs.
This article explains the which ShipHero customers most benefit from this set up and the "Basic Configuration" of how to set up Direct Pack in your warehouse.
Requirements
- Pack station equipped with a barcode scanner, label printer, and the ShipHero Packing App.
- Command Barcodes or an Adaptive Packing Station
- Barcoded products
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Direct Pack must be enabled by our ShipHero's support team before starting the setup process.
- You will need to manually create barcodes to use this feature. You can generate barcodes using any free barcode software or website.
- Direct Pack can also be used with ShipHero's attainable automation kits; please reach out to your CSM for more information.
What are the Pros and Cons of Using Direct Pack?
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for small warehouses | Inefficient in large warehouses |
| Minimal equipment required for setup and quick to implement | Some setup must be done outside of ShipHero |
| Pick path is not a concern | Not ideal for customers with a large product mix (ex: apparel, shoes, etc.) |
| Order accuracy is not sacrificed since every item is scanned | Challenging to use with lot-tracked items |
How to Set Up a Direct Pack Station - Basic Configuration
Step 1: Create a Direct Pack Location:
Create a location and location type that you will use at the packing station, this location should be sellable and pickable. In this example, we will use “DIR-PACK-01-001” as our location.
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- You must use a unique prefix for each packing station. Example: “DIR-PACK-01”, “DIR-PACK-02”, etc.
- If the Direct Pack station is the only place you will be processing orders for the SKUs stationed there, then mark all other inventory locations for the SKUs as non-pickable.
- If you want to have SKUs available for Direct Pack Stations and MIB you can have the items in other pickable locations. Use order tags and statuses to manage which orders are processed at the Direct Pack station and MIB flows.
Step 2: Configure Packing Station Command Barcodes:
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Create a command barcode to assign the Direct Pack location to the Packing App. Everytime the Packing App is opened you MUST assign the Direct Pack station.
- The command barcode must be in the following format: “shp2l__”+“location prefix of the location”.
- Using the same location from Step One, the command barcode would be “shp2l__DIR-PACK-01”
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Create a command barcode to request the next order that can be shipped with products from the pack station location you are working in.
- This will help speed up the process. The command barcode to request the next order is “sh0008”
- Equip your Direct Pack Station with other command barcodes to expedite the process further.
- Print Invoice and Labels
- Okay/Confirm
- Send to Hospital
Step 3: Optional Optimizations
- Order tags and/or statuses can be used to filter which orders are processed at the Direct Pack station. If using custom statuses and tags, they must be assigned to the user processing the orders.
- Use automation rules to streamline repetitive tasks. We recommend the following:
- Set Box to Use
- Set Shipping Method
- AutoPrint Shipping Label
How to Ship at a Direct Pack Station
Before getting started, you must ensure that the Direct Pack station is replenished and that the user is assigned the same status as the orders that will be fulfilled at the Direct Pack station. Once that is done, follow the steps below to process your first order.
- Open the Packing App and navigate to the Shipping > Single Orders page.
- Scan the command barcode from Step Two to assign the Direct Pack location to the pack station in use; this must be completed everytime the Packing App is opened.
- Select an order or scan any product barcode to begin.
- Scan the box to use.
- Scan remaining items on the order to pack.
- Once all items are packed, scan “Print Invoice and Labels”.
- Scan “Get Next Order”.
NOTE: When your pickable locations run out of stock, you will no longer be presented with orders for products in that location, and it’s time to do a replenishment. You can monitor the inventory levels by using the Product Locations Report. Simply filter the search by the location name, location type, or the SKUs you are looking to monitor.