Expedited and high-value orders ship first when you combine Automation Rules, custom order statuses, and batch picking settings. An Automation Rule applies actions to an order automatically when the order matches a trigger you choose. Together, these settings flag priority orders, reserve stock for them, place them in the first batches of the day, and route them to a specific picker.
Before You Begin
- Priority Flag and batch picking: The Priority Flag only affects batch picking when Multi-Item Batch Picking Type is set to Optimize Batches by Required Ship Date, then Priority. That picking type also requires When Picking Orders Sort By to be set to ShipHero Optimized. See Configure Batch Picking Settings for Expedited Orders in ShipHero.
- Multi-Warehouse Allocation accounts: On accounts that use Multi-Warehouse Allocation (MWA) rules, Allocation Priority applies within the warehouse assigned to the order.
For the steps to create a rule, see How to Use Automation Rules in ShipHero. For how Allocation Priority works, see How to Use Allocation Priority on Orders.
Table of Contents
- Create an Automation Rule to Prioritize Expedited and High-Value Orders in ShipHero
- Configure Batch Picking Settings for Expedited Orders in ShipHero
- Route Expedited Orders to a Picker with a Custom Order Status in ShipHero
- Set Shipping Cut-Off Times for Expedited Shipping Methods in ShipHero
Create an Automation Rule to Prioritize Expedited and High-Value Orders in ShipHero
An Automation Rule sets an order's priority level automatically as soon as the order syncs to ShipHero. This is the most effective way to handle expedited orders.
Example Triggers for ShipHero Priority Automation Rules
| Trigger | What it identifies |
|---|---|
| Order Tag | Tagged priority orders from your e-commerce platform. |
| Order Total | High-value orders, based on a specific dollar amount. |
| Customer Email | VIP customers, using the email address associated with the order. |
Recommended Actions for ShipHero Priority Automation Rules
| Action | Value | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Set Priority Flag | Yes | Adds a visual indicator to the order in the dashboard. The flag only affects batch picking with the Optimize Batches by Required Ship Date, then Priority setting. |
| Set Allocation Priority | High | Reserves stock for these orders first when stock is low. |
| Set Custom Order Status | A status such as Expedited | Moves the order to a separate status so it leaves the standard queue. |
On accounts that use MWA rules, Allocation Priority applies within the warehouse assigned to the order. See How to Use Allocation Priority on Orders and How to Manage Fulfillment Routing and Allocation with Automation Rules.
Configure Batch Picking Settings for Expedited Orders in ShipHero
Batch picking settings control which orders ShipHero places in the first batches of the day. When an order has a Priority Flag, set your batching settings to favor priority over walking efficiency so your warehouse team picks those orders first. An order's Required Ship Date is the date by which it must ship. For every batch picking option, see How to Optimize Batch Picking and Order Sorting Settings.
- Go to My Account > Settings > App Settings.
- Locate the setting When Picking Orders Sort By and select ShipHero Optimized.
- Locate Multi-Item Batch Picking Type and select Optimize Batches by Required Ship Date, then Priority.
Standard settings group orders by location to minimize walking. This configuration overrides that logic so ShipHero places high-priority orders in the first batches generated for the day.
Route Expedited Orders to a Picker with a Custom Order Status in ShipHero
A custom order status groups similar orders and sends them to a specific user's picking queue. To have a team member handle only expedited orders, create an Expedited status and assign it to that user. When that user logs in to the mobile app, they see and pick only the high-priority orders in that status. For naming rules and every way to assign a status, see How to Use Order Statuses in ShipHero.
Go to Orders > Order Statuses and add a status named Expedited. Then assign the status to a user in one of the two ways below.
Assign the Expedited Order Status in ShipHero User Settings
- Go to My Account > Users.
- Select a picker or packer.
- Set their Default Order Status to Expedited.
Select the Expedited Order Status in the ShipHero Mobile App
- In the mobile app, select the Expedited status before you generate a new batch.
Set Shipping Cut-Off Times for Expedited Shipping Methods in ShipHero
A shipping cut-off time is the latest time ShipHero can receive an order and still ship it the same day. ShipHero uses it to calculate each order's Required Ship Date, so set a cut-off on your expedited shipping methods. For the full steps, see How to Set a Shipping Cut-Off (Required Ship Date).
Go to Shipping > Methods and set a cut-off for each of your store's expedited methods, such as UPS Next Day Air.
For example, if your carrier arrives at 4:00 PM, set a cut-off of 1:00 PM. ShipHero then gives any expedited order placed before 1:00 PM a Required Ship Date of Today, which moves it to the top of the picking queue based on your batching rules.