To speed up your shipping process, ShipHero allows you to connect a scale and automatically pull weight data directly into the weight field.
The Padlock Icon
You can easily monitor your scale's status by looking for the padlock icon in the weight field:
Icon Visible: This means your scale is connected. The icon indicates whether the system is actively reading the live weight or if the reading has been "locked" in place.
No Icon Visible: If you do not see a padlock icon, it means the system has not yet detected a connected scale.
How Scale Weighting Works
ShipHero streamlines your packing process by automatically communicating with your scale. Here is what you can expect during the packing workflow:
Automatic Weight Capture
When it starts: ShipHero begins reading from your scale as soon as the first item in an order is packed.
Initial Weight: Before the scale sends a reading, the system displays a Default Weight (the calculated weight of the box plus the items).
Scale Activation: The scale's weight will appear as soon as it detects a value greater than zero. While the system is actively reading from the scale, the padlock icon will remain open.
Managing Multiple Packages
To prevent errors and ensure package accuracy, ShipHero uses "Smart Weighting" when you move between boxes:
Preventing Carry-over: When you start a new package, ShipHero will not update the weight until it detects a change on the scale. This prevents the weight from Package A accidentally being applied to Package B.
Stopping the Reading: The system stops reading from the scale automatically if you print a label, switch to a different package, or navigate away from the page.
Manual Control
If the padlock icon is closed, the system has stopped reading from the scale. You can resume live readings at any time by simply clicking the padlock icon to open it again.