In wholesale picking flows, ShipHero lets you pick inventory stored in LPNs (License Plate Numbers) alongside loose stock. How LPN picking works depends on whether you use the manual or mobile workflow, and on how much of the LPN's contents the order needs.
Before You Begin
- Required user role permission: Users need the License Plate Numbers permission to pick LPNs in the manual or mobile picking workflows.
- Activation required: Contact your CSM or ShipHero Support to turn on LPNs for your account.
- LPN assignment: ShipHero assigns LPNs to each pick line when the Picking Plan is created.
To set up LPN assignment, see How to Create a Picking Plan for a Wholesale Order. For an overview of LPNs, see Overview: License Plate Numbers (LPNs) in ShipHero.
Table of Contents
- Picking LPNs in the Manual Picking Workflow
- Picking LPNs in Mobile Picking Workflows
- LPN Transitions to the Packing Layout
Picking LPNs in the Manual Picking Workflow
In the manual picking workflow (picking from paper), the Picking List shows the location and the assigned LPN for each line.
- FIFO badge: When the FIFO (First In, First Out) lots and expiration setting is on, the picker sees a FIFO badge next to the assigned LPN.
- PICK ENTIRE LPN badge: Shown when the order needs all the inventory in the LPN.
- No badge: Only part of the LPN is needed. Pick the quantity listed in the Required column.
After the items are physically moved, select Transfer all units to Staging.
- Lines with the PICK ENTIRE LPN badge move the whole LPN record to the staging location.
- Partial picks remove the picked quantity from the LPN and move those units to the staging location. The original LPN stays in its source location.
Regenerating the Picking Sheet When an Assigned LPN Has an Issue
When an LPN assigned on the Picking Sheet can't be used, for example because it was already picked or doesn't have enough inventory, regenerate the Picking Sheet. ShipHero checks the current inventory and LPNs against the Picking Plan, finds the LPNs that can no longer be used, assigns new source LPNs for them, and creates a new Picking Sheet. LPNs without an issue, and the original picking locations, stay the same.
- Open the wholesale order. In the Packing layout section, select the Picking Sheet dropdown.
- Select Re-generate Picking Sheet.
- In the Regenerate picking sheet? window, select Regenerate.
- Pick from the new Picking Sheet. The Packing layout section shows when the current Picking Sheet was generated.
To print the current Picking Sheet again without changing any LPNs, select Re-print Picking Sheet in the same dropdown.
| Picking Sheet dropdown | Regenerate picking sheet? window |
|---|---|
Picking LPNs in Mobile Picking Workflows
The mobile app checks each LPN scan in real time. When a picker scans an LPN, ShipHero confirms the location, SKU, and lot match the order.
If the suggested LPN can't be used, the app shows an error when the picker scans it. ShipHero then suggests another LPN automatically, or the picker can pick a different LPN in the same location.
Mixed LPNs Can't Be Picked as a Unit
Picking a whole mixed LPN (an LPN containing more than one SKU) as a unit isn't supported. For example, when LPN-1 holds 500 of SKU1 and 500 of SKU2 and an order needs exactly those amounts, pick each SKU from the LPN separately. LPN-1 is then marked as Used, and the stock moves to the staging location as loose items instead of a tracked LPN.
Scanning Methods for Mobile LPN Picking
| Method | Picker action |
|---|---|
| Direct scan | Scan the LPN barcode. ShipHero identifies the item, lot, and location in one step. |
| Location first | Scan the location barcode. ShipHero then prompts for an LPN or item scan. |
Scanning an Item Instead of an LPN During Mobile Picking
When a picker scans an item barcode instead of an LPN barcode at a location, ShipHero checks for loose inventory:
- Loose inventory exists: ShipHero directs the picker to pick the loose (non-LPN) items from the location first.
- No loose inventory: ShipHero prompts the picker to scan the LPN they're picking from. After the scan, the app shows Picking from LPN.
| Location barcode scanned | Loose inventory: Picking from location | No loose inventory: Scan LPN | LPN pick screen |
|---|---|---|---|
Picking LPNs with FIFO Enabled
When the Prioritize FIFO toggle is on, ShipHero assigns the LPN with the oldest received date to each pick line during Picking Plan setup. The mobile app shows the assigned LPN with a grey FIFO badge, and View eligible LPNs lists the other valid LPNs in that location. To accept the assignment, scan the assigned LPN.
| FIFO LPN picking screen | Eligible LPNs page |
|---|---|
When the picker scans a different LPN, ShipHero shows that the LPN isn't FIFO eligible and asks for a reason before continuing: Not found, Damaged, Inaccessible, or Wrong expiry. After the picker confirms, ShipHero checks the scanned LPN's SKU, lot, quantity, and location, and records the override for auditing.
| LPN not FIFO eligible prompt | Reason for picking a different LPN |
|---|---|
LPN Transitions to the Packing Layout
The Packing layout updates based on how each LPN was picked.
- Full LPN pick: When the LPN's quantity of a SKU meets or exceeds what the wholesale order needs, ShipHero picks the full LPN. The inventory stays in the LPN, and the whole LPN moves from the source location to the staging location.
- Partial LPN pick: When the scanned LPN holds more than the order needs, the picker scans or enters the quantity they're removing.
Mobile Picking & Packing only: After a partial pick, ShipHero directs the picker to scan the items into a new LPN. The new LPN then appears in the Packing layout.
| Location scanned: Scan LPN or item | Full LPN pick: "LPN...picked" | Partial LPN pick: LPN scanned | Partial LPN pick: "Picking from LPN" | Mobile Picking & Packing: Scan LPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Packing Layout Views for LPN Picks
The Packing layout shows LPN picks like this:
- Pallet 1: A fully picked pallet LPN.
- Pallet 2: A fully picked pallet LPN containing nested box LPNs.
- Pallet 3: A new LPN created from partially picked inventory.