In Wholesale picking flows, ShipHero allows users to pick inventory assigned to License Plate Numbers (LPNs). This article covers the process of picking LPNs in manual and mobile workflows and the expected system outcomes.
All information shown on the Manual Picking List and in the Mobile Picking flows is configured during the creation of the Picking Plan. For more information, please review our article: Preparing a Wholesale Order for Picking.
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
LPNs are assigned when the Picking Plan is created. Users cannot manually edit or swap assigned LPNs while Manually Picking line items after the plan is generated.
When using the Manual Picking workflow (picking from paper), the location and LPN are displayed on the Picking List.
- If the total inventory assigned to the LPN is required, the line item displays the PICK ENTIRE LPN badge.
- If only a portion of the LPN is required, no badge is displayed. The picker must manually pick the specific quantity listed in the Required column.
After items are physically moved, click Transfer Units to Staging.
- Line items with the PICK ENTIRE LPN badge move the complete LPN record to the Staging Location.
- Partial picks from an LPN remove the specific quantity from the LPN in the Source Location and transfer those units to the Staging Location. The original LPN remains in its source location.
Picking LPNs in Mobile Picking Workflows
The mobile interface utilizes Direct LPN Scanning to validate requirements in real-time. When an picker scans an LPN, the system validates the Location, SKU, and Lot to ensure it matches the order requirements.
Fully picking mixed LPNs (LPNs containing multiple SKUs) is not supported.
Example: If LPN-1 has 500 of SKU1 and 500 of SKU2, and an order needs exactly those amounts, you cannot move the 'LPN-1' to staging. You must pick both SKUs from the LPN. The result? The LPN-1 is marked as Used, and the stock is moved to the Staging location as loose items rather than a tracked LPN.
Mobile Execution Methods
| Method | Picker Action |
|---|---|
| Direct Scan | Scan the LPN barcode. The system identifies the item, lot, and location in one step. |
| Traditional Flow | Scan the Location barcode first. The system then prompts the user to scan an LPN or Item. |
Smart Logic for Item Scanning
If an operator scans an Item barcode instead of an LPN barcode at a location, the system applies the following logic:
- If Loose Inventory exists: The system directs the picker to pick the non-LPNed items from the location first to clear loose stock.
- If no Loose Inventory exists: The system prompts the operator to scan the specific LPN from which they are retrieving the item to maintain container integrity. once the LPN is scanned the mobile app displays "Picking from LPN"
| Location barcode scanned | Loose inventory exists: Picking from location | No loose inventory exists: Scan LPN | LPN Pick Screen |
|---|---|---|---|
Navigation example when an item barcode is scanned after a location barcode for when loose inventory exists or not in that location.
LPN Transitions to the Packing Layout
The system updates the Packing Layout based on how the LPN was processed during the pick:
- Full LPN Pick: If the quantity of a SKU within an LPN is more than or equal to the required amount on the wholesale order, the system processes the full LPN automatically. Inventory remains assigned to the LPN and the entire LPN moves from the Source location to the Staging location and reflected in the Packing Layout.
- Partial LPN Pick: If the quantity of a scanned LPN exceeds the required amount on the whoelsale order, the user will be instructed to scan/enter the quantity they are removing from the LPN.
Mobile Picking & Packing Only: If a partial quantity is picked, the system directs the user to scan the items into a new LPN. This new LPN will then appear in the Packing Layout.
| Location Scanned: Scan LPN or item | Full LPN Pick: "LPN...picked" screen | Partial LPN Pick: LPN...scanned | Partial LPN Pick: "Picking from LPN" | Mobile Picking & Packing flow: Scan LPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Navigation example when a Full or Partial LPN is picked for a Freight wholesale order. In this example, the outerbox option was skipped for the partially picked LPN and the eaches were packed directly onto a Pallet LPN.
Packing Layout Views
LPN picks are visualized in the Packing Layout as follows:
- Pallet 1: Fully picked Pallet LPN.
- Pallet 2: Fully picked Pallet LPN containing Nested Box LPNs.
- Pallet 3: New LPN created from partially picked inventory.