An LPN (license plate number) is a barcode label that groups items into one trackable container, like a pallet or box. Multi-warehouse accounts, whether a 3PL or a brand, sometimes need to move LPNs between warehouses without losing LPN-level traceability. This process treats the move as two controlled stages: load the LPNs into a non-sellable in-transit location at the origin warehouse, then receive them into a receiving location at the destination warehouse using the mobile app.
LPN BETA NOTICE
LPN functionality is currently limited to the wholesale interface. Other LPN features are currently in Beta. To enable the full suite of LPN options for your account, please contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or email Support@shiphero.com.
Please note that as this feature is actively being developed, processes may change and you may encounter occasional bugs. If you experience any issues or have suggestions, please reach out to our support team—your feedback is greatly appreciated as we continue to refine the ShipHero platform!
Before You Begin
- LPNs: The LPNs you're transferring exist in the origin warehouse with scannable barcode labels.
- Locations: The origin warehouse has a dedicated in-transit location, such as In-Transit-MW, marked as non-sellable, and the destination warehouse has a receiving location, such as REC-40.
- User Permissions and Settings: User must have License Plate permission and be assigned to the appropriate warehouse, (Step 1: Origin warehouse, Step 2: Receiving warehouse)
Table of Contents
- How LPN Warehouse Transfer Works
- Expected Result: LPN Warehouse Transfer
- Operational Tips for LPN Warehouse Transfers
How LPN Warehouse Transfer Works
In this example, the origin warehouse is 3PL - MIDWEST, its stock location is OVER-50, and its in-transit location is In-Transit-MW. The destination warehouse is 3PL - WEST, and its receiving location is REC-40.
Pro-Tip
An in-transit location is a standard warehouse location marked non-sellable, not a different location property or setting. Name it so any user can tell the inventory is in transit between warehouses and no longer physically at that warehouse, for example In-Transit-MW. You can reuse the same in-transit location for future transfers.
Step 1: Move LPNs to an In-Transit Location at the Origin Warehouse
When LPNs are physically loaded onto the truck or transport, update their location in ShipHero so the system shows they're no longer available at the origin stock location.
Use the mobile app's Putaway flow to do this. Putaway is the flow normally used to move inventory into a new location; here, it works as a stand-in for a warehouse-to-warehouse transfer. For a full walkthrough of the app screens, see How to Use Putaway V2 with LPN Support in ShipHero Mobile.
- In the mobile app, open Putaway and scan the origin location barcode (for example, OVER-50). The app adds the LPNs from that location, in this example P125 and B395, to the putaway list.
- Tap Start putaway.
- Scan the in-transit location barcode (for example, In-Transit-MW) as the destination for each LPN.
- Repeat until every LPN is moved, then confirm the putaway summary.
| Putaway to In-Transit Location Mobile Feature | |||
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Note for 3PLs: An LPN can contain inventory from more than one client. ShipHero doesn't currently limit an LPN to a single client's merchandise.
Step 2: Receive Transferred LPNs at the Destination Warehouse
When the transport arrives at the destination warehouse, receive the LPNs into a receiving location. In this example, the destination warehouse is 3PL - WEST and the receiving location is REC-40.
- In the mobile app, switch to the destination warehouse context.
- Open Receive transferred LPN (New).
- Scan the destination receiving location (for example, REC-40). The app prompts you to scan the LPNs to receive into that location.
- Scan each LPN that arrived on the transport: B395, P125.
- Review the receive list. The mobile app shows the destination receiving location and the LPNs being received.
- Complete the receipt.
| Receive Transferred LPN Mobile Feature | |||
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The receive list shows the transferred LPNs being received into REC-40, with their origin shown as 3PL - MIDWEST. This confirms that the destination warehouse is receiving inventory that was previously moved into the origin warehouse's in-transit location. Receiving matches LPN barcodes, not warehouse locations, so the origin warehouse's in-transit location is never scanned during receiving. This also means two warehouses can use in-transit locations with the same name without causing conflicts.
Expected Result: LPN Warehouse Transfer
After the full process is completed:
- The transferred LPNs are no longer sitting in the origin warehouse's sellable stock location.
- Parent and nested child LPNs remain traceable.
- The destination warehouse can put the received LPNs away to their final locations.
- The LPN records show updated location, status, contents, and history for traceability.
Operational Tips for LPN Warehouse Transfers
Important
Don't change LPN contents while inventory is in transit. The transfer flow is designed to preserve the same LPN identity and contents from loading through receipt.
- Only use the "In-Transit" location for inventory that has physically left the origin warehouse. Move LPNs into it when they're loaded.
- For palletized or nested inventory, scan the parent LPN. For example, receiving P125 also brings its nested LPNs into REC-40.
- If an LPN doesn't appear during destination receiving, confirm it was moved to the origin warehouse's in-transit location first, and that the user is set to the receiving warehouse.
- To reconcile in-transit inventory against a transport manifest, run the Item-Location report and filter it to your in-transit location. ShipHero doesn't have a dedicated in-transit LPN report yet.