When a picker opens a batch in the ShipHero mobile app, the app determines the order in which locations are presented. Understanding how ShipHero makes those routing decisions helps pickers work efficiently and helps managers diagnose and improve routing behavior.
For admin setup instructions on pick priorities, see How to Use Pick Priorities on Locations. This article covers what that configuration means from the picker's perspective.
Table of Contents
- How ShipHero Pick Routing Works
- How Pick Priority Affects What Pickers See
- How Location Naming Affects Routing
- Non-Pickable Locations and How They Affect Routing
- Common Pick Routing Questions
How ShipHero Pick Routing Works
When a picker starts a batch, ShipHero builds a pick route — an ordered list of locations the picker will visit. The route is calculated at batch creation time based on three factors:
- Pickable inventory availability — only locations that have the required SKU in pickable quantity are included in the route. Non-pickable locations (flagged bins, Hospital locations, non-sellable bins) are excluded entirely.
- Pick priority setting — if a location has a numeric pick priority assigned, ShipHero uses that number to order locations relative to each other. Lower numbers are visited first.
- Location name sequence — when no pick priority is set, or when multiple locations share the same pick priority, ShipHero falls back to alphabetical/numerical ordering of location names. A consistent location naming scheme (aisle-row-shelf) produces a logical physical route through the warehouse.
Pick routes are calculated at the moment a batch is created, not in real time as the picker moves. If inventory is added to a new location after a batch starts, that location will not appear in the current batch. To control how batches are built and which orders enter them, see How to Optimize Batch Picking and Order Sorting Settings.
How Pick Priority Affects What Pickers See in ShipHero
Pick priority is a number assigned to a location by a warehouse admin in How to Use Pick Priorities on Locations. From the picker's perspective, it controls which bin the app directs them to first when a SKU is stored in multiple locations.
| Priority Value | What the Picker Sees |
|---|---|
| 1 (lowest number) | App directs picker here first. Use for primary pick face bins — the active forward slot for a SKU. |
| 2, 3, etc. | App routes picker here after all priority 1 locations are exhausted. Use for secondary slots or overflow bins. |
| No priority set (default) | ShipHero applies the default pick-down strategy: the location with the least available inventory for the SKU is picked first. This consolidates stock and reduces partially full bins over time. |
Important
Pick priority only affects routing when a SKU exists in multiple pickable locations. If a SKU is only in one pickable location, the picker always goes there regardless of priority setting.
How Location Naming Affects Pick Routing in ShipHero
When pick priorities are equal or not set, ShipHero sequences locations alphabetically and numerically by location name. This means your location naming scheme directly determines whether ShipHero can produce a physically logical pick path through your warehouse.
| Naming Scheme | Effect on Routing |
|---|---|
| Consistent: A-01-01, A-01-02, A-02-01 | ShipHero routes pickers aisle-by-aisle, row-by-row. Minimizes backtracking. |
| Inconsistent: Shelf3, bin-A, location12 | ShipHero cannot infer physical order. Routes may send pickers across the warehouse repeatedly. |
| Mixed: A-01, Aisle B Row 2, C3 | Alphabetical sort produces a partial route. Some sections route correctly, others do not. |
If pickers are frequently backtracking or the app route doesn't match your warehouse layout, review your location naming scheme and existing location setup:
- Optimizing Your Warehouse Layout with a Naming Scheme
- How to Create and Manage Locations in ShipHero
Non-Pickable Locations and How They Affect Pick Routing in ShipHero
ShipHero never routes a picker to a non-pickable location. If all available inventory for a SKU is in non-pickable locations, the order cannot enter a batch and will show as not pickable.
| Location Type | Effect on Routing |
|---|---|
| Non-sellable bin | Excluded from all pick routes. Inventory here does not count toward pickable availability. |
| Hospital location | Excluded from pick routes until the Hospital flag is cleared by a manager. |
| Staging area | Excluded if designated as non-pickable in your location settings. |
If an order is not pickable because inventory is in a non-pickable location, a manager needs to either move the inventory to a pickable bin or clear the non-pickable flag on the location. See Troubleshooting: Why Is My Order Not Pickable?
Common Pick Routing Questions in ShipHero
Why is the app sending me to a bin that's empty?
ShipHero calculates pick routes at batch creation time. If inventory was moved or picked out of a location after the batch was created, the app may still route to that location. Scan the location to confirm — if inventory is not there, use the Hospital flag or contact a manager to have the batch refreshed.
Why is the app skipping a location I know has inventory?
The most common reasons are: (1) the location is flagged as non-pickable, non-sellable, or Hospital; (2) the inventory is assigned to a different warehouse; or (3) the location was added after the batch was created. Check the location's pickable status in Inventory > Locations.
Why is the pick route not following our aisle layout?
ShipHero sequences locations by pick priority first, then by location name. If your location names don't sort in a way that matches your physical layout, the route will feel random to pickers. Review your naming scheme and consider assigning explicit pick priorities to key locations. See Optimizing Your Warehouse Layout with a Naming Scheme and How to Optimize Batch Picking and Order Sorting Settings.
Why is the app sending pickers to the overstock bin instead of the pick face?
When pick priorities are not set, ShipHero uses the pick-down strategy and routes to the location with the least inventory first. If your overstock bin has fewer units than your pick face, the app will go there first. Assign a lower pick priority number (e.g. 1) to your pick face bins and a higher number (e.g. 2) to overstock to enforce the correct sequence. See How to Use Pick Priorities on Locations.
How can I measure whether our pick routing is efficient?
The Picker Performance Dashboard compares each picker's actual route against an AI-generated baseline for your warehouse layout. It identifies pickers who are backtracking, taking inefficient paths, or underperforming relative to your warehouse's expected throughput. Requires Location-Aware Picking to be enabled — contact ShipHero support to get started.