ShipHero offers several hardware options that automate parts of picking, packing, and receiving. Each one replaces a manual step (reading a screen, typing on a keyboard, walking to check a location) with a physical cue or control at the station or on the cart. Use this page to see which options fit your warehouse before you set one up.
Looking for general mobile devices, barcode scanners, printers, or network requirements instead? See Overview: Supported Hardware Devices.
Table of Contents
Comparing ShipHero's Automation Hardware Options
| Hardware | Best For | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Tap-to-Pack | Packing stations that want to cut keyboard and mouse clicks out of the packing flow. | A physical controller (Main Hub, with optional Button Hubs) sits at the station. Packers press buttons to print labels, complete orders, flag issues, and select box sizes, and log in by tapping an NFC badge. |
| DirectPack | Smaller warehouses, or a core group of SKUs, where a separate picking batch is more setup than the order needs. | A packer works one order at a time directly from a station stocked with the SKUs that order needs, picking and packing in a single pass instead of picking first and packing after. Advanced DirectPack adds Pack-to-Light hardware for larger, multi-station setups. |
| Pick-to-Light | Multi-item batch picking on a mobile cart, without reading a mobile screen at every pick. | LED lights mounted on the picking cart illuminate the correct tote for each item as it's scanned, and turn off once the right quantity is placed. |
| Pack-to-Light | Packing stations with inventory stocked in dedicated locations at the station itself. | LED lights at the station illuminate the location for each line item on the order being packed, so the packer pulls inventory straight from the shelf in front of them. |
| Receive-to-Light | Receiving stations that want the same light-guided accuracy on the way in. | LED lights guide staff to the correct location to put away each item as it's received. |
Get Started with ShipHero's Automation Hardware
| Task | Article |
|---|---|
| Set up Tap-to-Pack | Overview: Tap-to-Pack Hardware and Setup |
| Set up DirectPack | How to Set Up a DirectPack Station |
| Set up Pick-to-Light | Overview: Pick-to-Light in ShipHero |
| Set up Pack-to-Light | How to Install Pack-to-Light Hardware |
| Set up Receive-to-Light | How to Use ShipHero's Receive-to-Light (Setup Guide) |