Frequently asked questions

General usage

Can I use Scanpacker on a mobile device or tablet?

Yes, Scanpacker is a web-based app that works on mobile devices and tablets. You can access it through the Shopify Admin on any device with a web browser, from within the Shopify iOS or Android mobile app, or directly in any external browser on mobile devices. There are also Scanpacker apps for iPhone and Android phones, currently in beta. See ways to access Scanpacker to compare the options.

How many team members can use Scanpacker at the same time?

Multiple team members can use Scanpacker simultaneously. Each team member should use their own Shopify staff account so that Scanpacker can track which staff member is working on which order. This prevents two people from accidentally working on the same order at the same time.

Does Scanpacker work offline?

No, Scanpacker requires an internet connection to function as it needs to communicate with Shopify in real-time to fetch order data and create fulfillments.

Barcode scanning

What types of barcodes does Scanpacker support?

Scanpacker supports all common barcode types including UPC, EAN, Code128, and more. For detailed information about barcode support, see the Barcodes documentation.

Can I use my phone’s camera instead of a barcode scanner?

Yes, Scanpacker supports camera-based scanning. This can be useful when a dedicated barcode scanner is not readily available. See the camera scanning guide for setup instructions.

What if my products don’t have barcodes?

If your products don’t have barcodes, you can print barcode labels for them using Scanpacker’s printing feature. Scanpacker can generate labels with your product SKU or other identifiers encoded as barcodes.

What labels should I use for product barcodes?

If you are using a Zebra thermal label printer or similar, we recommend 51 x 21 mm (approximately 2 x 1 inch) labels. This provides enough space for good sized EAN and UPC barcodes as well as (usually wider) Code128 barcodes, which are common for inventory tasks.

What happens if I scan the wrong product?

If you scan the wrong product, Scanpacker will alert you immediately. You can then scan the correct product. If you’ve already confirmed the scan, you can reopen the order for checking and adjust the quantities before finalizing the fulfillment.

Order processing

What does “Start order” mean?

For each order, as a first step, Scanpacker records the order as in progress. This means that the checking and packing process has been started by a single staff member. By marking orders as in progress, multiple staff members can work through orders without the possibility of starting to pack and scan the same order.

Can I pack large orders across multiple sessions?

Yes. Returning to an in-progress order will let you continue packing the remaining quantities. You can create partial fulfillments at any time for the items you’ve scanned so far, along with optional tracking information. See Partial fulfillment for more details.

Batch picking & storage

What is batch picking and when should I use it?

Batch picking allows you to pick products for multiple orders in a single trip through your warehouse. This is more efficient than checking orders one at a time, especially if you have many orders with common products. Use batch picking when you have multiple orders to fulfill and want to optimize your picking process.

How many orders can I pick at once in a batch?

The number of orders you can pick in a batch depends on your workflow and cart/tote storage capacity. There is no limit set within the software.

Do I need to set up storage locations to use Scanpacker?

No, storage locations are optional. However, they can significantly improve efficiency by guiding your team to the exact bin or shelf where each product is stored. This is especially helpful for large warehouses or when training new staff members.

Fulfillment & shipping

How can I use Shopify’s shipping label purchasing with Scanpacker?

Scanpacker can buy Shopify Shipping labels for you on the ship page. Connect Shopify Shipping in Settings > Shipping Labels, and the labels are charged to your Shopify bill at Shopify Shipping’s discounted rates. Shopify creates the fulfillment when the label is bought, and the label prints on your label printer. See Buying labels through Shopify Shipping for how to set it up and which countries it covers.

If you’d prefer to keep buying labels in the Shopify admin, you can. Shopify can’t buy a label for an order that’s already fulfilled, so Scanpacker checks each order and leaves it unfulfilled. You then buy the label in Shopify, which fulfills the order. You can also have Scanpacker tag checked orders as “packed” so they’re easy to find in your Shopify order list. See Buy shipping labels in Shopify for the full setup.

Does Scanpacker support split/partial shipments?

Yes, Scanpacker supports partial fulfillment, allowing you to ship parts of an order separately when items aren’t all available at once.

Integrations & automation

Can Scanpacker open my shipping carrier’s website automatically?

Yes, Scanpacker’s automated tabs feature can automatically open shipping carrier websites (like DHL, UPS, FedEx) at specific points in your workflow. This streamlines the process of creating shipping labels.

Can I automatically print packing slips when scanning orders?

Yes, Scanpacker supports automated printing of invoices, packing slips, and other documents at various points in the workflow. You can configure what gets printed and when.

Can I customize the scanning workflow?

Yes, Scanpacker offers templates that allow you to customize the workflow to match your specific needs. You can configure what happens at each step of the scanning and packing process.