Picking cart setup

A picking cart lets you collect items for several orders in one pass through your warehouse. This guide will help you choose a cart and set it up for batch picking.

Do you need one? That depends on the batch picking mode you use:

  • Guided picking requires a cart with barcode-labelled slots — one cart slot per order in the batch. This is the setup described on this page.
  • Pick list mode needs no special equipment. If you tick Assign totes when starting a batch, each order gets a numbered tote, but any bins, trays, or boxes will do — tote numbers are just a guide and don’t need labels or barcodes.

If you’re trying batch picking for the first time, you can start with pick list mode and set up a cart later.

Choosing a picking cart

When selecting a picking cart for your warehouse, consider:

  • Number of tiers/shelves - More shelves allow larger batch sizes
  • Bin/tote capacity - Each cart slot needs sufficient space for typical order volumes
  • Mobility - Smooth-rolling wheels and good maneuverability for navigating warehouse aisles
  • Durability - Heavy-duty construction for daily use
  • Size - Must fit through your warehouse aisles while providing adequate storage

Example picking carts

Here are some examples of carts that work well for batch picking:

Two-tier picking cart with 8 bins
Two-tier cart with 8 bins
Four-tier picking cart with 16 bins
Four-tier cart with 16 bins
UNEX SpeedCart with fabric pockets
Cart with fabric pocket slots

Cart organization

Labelling cart slots

  • Give each bin or shelf position a short, readable name (A1, A2, B1, B2, etc.)
  • Enter the same names in Settings → Batch Picking, then click Print Batch Slot Labels to print a barcode label for each slot
  • Attach the labels where they’re easy to see and scan — consistent positions on every slot
  • Consider color-coding tiers or sections for visual organization

Layout best practices

  • Arrange slots in a logical pattern (left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
  • Keep frequently accessed positions at comfortable height
  • Reserve bottom shelf for larger or heavier items
  • Designate specific slots for packing materials if needed

How the cart is used during guided picking

  1. When you start a guided batch, each order is assigned to one of your cart slots.
  2. As you pick, you scan each item and then scan the barcode label of the slot it goes into, so every item lands in the right order’s slot.
  3. After picking, you scan a slot’s label to open that order for shipping — no sorting or lookup needed.

See Batch picking for the full workflow.