Mobile Picker & Scanning
Lot and serial number tracking
Track expiry dates, run recall workflows, and pick units in FEFO order with built-in GS1-128 barcode parsing.
Turning on lot or serial tracking
On any product variant, open the variant detail page and toggle either isLotControlled (for batches with expiry, like batteries or perishables) or serialTracking (for unique units, like scooters with VINs). The two flags can coexist. After saving, future receives will require lot or serial data before they post to inventory.
Receiving with GS1-128 barcode parsing
Modern lot labels embed structured data via GS1-128 application identifiers. ShipWave parses these automatically: AI 10 is the lot/batch number and AI 17 is the expiration date in YYMMDD. Scan the carton label at receiving and ShipWave creates the
LotBatch row with no manual entry. If your supplier uses plain Code 128 labels, the mobile app falls back to a typed lot number plus date picker.FEFO allocation: first-expired-first-out
When picks are routed for a lot-controlled SKU, ShipWave allocates from the lot with the earliest expiry first—not the first one received. This is FEFO (First Expired First Out) and it minimizes write-offs from product going stale on the shelf. The pick screen shows the lot number and expiry the picker should grab; mismatches block the pick the same as a SKU mismatch.
Recall workflow
If a supplier issues a recall, mark the affected
LotBatch as Recalled in Admin → Inventory → Lots. ShipWave immediately surfaces every order that shipped units from that lot, tags them in the dashboard, and exports a CSV of customer contact info for outreach. New picks for the recalled lot are blocked at the mobile app—a counter must move the units to a quarantine bin before they leave the building.Return scan flow for serialized units
When a serialized unit comes back as a return, scan the serial at the receive station. ShipWave looks up the original order, confirms the serial is one we shipped, and routes the unit either back to fulfillable stock or to a damaged/refurb bin depending on the return reason. The full chain—outbound order, return label, receive scan—is visible on the serial’s detail page for the unit’s whole life.
FAQs
Can I retroactively turn on lot tracking for an existing product?
Yes. New receives become lot-controlled immediately. Existing on-hand without a lot is parked in a "legacy" lot you can manually update as you locate the paperwork.
Does FEFO work across multiple bins?
Yes. The picker walks to whichever bin holds the soonest-expiring lot, even if a different bin has more units. SortOrder still decides ties.
What lengths of serial numbers are supported?
Up to 64 characters. Letters, digits, and dashes are accepted. We strongly recommend serials that match the unit’s physical label so the pack scan can confirm it.
Does ShipWave alert me before lots expire?
Yes. <strong>Admin → Inventory → Expiry Alerts</strong> sends a weekly digest of lots within 30, 60, and 90 days of expiry.
More in Mobile Picker & Scanning
- Setting up the ShipWave mobile picker app
Install the PWA on any phone or tablet, sign in with a PIN, and start picking, packing, or counting in under five minutes.
- Bin management and warehouse layout
Build out your aisle, shelf, and bin structure once—then let ShipWave route pickers down the shortest path automatically.
- The mobile pick workflow
Scan bin, scan SKU, confirm quantity, move on. The mobile app guides pickers through each line and catches every mismatch.
- Scan-to-verify pack stations
Stop labels from going on the wrong box. Every pack scan is verified against the pick, and label purchase is blocked until pack is clean.
- Cycle counting with blind counts
Define count zones, schedule them on a rotation, and let counters verify quantities without seeing the expected number.