Mobile Picker & Scanning
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.
Why scan-to-verify
Even with bin tracking and pick scans, the last step—packing—is where mis-ships happen. A picker pulls the right unit, drops it in the wrong tote, and the packer slaps the wrong label on the box. Scan-to-verify pack closes that gap: every SKU in the box must be scanned against the pick manifest before a label can be purchased.
Desktop pack station with global hotkeys
Open Admin → Pack Station on a desktop with a USB barcode scanner. Hotkeys:
Enter confirms the active line, Esc backs out, 1–4 select a preset box size, P prints the label, and S snaps a photo. Pack stations work hands-free—a packer never has to touch the mouse during a normal flow.Mobile pack flow
On the mobile PWA, packers tap an order to start. Each SKU is scanned the same as in the pick flow: red flash on mismatch, log to
ScanEvent, no advance until verified. Mobile packing is best for warehouses that pack at the shelf or use a roving station.Photo capture via getUserMedia
Pack stations can capture a photo of the open box right before sealing. The browser
getUserMedia API grabs a frame from the webcam (or phone camera) and stores it on the OrderShipment as evidence. If a customer disputes "the box was empty," the photo settles it in seconds. Photo capture is optional—turn it on in Admin → Settings → Operations → Pack Photos.Block-on-mismatch label enforcement
When
User.requirePackVerification=true, the label purchase endpoint returns a 422 if any line in the order is unverified. The packer must complete the verify step before the print button activates. This is the strongest mis-ship preventive ShipWave offers and we recommend turning it on after a one-week shadow period. The setting is per-user, so managers can bypass during training.Pre-pack flow
For carts and other oversized items that ship from a pre-packed pallet, the pre-pack flow lets a packer verify once on receiving and bypass the pack scan at ship time. The item is flagged
prepacked on the inventory level and the pack station shows a green Already verified badge.FAQs
Can I scan a serial number instead of a SKU at pack?
Yes—if the variant is serial-tracked. The pack scanner accepts SKU, UPC, or serial barcodes and resolves them all to the underlying line. See <a href="/help/lot-and-serial-tracking">Lot and serial tracking</a>.
What if the wrong box size is chosen?
The pack station offers EasyPost rates for the chosen box. Changing box size before label purchase is one click—hotkeys 1–4 cycle through your saved presets.
Does pack verification work for multi-box orders?
Yes. Each box has its own pack manifest. ShipWave only purchases labels after every box is verified.
Where are pack photos stored?
Supabase Storage, in a private bucket. Photos are accessible from the order page and via the API. Default retention is 180 days.
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.
- Cycle counting with blind counts
Define count zones, schedule them on a rotation, and let counters verify quantities without seeing the expected number.
- Lot and serial number tracking
Track expiry dates, run recall workflows, and pick units in FEFO order with built-in GS1-128 barcode parsing.