When adding a Quality Control scanning step in their warehouse many people wonder if they are trading speed for accuracy and what they can do to make the pick pack process as efficient as possible. Our customers generally find their throughput before & after implementing scanning to be roughly equal. Ultimately scanning replaces time-consuming manual checks. This means your process stays efficient, and you also get the accuracy you need. What’s more, when you factor in the time saved by not re-shipping to correct errors and the customer service headaches you’ll avoid you’re far better off taking a couple of seconds to scan.

Let’s look at the steps involved in a typical workflow.

Some steps will vary based on your specific requirements and integrations but in most cases you’ll begin in your order management app (ShipStation, ShippingEasy, Shippo etc.) where shipping labels are created, just as your team does now. Any shipments that need to be edited or held can be addressed. If you’re creating shipping labels in bulk you’ll do so as usual. If labels are to be printed after packing each order then only the packing slip will be printed at this stage. Next, vetted orders are imported into GroovePacker and are ready to be scanned.

In most cases packing slips with an order number barcode will be printed in the order manager and then distributed to the pick pack team who will scan the barcode on the packing slip to cue the order when they are ready to scan it.

Some teams scan items as they are picked from their bins in the warehouse. This is common when it’s not possible to barcode individual items. For this option it is recommended to use a mobile device with an integrated scanner or a pick cart with an attached tablet or Chromebook that is paired with a wireless scanner.

If the individual items are barcoded you also have the option to pick items to fulfill multiple orders, either order by order or using a consolidated pick list that is sorted by warehouse location. Once items are picked they are brought back to a packing station for scanning. The packer can then scan and verify multiple orders before picking items for the next batch of orders.

Whether scanning during the picking process, or later as items are packed, the user will scan the barcode on the packing slip to cue an order and they will be shown all items that need to be scanned to complete that order. Each each item will be confirmed by scanning its barcode and checked off the list as it is scanned. It’s not possible to forget items or miss pieces since each piece is scanned and checked. That said, options do exist for scanning pre-counted cases when it’s not desirable to scan each piece.

While the workflow options above are the most common, GroovePacker does support other options that may be better suited to some operations. For example, we have a workflow that is highly optimized for businesses that ship a high percentage of single item orders and another that is ideal when you have a larger warehouse and travel time is a significant factor. If you would like to discus specific workflow needs please schedule a walkthrough call by clicking here.

Getting started with GroovePacker is generally quite fast. Onboarding time is primarily dependent on your product data. GroovePacker will need a unique SKU for every product (and product variant) you sell. Our team can generally import your data and have your account configured and ready the same day you sign up. In many cases product data can be imported directly from your online store saving time and making updates a breeze. That said, incomplete or incorrect data can take time to correct. This tends to be less of a problem with smaller product catalogs since errors can be quickly fixed.

The second factor is the labeling of the physical inventory. If your products are already barcoded we’ll help you import the barcodes and you’re ready to go. If you’re new to barcoding and need to label your items don’t worry, GroovePacker offers some great options for efficiently generating and printing product barcode labels.

We prioritize a fast setup because we want your team to see the value of using GroovePacker as soon as possible. We will be on hand to work with your team to resolve any product data issues and questions you have during the setup process. Included in the setup is the account/settings configuration. We’ll ensure the settings are correct for your workflow and all options are configured. This eliminates the need to navigate the settings and spend time experimenting with combinations. Our team is happy to make any changes you need and ensure all is working smoothly.

Maybe your products are already barcoded with registered UPCs, maybe this your first foray into the magical world of barcodes. Either way, we have you covered. GroovePacker is happy to generate all the barcodes you need and makes printing them easy.

Options exist for a variety of needs including printing one barcode for every item you have, for labeling bins, or you can print specific quantities for an entire category of items. The best part is you likely already own a thermal printer that can be used to create clear, scannable barcodes with minimal cost. (see the Quick Start section for specific recommendations) GroovePacker is set up to easily create barcodes from your existing SKUs. Numeric barcodes can also be generated. Generated barcodes are not registered UPCs (purchase for use with retailers and distributors) but they are perfect for internal use such as quality control and inventory tracking. If you have already purchased registered barcodes the numeric values of these barcodes can be imported into GroovePacker and used for pick pack scanning and can even be printed from GroovePacker if needed.

GroovePacker is a flexible system and the hardware you’ll choose will be based on what works best for your warehouse rather than a one-size-fits-all requirement. Any equipment you already have will likely work great. If you need equipment we can make recommendations based on what has been working well for our users. If items are picked and brought back to a packing station you have the option to use a stationary scanner mounted to a desk or a handheld wireless scanner. Either can be connected to a Laptop, Desktop, or Chromebook. If you’ll be scanning items as you pick them you’ll need a mobile solution. This can range from an all-in-one android scanner like the one below, to a Chromebook or Tablet mounted to a pick cart.

See our Quick Start page for links to specific devices.

GroovePacker does not require that all of your product data be present, only the SKU and barcode are actually needed to begin scanning items and verifying orders. The product data typically imported by our users includes the product name, SKU, Barcode or UPC and the image URL. Other optional fields are Bin/Warehouse locations, Custom product fields, Packing instructions and others. We have a flexible CSV importer that makes importing your data fast and easy. If you use Shopify we can import your product data using their API with a few clicks. In many cases it’s possible to have new products automatically added to GroovePacker as you import orders so you do not have to do anything at all for new items. It’s also possible to create kits or add additional product data using a standard CSV format.

The first onboarding step is to provide product data in a CSV or import it from Shopify using their API. A member of our team will work with you to import and review your product data and help uncover and resolve any potential issues. This ensures your initial scanning experience won’t be impaired by incomplete data and you’ll be up and running as quickly as possible.

In most cases we’ll create a connection to an Order Manager or the app you use to create shipping labels and we’ll import your order data from there. If you’re not using an order manager, ie. shipping labels are created directly in Shopify, it’s also possible to import orders from Shopify directly. If you have a ERP system that provides options for exporting the daily orders we can auto-import orders from an FTP server using CSV files.

In most cases the cost of GP is dramatically less than the cost of shipping and correcting errors!

TLDR: Best of class order scanning with GroovePacker standard is $50 per user per month starting with as few as two users.  A one-time start up cost ($500) covers Unlimited support both During and After your setup as well as full configuration of your account (all workflow and settings done for you) and the initial product data import and review. For high volume operations requiring advanced scanning workflows, we also offer GroovePacker Pro.

See our full pricing details here.