Shiphero Blog

As featured on AMAFeed: We Answer 30 Questions About ShipHero and Selling Online

In this article
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Our co-founder Nicholas Daniel-Richards answered all - or, well, almost 30 - questions about ShipHero, shipping, fulfillment, and nearly everything else ecommerce-related on AMAFeed. Read the adapted text here:

What’s the main goal of ShipHero? What do you want to offer your clients ultimately?

We offer a comprehensive cloud based WMS/OMS solution that's easy to use. If you want to add a 3PL (or 3PLs plural) to extend your existing capability or outsource all fulfllment, use ShipHero Marketplace.Our goal is simple. Make it easier for ecommerce businesses to win at fulfillment.

Are there any qualifications or limitations for a business to work with you?

No qualifications - what is a fit for the business. Goes without saying it should be an ecommerce business (we have a number of customers who sell online and in store as well).If the business needs help with inventory, order management and shipping and wants to do this in-house, then ShipHero SaaS is worth a look.If the business is looking to outsource for ecommerce fulfillment, then ShipHero Marketplace is worth a look.

What should be the starting budget of startups to be able to work with ShipHero?

Brilliant question. My answer may surprise you. It depends on the volume of sales. Our software for managing your own warehouse starts at $500 a month, which will be too much cost for a business shipping a few items a week.If you're an early stage startup, shipping lower volumes, without the complexity of many products (SKUs) and the requirements of a warehouse team etc I would recommend ShipStation - they're a perfect get started solution.ShipHero is designed for businesses that are starting to see 50+ orders per day, the complexities of keeping inventory correct, want an effective method to automate order actions and priorities, keep shipping costs low, offer returns, minimize errors etc.Of course, with ShipHero Marketplace, you also have the option of just outsourcing fulfillment either partly or entirely, which is another perfect solution for when you need to scale.

Does ShipHero ship anywhere in the world? What are your shipping conditions?

ShipHero software is used to ship everywhere indeed, infact, we're constantly impressed on where products are being shipped to.While we don't "ship", we enable the process of making sure the order is fulfilled and then the correct shipping label is generated and used. Important to know that international shipping means dealing with customs which means getting all of the customs information correct.ShipHero allows you to set at a product level, the customs value, description or even if it should be included on the invoice (or not), making the international shipping process easier.

Can dropship startups also work with ShipHero?

ShipHero does indeed support drop shipping. How's that for a simple answer?

Does ShipHero ever handle goods or is everything done mainly online?

We do 2 things.1. ShipHero WMS/OMS software - you can use this to manage your own warehouse.2. ShipHero Marketplace - you can use this to find the perfect outsourced warehouse to handle the goods for you.

What inspired you to start ShipHero?

Absolute frustration when scaling ecommerce!! Why is it the sales channel has fantastic options (Shopify FTW), but inventory, orders and shipping is such a process? The challenge isn't so much when you're shipping 10-30 orders per day (not to say it's easy, but you can get away with the inefficiencies a lot more), it's more when you grow beyond that. We started ShipHero on the premise of solving the problem of going going paper, and needing to track who did what in the warehouse. There's a huge gap between paper based systems, and various apps being stitched together and a multi-million dollar enterprise platform that takes years to build. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to solve these challenges, while tackling a seemingly stale and stubborn industry.Now we're nearly 6 years in, we're tackling the issue of fulfillment overall. Sure, many ecommerce businesses are looking to manage inventory and orders better, only because they can't find a good outsource solution.3PLs are typically not great. Not great to find, not very easy to integrate with and not very transparent. Thus, ShipHero Marketplace.Our perspective is, make working with oursourced 3PLs easier (think AirBnb for warehouses!) and more ecommerce businesses owners can focus on what they do best - marketing, story telling and selling great products and services. Let someone else deal with all that fulfillment stuff!As you can tell, the passion isn't going away :)

Can you connect to an existing inventory system or does the business have to switch to yours to be able to use the service, how does it work?

Typically, the root cause of pain around inventory and fulfillment is the inventory software itself. So you want to start with a solid solution that allows you to maintain accurate inventory - which means it needs to be tied into your ecommerce channel(s), recieving, shipping process and as a double bonus - returns restocking. If you were using ShipHero, you would connect to your ecommerce stores, shipping carriers and you're ready to go as far as seeing your inventory and incoming orders (loaded from your store) as well as having the ability to ship them.Some important questions to consider when managing inventory.

  • How many SKUs do you manage?
  • Which ones are the most active?
  • Are you barcoding? (if not, why not!?)

Do you believe that overnight shipping to international locations can be possible in the future?

Interesting thought. Obviously, factors such as distance, the destination country and product will have huge factors on feasibility. Thinking technically, it's quite possible (although customs clearance may be a bottleneck), however, not sustainable and probably very costly. This is actually a topic we spend a lot of time thinking about at ShipHero, and is one of the reasons why we believe having a mulitple warehouse strategy is the best approach. Basically, keep your product closer to your customers, reducing distance, time and cost for shipping.That said, it's quite a challenge to have your product located near your customers - especially in different regions of the world. We're obsessed with solving that with ShipHero Marketplace - making it easier to put your product around the world.We're also working an inventory forecasting feature that can take sales history, sales campaign information and forecasted demand modelling to recommend where product should be so you don't even need to figure that part out.So, in short - overnight shipping internationally is complicated, expensive and while shipments could be shipped overnight. We're betting the easier approach will be to have product located in warehouses closer to customers.

What advice would you give to brands branching out into e-com who are currently exploring shipping and fulfillment?

We see companies who have traditionally been b2b focus in the past (fewer but way larger wholesale orders, typically freight shipping) exploring or shifting to direct to consumer fulfillment. In those cases, they already have a good understanding of running a warehouse, and basically need to transform processes and figure out customer support. In most of these cases, it's about finding the right technology platform.For businesses that have not run a warehouse or dabbled in fulfillment, there's a lot a ground to cover, but it can be summed up in a few categories.

  1. What is your shipping strategy? Which carriers will you be using, where are you shipping to? what are the shipments in terms of dimenson and weight. Will you be offering a free shipping option?
  2. Is maintaining inventory and running a warehouse something the business wants to take on? Obviously, leasing space, hiring people, storing product etc are different tasks than marketing, selling, customer support etc. If the business wants to take this on, then it will require investment in time and money.
  3. Whats the volume? If the business is indeed running it's own warehouse, then volume needs to be taken into account. Not only an average, but also what are the projected spikes, say during holiday season or during a promotion. Its important to know from a team capacity perspective and of course, warehouse space perspective.
  4. How are fulfillment processes tied into customer support? Great ecommerce shipping is about responsive customer support, communication, returns, exchanges etc. This requires a customer support team that are connected with the operations of a warehouse, be sure there are defined channels of communication and processes to handle customer order changes, returns etc.

There are a bunch of fantastic write-ups on this topic, most recently Shopify posted The Beginner's Guide to Ecommerce Shipping and Fulfillment which gets into a lot more detail than me - a really great read.

How does ShipHero stand against competition? What does your company do better?

It's interesting. When we first started out, we had less features and were rather scrappy in how we looked at our offering vs the competition. Several years later, with more features and more platform ability I would say, and bear with me - we don't really have a direct competitor. Yeah, there are many apps, plugins, solutions large and small aimed at helping ecommerce businesses with inventory, or printing shipping labels, or printing barcodes - however, try getting all that running on in a single solution. Not so easy. Add on top of that, something that would give you the flexibility to work with 3PLs, not easy at all unless you build something.For inventory management, we are often finding ourselves compared to Cin7 and SkuVault. For Shipping label generation, ShipStation and Shipworks. For 3PL fulfillment, ShipBob, 3PL Central and Flex. Our approach differs from what these companies provide - but everyone has a fit, for example, ShipStation is worth consideration (at least as of writing this answer) for fresh businesses starting out and need to get a few shipments out.So yeah, I guess we have a lot of competition if you looked at the number of companies that have the word "ship" in their name! The problems we are solving for scaling ecommerce businesses who need to be smart about fulfillment and our approach seems to be something a lot of ecommerce businesses prefer, and we're thankful for that while continuing to add more value each and every day.

What are the most common customer complaints when it comes to shipping? How does ShipHero handle these complaints?

Because our customers are ecommerce businesses, we don't receive complaints from consumers buying products and wanting shipments! That said, we have seen a few common mistakes ecommerce businesses can make when shipping orders, which are easy to avoid.

  1. Communication. This above everything else is key. Given the choice between something shipped 4 days with updates versus something shipped 2 days without communication - most customers would prefer 4 days. Make sure the customer recieves clear communication when an order is shipped, along with tracking information of the shipment.
  2. Orders being incorrectly fulfilled. There's nothing worse than ordering something and getting the wrong items. This costs an ecommerce business time and money, as well as damage control to please the customer. Barcode scanning is an effective method to reduce errors at fulfillment.
  3. Shipping Costs. Ok, this ones tough. Shipping something costs money, no matter who you are. However, if you're competing on price, then providing a free shipping option (even if that means spending more than a certain amount) means you need to understand carriers, options and costs. ShipHero is designed to do this automatically - and will find the cheapest method to ship an order.

When did you start ShipHero? How long did you have to wait before you considered it successful?

Started in my home office in the fall of 2012. It then took another 2 years or so for us to reach that point where we felt this could be a business we could grow out.Ironically, speed of success is something that we're very mindful of - in some ways we've worked hard to make sure we don't grow too fast as we don't want to drown ourselves with too many customers at once, while trying to build a product that's reliable and valuable.Everyday we're learning something new, and we feel like we're just getting started still - all good things to keep the team focused and passionate about our objectives :)

What’s the story behind the brand name ShipHero?

Well, it started when we had just finished the ascent of Mount Everest and we were 2 glasses of scotch in and - oh right, that's fiction :) Ok, the real story. Myself and Aaron were fixated on the problem we were going to solve. "Make ecommerce fulfillment easy for ecommerce businesses". One of the core premises of our solution was, how can you know who in your warehouse team is awesome, and who might be slacking?Thinking about this further, a lot of what helps motivate people to do great work is recognition and to know you're making a difference. On the flip side of that, underperformers in a team can be quite toxic to the rest of the team trying to do a great job. So with this in mind, our focus was quite clear. We're going to help companies discover their best employees, while at the same time, help companies that use ShipHero have happy customers!We needed to have some relevance to our industry in the name, and the word warehouse seemed a tad boring. So after much real scotch and brainstorming, and our fair share of truly horrific ideas, we ended up with what sounded about right.ShipHero!That said, we feel our brand is not about the story of ShipHero. Because we're the software that powers great brands, the best stories about how we're solving problems are the stories of the brands using our software. It's not about us, it's about the ecommerce business owners and empoyees who get up everyday to run successful businesses. We're glad to be a part of this, to make a difference and solve some real problems. So yeah, that's our brand.

When working with ShipHero, can a company use your own customer support team too?

If you're using a 3PL from ShipHero Marketplace then yes! There are fantastic 3PLs that offer customer support for your customers.

If I want to outsource fulfillment, what company should I outsource to?

Couple of recommendations. You could start googling, researching, calling and generally spending a lot of time trying to find a 3PL (anyone who has had to find one will share the stories). Or and forgive the self promotion, you could use a new service the ShipHero team just launched to help you find an outsource fulfillment partner. Think of it as AirBnb for warehouses... https://marketplace.shiphero.com

What can business owners do to ensure their stores are secure? How can they reassure customers about the security of the site and of any transactions that occur on it?

All reputable ecommerce platforms run very secure platforms. The best companies also invest a lot of resources and time into keeping their platforms secure, and share this information so you can learn more. Here's more on Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/pci-compliantOver $123 billion dollars was spent on ecommerce sites this past quarter alone! Credit Card companies have also improved how fraud is detected and disputes are resolved. My recommendation would be to have a very easy to read policy on your security practices (if you're using Shopify, you can point to the Shopify writeup for example).

Do you have the capability to store and ship perishable items (e.g. refrigerated or frozen foods), if so, how does this compare to Amazon's fulfillment rules? If not, do you plan to expand to this in the future?

We do not have lot tracking or expiration date tracking as of this AMA! These features are in the works and planned for release later this year.

Why is it important today for sites to be both mobile and social media friendly? How can ShipHero help with both of these?

Simply put, you need to be where your customers are - both in the device they use, and the context of their user experience. You don't want to lose out on customers who may see something to buy on instgram using their mobile device, to be forced to then use another device (would they even have a desktop / laptop? prolly not) to then seperately make a purchase.Something we focused on when starting ShipHero was creating a comprehensive set of tools for mobile devices. Designed and built to look and feel like typical smart phone apps. This makes it easy to do things in the warehouse such as fulfil orders, create shipping labels, cycle count inventory, receive purhase orders or even print / scan barcode labels. By making things easier, people are less prone to making mistakes, leading to a better performing warehouse.

How can one deliver better than Amazon? What are some disadvantages of Amazon’s shipping process?

It's quite a question. "Better" comes in a few flavours. Probably the toughest area to compete with Amazon on is speed - going up against the amazing machine that is Amazon distribution centres is tough. That said. Couple of ways we are seeing customers create a better customer experience.Lets talk about speed. In order to ship fast, you need to do a couple of things.

  • Have a very fast turn around time for inbound orders. Have a great WMS/OMS solution like ShipHero (I know I know, I might be a bit obsessed) which can take care of many of the typical tasks of order fulfillment. Think order priority, special instructions for the packer, shipping method etc.
  • Speed up how you fulfill orders, and do this without making mistakes. This is easy with the right tools. Basically, let technology do the work for you. Use locations for inventory, batch pick (quick video on that) orders in bulk, use barcodes for picking confirmation and remove the decision points pickers / packers need to make.

Communication. Getting something in 2 days without any communication or tracking link is a worse experience vs having something delivered in 3 - 4 days with great communication. Sending a shipping notification as soon as that order is fulfilled with a tracking link is easy (especially using ShipHero of course. I am ridiculous.).Lastly, here's a big area of advantage you have over Amazon.Branded Experience.Sure, if we're buying light bulbs, general commodity type products, getting something loosely packed in a brown Amazon box is fine, because you wanted it fast and cheap. However, if you're buying something that's not the cheapest or fastest, you're most likely buying into the the brand experience.We wrote some tips on this recently - 4 ways to give your ecommerce customers a memorable unboxing experience.The basic takeway being, you have the opportunity to brand and personalize what your customer receives, make it special and not so generic. That's right, a superior experience vs Amazon, something memorable and more valuable.

What do you think are the most common mistakes online retailers make when it comes to setting up e-shop?

Two major topics on this question.1. Marketing & Sales.This is a big big subject, with many great resources out there. I recommend you looking at the Shopify blog for great insight and resources, BigCommerce also has fantastic resources (and we have a few stories on the ShipHero blog as well).2. Fulfillment & Customer SupportThis topic I can talk to with a bit more insight. Though again, check out the ShipHero Blog for some interesting insight.Most typical mistakes we see being made from a fulfillment perspective are:

  1. Incorrect inventory counts. This is a basic thing, however, it's surprising how ecommerce businesses struggle with this (and why ShipHero is a great inventory management solution). It's critical you have a correct inventory count of every item you sell, as well as know when to reorder or what not to sell in the future because of lack of demand.
  2. Manual Shipping. Having to decide which shipping carrier (USPS or UPS for example) or method to use (Overnight, Express?) for each order will really slow things down. Use technology (you knew it - ShipHero can do that for you) to figure out the best carrier and method for each order automically.
  3. High error rate. Incorrect items in your customers orders, incorrect amounts, late orders, incorrect addresses, missing fraud purchases etc - these will all massively prevent an ecommerce business from succeeding. Prevent this with an effective OMS (Order Management System) that is digital and mobile. Use barcode scanners (we love the Socket Mobile scanners for their durability, ease of use and form factor). You should be aiming to be correct on orders at least 99.8 % of the time.
  4. Unclear or confusing returns process. Make it easy for your customers to return things. Sure, some customers may not be honest about a return, but most are, and a clear and easy returns policy can a contributing factor to the sale in the first place.
  5. Slow customer service and bad communication. Let a customer know when their order has shipped, with a tracking link. Use something like Intercom for live customer chat (what we use at ShipHero). Respond to customer queries, reach out to customers who are unhappy and generally be responsive. It makes a big difference when you know you're dealing with real humans who can help you with a problem or question.

What’s most challenging about building a shipping company?

Intentional or not, you raise a very pointed question in your question. What is shipping? I've been asked if I can help advise on the actual management of ships (the floaty things), of which I can't, though I play a mean game of battleship... The world of "shipping" is large and diverse - otherwise known as logistics, and there are many smart people out there that specialize in many areas.What I can talk to is both shipping as an ecommerce business (managing inventory, prioritizing order flows and of course, printing those shipping labels) or, what I would consider to be more of a Shipping company in the context of ecommerce - a 3PL.. For those interested, the wikipedia definition of 3PL.Hopefully, this is what you're asking about. So, challenges come in all sizes depending on a few factors:

  • Real estate. You need to be in a great location, preferrably near a shipping carrier hub, near highways, train, waterways etc.
  • People. Guess this is the same for pretty much any company you build, finding the right people who care about their work.
  • Tech. You need something you can get up and running fast, doesn't require a huge upfront investment and is easy for your team to use.
  • Customers. It's difficult to differentiate yourself with traditional 3PL marketing - you basically need to think about shipping and being really good at SEO and digital marketing.

Those being the most typical challenges, it will come down to what you're good at, have assets in, connections etc. That said, even great 3PLs (I've been lucky to work with some brilliant 3PLs while building ShipHero) struggle with finding the right customers. The warehouse space, people and tech while not trivial challenges, are easier to solve than the where do you get new customers challenge. When you're small, you will take smaller customers with lower volume. As you grow and hopefully scale, the smaller customers are harder to maintain if your processes and overheads and not super efficient.To scale, you need to reach larger customers, and you need to be more efficient with the time spent with evaluating customers. Typically, larger customers require integrations with their techology and need transparency of inventory and orders in real-time. What we've seen the smartest 3PLs do is really hone in on process and efficiency of operation. Use a platform that gives their customers access to the data they need in real-time and most importantly, solve the customer aquisition struggle problem. Turns out, that's exactly what the ShipHero team is obsessed about - we're seeing more and more individuals and existing businesses that are building shipping companies (3PLs) to serve ecommerce businesses because of the tools and marketplace created by ShipHero.

Was it ever difficult for you delegate very complicated tasks to your employees? How does put 100% trust on employees?

That's a difficult question for me to answer, I will need to delegate that. I kid! It can be difficult to delegate if the approach to delegation is more task oriented - at least in my opinion and experience.hat I mean by that is, most of us, me included, do a much better job and feel more invested when we're given objectives or tasks in areas we can own. For me at least, what has worked well is sharing the vision and goals of what you're trying to do. Instead of "can you do x", more, "we need to do x, and this is why. I need your help, can you take this on?".Of course, this also is about personality - but in most cases, giving someone a clear objective with an option to take ownership and work with you to accomplish tasks versus simply telling someone to do tasks will typically result a happier team member, better outcome and more willingness to go beyond what you originally expected.

As the company’s co-founder, how involved are you in the ShipHero business?

Fabtastic question. Myself and Aaron (other co-founder and what I like to call big brain) are very involved, we need to be as we still have so much to do. My day to day is mainly focused on answering questions on what we offer, doing demos with new leads, visiting customers warehouses and growing our team. We've built a profitable business, and are 25 people as of this moment - so there's opportunity as you scale to give team members ownership of roles and tasks.For example, this time last year I was working support chat all day. Today we have much smarter people covering support and I can focus on annoying you on #AMA along with other efforts to talk about ShipHero and help customers. ShipHero and providing value to our customers is our absolute focus.

Before ShipHero, what was your professional career like?

Firstly - "professional" seems a bit rich for me :) I've been all over the place career wise, following what seems to be the randomness of opportunity that comes your way. That said, everything I've done has been centered around technology and an early obsession with solving problems and building products. Over the years, as I've grown up (shudder the thought) that obsession morphed into what looks great and ultimately, what drives a positive customer experience.Talk about randomness though. My last full-time gig before focusing on ShipHero was working at the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association), leading the digital efforts and working with various NBA players who are very passionate and involved in technology startups.I was without a doubt, the worst basketball player around. I'll stick with building things that solve problems and bring value to people I think :)

Any tips you can share about time management? What’s the usual schedule of a company’s founder like?

Something I have honestly struggled with. Startup life, at least in my experience is about freedom to choose what you prioritize, however the struggle is what to prioritize! I start my day by writing out the key objectives I want to get done for that day. I respond to emails and have a quick 10 minute standup meeting with my team. Then, several hours seem to fly by! and before you now it, it's 2pm. I have a stop and reflect for 10 mins around this time, see how I'm doing on my objectives and get back into it. Stop around 7pm. Typically most nights there are calls with customers in other parts of the world (different timezones) and the catchup of emails etc from the day. Most nights I put a hard stop in around 10pm, and will every now and then get a glass of wine in :)One bit of advice I have is this. It's easy to work, and work you will. That said, you need to make sure you're getting some time to yourself. This does wonders for productivity and overall health. Be sure to take care of yourself! I also never bother with wifi (outrageous!) on planes, and use that time to be disconnected and either sleep or read.

What eCommerce innovations are exciting you the most these days?

It seems like there's so much happening right now that's truly exciting.What I'm excited about:

  1. Closer eCommerce & Retail experiences. I was recently at a Warby Parker store in Grand Central, NY and was able to purchase one of the items I had previously abandoned in my shopping cart from a few days before. Retail and eCommerce are just 2 different channels, and it's going to be fun to see how brings bring those experiences together and make it more personal for customers no matter if it's on the phone or in a store.
  2. Fast delivery! Not just 2 days, but a few hours. Sure, this is not a new concept, however, the experience is incosistent and not reliable enough for me to think of this as part of a general shopping experience. We're not far off though.
  3. Better content and ecommerce options. I want to see options to buy something I like in the show I'm watching on my smarttv, or review products with VR (Shopify are pushing on this).

So many things coming - and I'm barely scatching the surface :)

How can a startup e-commence business get in touch with your company?

You can chat with us directly over at shiphero.com or shoot us an email at hello@shiphero.com

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September 9, 2025

How AI is Transforming Warehouse Management: Impact, Benefits, and Use Cases

Imagine running a warehouse where orders are picked quickly, inventory is accurate, and all operations run smoothly without any errors or delays. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, this can now become a reality with ease.

AI is transforming warehouse management by enhancing efficiency, intelligence, and the ability to meet the rapid demands of today’s eCommerce-driven market.

ShipHero is pioneering this revolution with its AI-powered warehouse solutions, setting new industry benchmarks. This article explores ShipHero’s AI Picking feature, highlighting how it’s transforming warehouse management and enhancing operational efficiency.

Benefits of AI in Warehouse Management

The integration of AI technologies, including machine learning, robotics, and predictive analytics, is revolutionizing warehouse operations, driving significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and overall performance. These innovations are optimizing processes across various areas, from inventory management to order fulfillment. Below are the key benefits of AI in warehouse management.

  • Improves efficiency: By automating routine tasks, AI speeds up warehouse operations and streamlines workflows.
  • Reduces operational costs: With AI automating repetitive tasks, businesses can save on labor costs and minimize errors.
  • Enhances inventory management: AI ensures that inventory is always accurate, with real-time updates and better control over stock levels.
  • Predicts demand: AI accurately predicts demand, enabling businesses to manage inventory effectively and avoid stockouts or excess stock.

Key Components of AI-Driven Warehouse Systems

A combination of AI technologies is shaping smarter warehouse systems to help revolutionize warehouse management.

  • Inventory Management Systems – AI-powered inventory management systems ensure that stock levels are continuously updated and accurately tracked to improve operational efficiency and minimize errors in inventory counts.
  • Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) – Automated vehicles (AGVs) optimize routing by quickly transporting goods, speeding up processing times, and improving throughput.
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – RPA automates repetitive tasks like picking, sorting, and shipping to allow 24/7 warehouse operations with minimal human intervention.
  • Predictive Analytics and Demand Forecasting – AI tools predict demand accurately, ensuring optimal inventory levels and reducing stockouts or overstocking.

ShipHero’s AI Picking: A Game Changer in Warehouse Efficiency

ShipHero has taken AI integration to the next level with its AI Picking feature, designed to significantly improve warehouse efficiency. This feature automates the picking process, reducing the reliance on manual labor and enhancing productivity in ways that were once thought impossible.

Let’s dive deeper into how ShipHero’s AI Picking works and the advantages it offers.

How AI Picking Works

AI Picking optimizes warehouse operations in two key ways:

  • AI Path Optimization: By calculating the most efficient routes, walking time is reduced by up to 30%, allowing pickers to spend more time fulfilling orders.
  • Smart Batching: Orders are intelligently grouped to maximize pick density, minimizing trips while speeding up processing times.

Benefits of AI Picking

The AI Picking feature delivers a wide range of benefits:

    Increased Productivity: With optimized paths and smart batching, pickers can fulfill more orders in less time, dramatically increasing throughput.Lower Labor Costs: AI Picking reduces the need for human labor, cutting operational costs.Improved Warehouse Efficiency: Path optimization and smart batching maximize space and resources, streamlining operations.

Broader Impacts of AI in Warehouse Management

The transformative power of AI extends far beyond just picking. AI is also revolutionizing other aspects of warehouse management, driving improvements in operational efficiency, inventory management, and safety.

Operational Efficiency

AI automates tasks, reducing errors and increasing speed. Automated sorting and real-time inventory tracking ensure accuracy, while real-time monitoring helps managers adapt and ensure timely deliveries.

Inventory Management

AI plays a vital role in maintaining accurate inventory levels. By leveraging predictive analytics, AI can forecast demand and optimize stock levels, helping warehouses avoid both stockouts and overstock situations. This leads to better inventory management and fewer disruptions in supply chains.

Safety and Compliance

AI-driven systems can monitor warehouse conditions to ensure safety and compliance with industry regulations. These systems can analyze warehouse data and predict potential hazards before they occur, proactively reducing risks and ensuring a safer working environment.

Applications of AI in Supply Chain and Logistics

AI technologies are playing a transformative role in the supply chain and logistics sectors by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing decision-making.

These intelligent systems effortlessly manage supply chain processes by using data to optimize operations, predict trends, and automate routine tasks. This ultimately reshapes everything, from how goods are moved to stored and delivered.

  • Inventory Optimization: AI analyzes sales data, trends, and external factors to optimize stock levels. This reduces stockouts, overstocking, and excess inventory, ensuring more accurate and cost-effective inventory management.
  • Demand Forecasting: AI helps predict future demand by analyzing historical data and market conditions. This allows businesses to plan inventory, production, and procurement more efficiently, reducing waste and ensuring product availability.
  • Route Planning and Optimization: AI also optimizes delivery routes by considering real-time factors, including traffic and weather conditions. This helps businesses reduce fuel costs, improve delivery times, and enhance overall logistics efficiency.
  • Warehouse Automation: AI-powered robots can automate picking, sorting, and packing in warehouses. This increases accuracy, reduces labor costs, and enhances order fulfillment speed, eventually improving overall warehouse efficiency.

The Future of AI in Warehouse Management

The future of warehouse management looks promising with greater automation and efficiency, but future warehouse digitization brings challenges, such as high upfront costs and the need for skilled personnel.

Emerging Trends and Innovations

AI-powered drones, autonomous robots, and IoT integration are smart warehouse technologies that are revolutionizing warehouse operations. Drones will deliver goods quickly, while robots automate sorting and transportation, thereby reducing the need for manual labor.

IoT and AI integration will enable real-time monitoring and optimization of operations. Smart technology in warehouses is leading to fully automated systems that are faster, scalable, and need minimal human input.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI offers immense benefits, businesses must also consider certain challenges. High initial investments in AI technology, data security concerns, and the need for skilled personnel are just a few of the hurdles that must be addressed.

However, with a strategic approach, companies can eliminate the challenges and embrace AI’s full potential to boost accuracy in picking and improve overall warehouse operations.

Key Takeaways

  • AI is transforming warehouse management by making operations faster, more accurate, and cost-effective.
  • ShipHero’s AI Picking system demonstrates how AI can help warehouses handle more orders, cut down on labor costs, and streamline their processes.
  • AI improves routing, aids decision-making, and ensures timely stock replenishment, helping businesses stay competitive in eCommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can AI help in reducing warehouse errors?

AI minimizes error by automating tasks like inventory tracking, order picking, and sorting, ensuring greater accuracy and efficiency.

Can AI be used for predictive analytics in warehouse management?

Yes, AI-driven predictive analytics can predict demand, track inventory levels, and improve supply chain efficiency by forecasting needs with greater accuracy to help businesses stay ahead of trends and market fluctuations.

Is AI in warehouse management affordable for small businesses?

AI solutions are becoming more cost-effective thanks to cloud-based services and subscription pricing models. These options make AI technology more accessible to small businesses, allowing them to take advantage of its benefits without large upfront costs.

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September 9, 2025

Warehouse Receiving Process Checklist: Definition and Template

When pallets roll in and loading docks buzz, your warehouse’s receiving process becomes the gatekeeper of inventory accuracy. And if that gate isn’t well-guarded with structure, speed, and oversight, errors slip in.

A mislabeled item here, a damaged shipment there, and suddenly your warehouse faces stock discrepancies, late order fulfillment, or even lost customers.

A warehouse receiving process checklist streamlines receiving operations and ensures compliance across teams, regardless of who’s on shift.

What is a Warehouse Receiving Process Checklist?

A warehouse receiving process checklist ensures every shipment that enters your facility is properly documented, inspected, and integrated into your inventory system.

Unlike ad hoc or verbal processes, this structured document verifies product condition upon arrival, checks against purchase orders to confirm accuracy, and documents all inspections for future reference.

However, ShipHero’s digital platform already seamlessly integrates this checklist into your system, automating the tracking of goods from the moment they arrive.

Because it captures critical shipment details, a receiving checklist can double as a warehouse audit checklist sample, especially when preparing for performance reviews or inventory audits.

If you’re looking for ways to improve accuracy and accountability, learning how to audit your warehouse with a structured receiving checklist is a great place to start.

What to Include on a Warehouse Receiving Process Checklist

Receiving Checklist Sample 1          

                       

Receiving Checklist Sample 2

A well-structured warehouse receiving process checklist is crucial for ensuring accurate and efficient inventory management. Including the mentioned key components helps streamline the process, reduces errors, and enhances overall warehouse performance.

Here’s what you must include in your checklist to maintain control and accountability:

Purchase Order Number

This anchors the entire inspection. By referencing the purchase order (PO) number, warehouse teams can verify the received goods against the original order, ensuring the correct items and quantities are delivered.

Supplier Name & Address

Having the supplier’s full details improves accountability. If there’s a delivery issue, this info helps your team evaluate supplier performance and speed up resolution.

Date & Time of Delivery

Timestamping each delivery helps you review delivery schedules, track shipment delays, and identify potential gaps in receiving coverage.

Receiving Inspection

Here, staff will assess damage or discrepancies, confirm specifications (e.g., size, color), take photos if needed, and record all inspections in case of claims or audits. An effective inventory audit checklist incorporates these inspection protocols to ensure accuracy from the moment goods arrive.

Material Name

Listing the material name (e.g., product name, SKU, or description) prevents mix-ups during inventory allocation and ensures all items are accounted for. This also helps your Warehouse Management System (WMS) update stock records correctly.

Information Like “Delivered By” and “Received By”

Identifying who delivered and who received the shipment establishes accountability, helps resolve disputes over damaged or missing items, and ensures proper handoff records.

Documentation

Maintaining proper documentation, such as packing slips, invoices, and bills of lading, facilitates order reconciliation and supports formal audits and record keeping.

Why is a Warehouse Receiving Process Checklist Important?

A single receiving error often ripples through the entire warehouse. A structured receiving checklist breaks this cycle by establishing clear protocols that coordinate with supply chain operations and create accountability at every step. It drives big improvements in:

  • Faster receiving times: Teams know exactly what to do, in what order, and what to record.
  • Error reduction: Prevents items from being missed, mislabeled, or stored incorrectly.
  • Better supplier relationships: Helps track trends in late shipments, missing items, or recurring damage.
  • Improved stock accuracy: A clear receiving trail makes it easier to spot when something goes wrong.

This plays out in real operations. A mid-sized clothing retailer had ongoing issues with stock discrepancies during receipt. However, implementing a standardized receiving checklist significantly reduced the number of missing items and stock inaccuracies.

Employees also appreciated having clear instructions to follow, which reduced confusion and helped maintain a smoother workflow during peak delivery periods.

How to Create a Warehouse Receiving Process Checklist

Before drafting your checklist, take a closer look at your existing receiving workflow. Next, identify any inefficiencies and pinpoint areas that could benefit from more structure and consistency.

Decide on Information to Include in the Checklist

Choose the data points you’ll need based on your warehouse flow, system integration, and team size. Include only what’s necessary to document key handoff moments.

Choose a Proper Checklist Format

You can go with paper, but digital formats (via tablets or mobile apps) are easier to scale. Software-based checklists can instantly update records and integrate with your WMS.

Create the Checklist Using a Software Template

Use inventory management platforms or cloud-based tools to build your checklist. For example, ShipHero’s template system allows you to configure fields, set mandatory requirements, and establish workflow rules that guide staff through the receiving process. This makes sure every receiving action is consistent and auditable.

Train Employees

Train staff to make sure every team member follows standardized procedures. This minimizes human error, especially for new or seasonal workers.

Implement the Checklist

Roll out the checklist during a test period. Assign clear roles (e.g., receiver, inspector), gather feedback, and then launch warehouse-wide. Revisit and refine it quarterly to keep up with operational changes.

Warehouse Receiving Best Practices

Your warehouse receiving checklist works even better when paired with these best practices:

Building a Proper Receiving Schedule

Spacing out deliveries helps reduce bottlenecks and allows teams sufficient time to track inventory levels accurately. It also allows for more accurate inspections.

Optimizing the Warehouse Space

Keep receiving areas clutter-free and near the entrance. This shortens the time it takes to organize storage locations after goods are received.

Upgrading Warehouse Receiving Equipment

Invest in equipment such as barcode scanners, conveyors, or forklifts to speed up receiving operations, especially during peak seasons.

Separating Damaged Goods

Don’t let broken items enter inventory. Flag them, document the issue, and notify procurement so the issue can be escalated quickly.

Simplify Warehouse Receiving with ShipHero’s Automated Solutions

By leveraging real-time inventory tracking and barcode scanning, you can eliminate the need for manual checklists, ensuring that every received item is accurately logged. ShipHero automates the entire receiving workflow, reducing human errors and speeding up the process.

Customizable receiving workflows allow you to tailor the system to your warehouse’s specific needs, eliminating the need for paper-based checklists. Improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency, all with ShipHero’s advanced automation tools.

Key Takeaways

  • A warehouse receiving checklist provides structured workflows that ensure accurate, efficient processing of incoming shipments
  • For operational transparency, checklists should include critical information, such as PO number, supplier information, inspection results, and timestamps.
  • For best results, use tools like ShipHero to digitize checklists, train your team properly, and regularly review performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Update the Warehouse Receiving Procedures?

At least annually, or anytime your business introduces a new product line, supplier, or technology upgrades.

Is It Beneficial to Cross-Train Staff on Receiving Processes?

Absolutely. Cross-training builds flexibility, enabling teams to cover for absences and maintain efficiency even during peak periods or periods of high turnover.

What Should You Do If the Item Received Is Damaged?

  1. Document the damage with photos and notes.
  2. Isolate the damaged item to prevent it from entering inventory.
  3. Notify the supplier immediately with details and evidence.
  4. Update your stock count to reflect the issue.
  5. Follow supplier protocols for returns or replacements.

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September 9, 2025

Warehouse Daily Checklist: Guide and Free Template

One missed check can cost you thousands of dollars. You may have a damaged pallet, a missing fire extinguisher, or a skipped safety step that can put your team at risk.

Warehouse daily checklists serve as a pilot’s pre-flight checklist. Before takeoff, every switch, lever, and system is checked. Why? Because skipping one step can lead to serious problems. The same goes for your warehouse.

Without a solid checklist, you risk delays, missed shipments, or worse, accidents and safety violations. A checklist ensures your team follows the right procedures and nothing falls through the cracks.

Here’s everything you need to include in a warehouse daily checklist, its definition, and templates you could use to get started fast.

What is a Warehouse Daily Checklist?

A warehouse daily checklist is a structured form that helps warehouse staff systematically inspect, verify, and record essential tasks on a daily basis. It covers all the daily to-dos that keep your warehouse operations running smoothly and safely, such as inventory tracking and forklift inspections.

The warehousing and storage industry reported an injury rate of 4.8 per 100 full-time workers, nearly double the national average of 2.7. Following a daily warehouse checklist ensures the right procedures and safety protocols are followed and nothing important gets missed.

Creating an Effective Warehouse Daily Checklist Template

A great warehouse daily checklist supports the safety of your warehouse, reduces errors, and keeps your workflow on point. Here’s how to make a checklist that your warehouse workers will actually use and benefit from.

Components of a Warehouse Daily Checklist

Every component of your checklist ensures your facility, staff, and inventory remain safe, compliant, and productive.

Common components include:

  1. Inventory Checks: Your team should do an inventory audit. Monitor current stock levels, confirm the accuracy of quantities, check the condition of stored items, and inspect the labeling and bin organization to prevent errors, shortages, or misplaced goods. Real-time inventory visibility and predictive restocking tools, such as ShipHero, make this process seamless. Make sure that the receiving process is airtight as well.
  2. Equipment Inspections: Your checklist should ensure that all tools, forklifts, devices, and fire extinguishers are operating safely and efficiently. Inspect the equipment for wear and damage, document the condition, and update the maintenance schedule when necessary.
  3. Safety Protocols: Safety and security checks minimize accidents. Inspect the visibility of signage and emergency exits, and oversee the handling of known hazards.
  4. Cleanliness & Housekeeping: A clean and organized warehouse is a safer and more efficient one. Monitor the cleaning of floors, the clearing of walkways, and the organization of storage zones to support optimal workflow and reduce risk.
  5. End-of-Day Tasks: To properly close operations, include tasks that secure the workplace and prepare for the next shift. Record the completion of final duties, document the status of unresolved issues, confirm system backup, and update the daily reports for supervisor review.

Instructions should be clear and structured to help your team move through inspections efficiently and consistently.

Step-by-Step Guide

Your daily warehouse checklist doesn’t have to be very detailed and complicated. It needs to be thorough, practical, and easy to follow.

Here’s how to build a great one:

  1. Identify Daily Tasks: List out everything that needs to happen each day. Walk through the warehouse and discuss routine procedures with your supervisors and warehouse staff to capture all relevant information.
  2. Assign Responsibilities: For each task, decide who’s in charge. Is it a shift supervisor, floor staff, or a designated inspector? Make responsibilities clear so no task is missed or assumed to be “someone else’s job.”
  3. Format It Clearly: Use a structured, easy-to-use layout with checkboxes, concise instructions, and well-defined sections, such as safety and cleanliness. Keep it readable because you want quick glances, not long paragraphs.
  4. Incorporate Timing & Schedules: Some tasks should be completed in the morning, others throughout the shift, and some before closing. Schedule them accordingly, and use timestamps if needed (e.g., “Check emergency exits before 10 AM”).
  5. Include a Sign-Off or Signature Field: Have the assigned employee or team member document their name and time completed. This builds accountability and provides a record for inspections, audits, or compliance tracking.
  6. Involve Your Team in the Design: Ask your warehouse workers what works and what doesn’t. They know the real flow better than anyone. Involving them boosts buy-in, reduces resistance, and ensures the checklist actually helps them.

When your checklist comprehensively details the tasks in a concise manner, it becomes a tool that delivers massive impact. This ensures your warehouse operations run smoothly, safely, and efficiently.

Free Warehouse Daily Checklist Template

Ready to skip the setup and just get started? Feel free to copy our Warehouse Daily Checklist Template to your Google Docs or Microsoft Word document. It’s accessible, user-friendly, and 100% customizable to your needs.

Section Task Completed Person in Charge Time Signature
Inventory Checks Verify current stock levels
Check the condition of stored items
Confirm the accuracy of item labels
Inspect the bin and shelf organization
Equipment Inspections Inspect forklifts (damage, fluid levels, battery charge)
Ensure tools are returned to proper storage
Test barcode scanners and mobile devices
Safety Protocols Check fire extinguishers (placement, charge, expiration date)
Ensure emergency exits are accessible and clearly marked
Confirm that safety signage is visible and undamaged
Inspect for any spills or hazards in work zones
Cleanliness & Housekeeping Sweep and clean floors
Clear walkways and aisles
Organize storage zones
Dispose of waste and recycling properly
End-of-Day Tasks Secure all warehouse entrances and exits
Backup system data
Document unresolved issues
Submit daily report to supervisor
Remarks:


Employee Name: Date:
Supervisor Signature:

Simply plug in your specific details, and you’re set. It’s built to save time, support compliance, and help you manage your daily workflow like a pro.

How ShipHero’s Warehouse Management System Improves Warehouse Efficiency

ShipHero’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) boosts warehouse efficiency by automating key processes like inventory tracking, order picking, and shipping. By streamlining these workflows, it reduces manual labor, minimizing errors and delays.

The system’s real-time data updates allow staff to make quick, informed decisions, improving overall productivity. Customizable features enable businesses to adapt ShipHero to their specific operational needs, further enhancing efficiency. With ShipHero, warehouses can achieve faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and improved accuracy.

Key Takeaways

  • A daily warehouse checklist boosts safety, reduces errors, and supports smooth warehouse operations.
  • Include sections for inventory, equipment, safety, cleaning, and end-of-day procedures.
  • Download our free, customizable template to save time and increase productivity from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should a Warehouse Daily Checklist Be Reviewed?

Review a warehouse daily checklist, weekly, or monthly to maintain accuracy and relevance. Frequent reviews help align the checklist with workflow changes, new safety protocols, or operational updates.

Can You Customize a Warehouse Daily Checklist Template?

Yes, you can customize a warehouse daily checklist template. Most templates are designed to be modified based on team size, warehouse layout, and operational goals. Customization improves relevance and usability across different warehouse environments.

Is Training Required to Use a Warehouse Daily Checklist?

Yes, basic instruction and simple training on how to use the checklist ensure employees understand how to follow the checklist, report issues, and meet safety or performance standards. Training improves consistency and accountability across shifts.

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