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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.

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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While your team is still walking aisles, your competitors are cutting pick times in half with automation. Guess who’s shipping faster and stealing market share?

Automation isn't the future anymore. It's the present. For growing eCommerce brands or fulfillment centers under pressure to deliver faster, cheaper, and more accurately, automated warehouse picking systems are no longer a luxury. They're a necessity.

In this guide, you'll learn how automated picking systems work, the types available, how to choose the right one, and how ShipHero can help you streamline fulfillment processes with confidence.

What Are Automated Warehouse Picking Systems?

Automated warehouse picking systems use software, robotics, and real-time data to locate, retrieve, and prepare items for shipment, without relying solely on human labor. Instead of employees walking long distances and manually selecting items, automated systems bring items to workers or direct them with tools like lights, voice commands, or mobile robots.

For example, in the eCommerce space, brands use Goods-to-Person (GTP) systems to increase operational efficiency and efficiently handle large catalogs of SKUs. In retail, where seasonal order surges can overwhelm manual processes, automated solutions help companies double their picking speed and maintain consistent fulfillment even during peak demand.

How Does An Automated Picking System Work?

The process is surprisingly seamless:

1. An order is received from your store (e.g., Shopify, Amazon).
2. Your WMS (like ShipHero) routes the order.
3. The picking system (robot, light, voice, etc.) guides or performs the retrieval.
4. Items are packed and shipped.

This flow is driven by smart software that integrates with warehouse management systems and supports key warehouse processes, including picking, packing, and tracking real-time inventory.

Want a deeper look at the tech behind it? Read this guide on warehouse automation software.

Types of Automated Picking Solutions

There’s no universal solution for warehouse automation. The best picking system depends on your space, order volume, and the variety of products you offer. Some work better for high-SKU, high-volume operations; others are ideal for smaller, more focused setups. Below, we break down the top systems and which warehouse types they’re best suited for.

Goods-to-Person (GTP) Systems

GTP systems deliver inventory directly to a stationary picker, eliminating walking marathons. This setup enhances inventory management, reduces physical strain on workers, and improves worker safety.

It also optimizes order accuracy by minimizing human error. By minimizing walking time and keeping pickers in one place, GTP systems significantly boost pick rates while also cutting down on labor fatigue.

Pick-to-Light Systems

Pick-to-Light is an automated solution that uses LED light bars to guide workers to the right location for picking items, enhancing accuracy, speed, and efficiency while reducing errors.

When paired with Pack-to-Light and Receive-to-Light, your entire workflow is streamlined. Pack-to-Light ensures precise packing, while Receive-to-Light optimizes inventory storage and retrieval. Together, these technologies simplify inventory management, reduce labor costs, and accelerate fulfillment.

At ShipHero, we offer all three solutions, Pick-to-Light, Pack-to-Light, and Receive-to-Light, under one roof, seamlessly integrating with your existing systems to optimize warehouse operations. The combination can help boost efficiency by 20% while also cutting costs by up to 30% for batches of 10 to 30 orders.

Voice Picking Systems

Pickers wear headsets and follow voice commands to locate items, like a GPS for your warehouse. This hands-free approach automates repetitive tasks, shortens training time, and reduces picking errors, even in noisy environments. It also improves accuracy, even in noisy environments where traditional methods might fall short.

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

AMRs, or autonomous mobile robots, navigate the warehouse floor independently, delivering items or bins to human workers or packing stations.

Unlike fixed systems, AMRs offer greater flexibility and adapt to varying warehouse sizes, support scalable operations, and offer the flexibility to grow without major infrastructure changes. They’re also highly scalable, which makes them a smart choice for warehouses looking to grow or adjust operations without major infrastructure changes.

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)

These are high-tech racking systems equipped with robotic cranes or shuttles that automatically store and retrieve inventory. They’re especially well-suited for large warehouses with high inventory turnover, where speed and space efficiency are critical.

Businesses that need to maximize vertical storage find these systems invaluable, and industries such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, and electronics often benefit the most from their precision and scalability.

Benefits of Automated Order Picker

Still not convinced? The real-world benefits speak for themselves. Automation significantly reduces human error, particularly in fast-paced warehouse environments where accuracy is crucial. It also speeds up fulfillment, often cutting pick times in half or more.

By streamlining operations, businesses can lower labor costs by either reducing headcount or reassigning team members to more valuable tasks.

By transitioning to automation, companies often see dramatic improvements in efficiency and cost savings. For example, automation can reduce warehouse labor costs by up to 60%, allowing businesses to reallocate resources and scale more effectively.

Challenges of Using an Automated Picking System

It’s not always smooth sailing when implementing automated picking systems. One of the biggest hurdles is the high initial investment, as hardware, software, and integration can come with a steep upfront cost.

Staff training is another challenge, as teams need time to learn how to use the new technology effectively. There can also be short-term disruption; installation and onboarding may temporarily slow down operations. But the long-term gains are often worth it.

For example, James Enterprise struggled with paper-based picking and processing delays before switching to ShipHero’s Warehouse Management System.

The transition required workflow changes and staff training, but with proper planning, such as going paperless, reorganizing their layout, and utilizing smart pick paths, they boosted productivity by 38%. New hires cut their pick time from 55 to 34 seconds in just five days, proving that smart automation pays off.

How to Choose the Right Automated Order Picking System

Finding the right automated picking system starts with understanding your specific needs. Warehouse size plays a big role, as larger spaces often benefit most from solutions like AMRs or AS/RS that can cover more ground efficiently. If your business manages a high variety of SKUs, systems like GTP or voice picking can offer the flexibility and accuracy you need.

For those working with tighter budgets, starting with light-based or voice-guided systems can provide a solid foundation without breaking the bank. Regardless of your starting point, scalability is crucial; your system should be able to grow in tandem with your business. Partnering with ShipHero ensures you get expert, customized guidance and future-proof solutions designed specifically for your operation.

Best Practices for Successful Warehouse Picking Automation

Implementing warehouse picking automation isn’t just about installing new tech; it’s about doing it strategically. To get the most out of your investment and avoid common pitfalls, follow these proven best practices:

‍Best Practices for Successful Warehouse Picking Automation

• Set clear goals. Know what success means—faster picks, lower costs, or better accuracy.
• Train your team. Ensure staff are confident in using the new tools.
• Monitor performance. Track KPIs, such as error rates and pick speed, to identify issues early.
• Start small. Test automation in one area before scaling across the warehouse.

For example, Black Wolf Nation and its 3PL arm, ONE23 Fulfillment, partnered with ShipHero to scale their operations. By adopting ShipHero's warehouse management software, they increased their order volume from 10,000 to over 25,000 per month in less than a year. This strategic implementation allowed them to efficiently manage growth and expand into the 3PL space.

Key Takeaways

• Automated picking systems boost warehouse efficiency, accuracy, and cut labor costs by up to 60%.
• Choosing the right system depends on your space, SKU variety, and growth goals.
• Strategic implementation, including starting small, training teams, and tracking performance, is crucial to achieving long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Average ROI Timeframe for Automated Picking Systems?

Most companies see a return on investment within 12 to 24 months, depending on the system and order volume.

Are Automated Systems Suitable for Small Warehouses?

Yes. Many automated systems are designed to be scalable and cost-effective, which makes them ideal for small warehouses. Solutions like Pick-to-Light and voice picking can start small and expand as your operation grows.

Can Automated Picking Systems Handle Fragile or Irregularly Shaped Items?

Yes. Advanced systems feature adjustable grippers, sensors, and packaging logic to safely handle delicate or irregularly shaped products.

Warehouse management systems make daily warehouse operations efficient. And wave planning is at the heart of it.

As part of the supply chain industry where efficiency is of utmost importance, the fast-paced environment of warehouse management requires every aspect of operations to work on schedule. This is where wave planning comes into play and brings efficiency to the table.

It integrates with warehouse management systems and streamlines end-to-end warehouse operations to meet customer expectations of fast shipping and real-time updates.

What is Wave Planning in a Warehouse?

Wave planning batches orders for optimized picking routes, shipping, and priority. It supports operational workflows and integrates with warehouse wave picking strategies to maximize productivity, reduce errors, and improve overall daily warehouse output.

This turns warehouse operations into an organized process of handling and systematizing hundreds of orders a day.

Best Practices for Wave Management

Applying the best practices for wave management allows for maximum efficiency in managing daily warehouse operations. Start with these:

Prioritize Orders Strategically

Not all orders need to be shipped at the same time. Some can wait, others can’t. Strategic planning means prioritizing orders based on shipping deadlines to ensure they are shipped out and delivered on time. This increases customer satisfaction and overall operational efficiency. To better understand the core workflows that make this strategy effective, explore how we have explained the six key warehouse processes.

Leverage Real-Time Data

Accessing real-time data allows you to monitor every wave that’s happening, from orders getting picked up to those that are delayed. This lets you take action accordingly, especially when spotting issues as they are happening.

Minimize Downtime

Downtimes are red flags in wave management. They are equal to unproductivity and possible shipment delays, both affecting operations to meet quotas and customer satisfaction.

Reduce idle time in operations with these methods:

• Ensure all inventory is ready and accessible
• Auto-launch waves per order category
• Monitor pickers and packers, and reassign them as needed
• Set up alerts for any disruption so they’re solved ASAP
• Use smaller, targeted waves for more flexibility

Plan for Peak Periods

High-demand periods like holidays, promotions, and occasional spikes can cause chaos, especially if you don’t have a plan in place. That chaos can overwhelm your normal operations and lead to delays and unsatisfied customers.

Avoid this by ensuring scalability for peak periods with effective wave planning:

• Forecast orders based on past data
• Use shorter, more frequent waves that are easier to adjust
• Separate waves according to categories & priority
• Have a backup plan to keep operations in place despite delays or failures
• Utilize real-time monitoring for immediate actions on issues

If you’re preparing your warehouse for high-volume fulfillment, it may be worth exploring how automated warehouse picking systems can make wave execution more efficient and adaptable.

Use Defined Picking Zones

Warehouses have different zones to which pickers are assigned.

Having specific picking zones gives structure to the picking process, making it easier to execute even through high-volume orders.Having defined picking zones helps:

• Reduce travel time for pickers and allow more time to fulfill orders
• Balance workload among staff by assigning them according to the volume of orders
• Pickers become knowledgeable about their zone, making work easier and more efficient

How Does Wave Management Handle Unexpected Changes in Order Volume?

Wave management gives you the flexibility to adapt quickly when an unexpected change occurs during operations.

A common issue often faced in wave management is the sudden changes in order volume. This disrupts the flow of current waves and may have an avalanche effect on the whole operation if not solved immediately.

Here’s how wave management adjusts operations to meet demand fluctuations:

• Adjusts the wave by splitting large ones into smaller waves
• New orders are added quickly to the system
• Reassign workers to high-volume zones through alerts.

How Does a WMS Simplify Wave Management?

A warehouse management system creates an overall plan that controls the flow of a warehouse's production. Using tools and automation, a WMS simplifies and streamlines wave management to execute warehouse operations from fulfillment to packing and delivery.

What is the Difference Between Wave Planning and Wave Management?

The main difference between wave planning and wave management is that the former is where the strategizing happens, while the latter is the execution and overseeing that the plan takes place.

Wave planning is the strategic part of grouping what orders should be fulfilled together, setting the time for wave releases, and adjusting them based on warehouse capacity and labor availability.

Wave management is the main operational part where the production happens. It tracks the real-time progress of wave execution to ensure things are running smoothly according to plan.

Digital vs. Wholesale Waves

The main difference between digital and wholesale waves lies in their order size, wave planning, and operational goal. Due to their differences, each wave type requires different planning and strategy.

Digital waves service the B2C channel, are high in volume, and often have small, single-item orders that require urgent or same-day deliveries. The wave strategy used is frequent and short for flexibility. For this wave type, warehouse managers use WMS-integrated mobile devices for tech support

Meanwhile, wholesale waves are for bulk orders, often for retail distribution, resellers, or B2B supply chains. Wholesale waves have a lower order volume with large shipments and more flexible timelines.

Key Takeaways

• Wave planning creates more efficient warehouse operations by grouping together orders based on routes, delivery time, and priority.
• Prioritizing orders and minimizing downtime are important, especially during high demand and peak periods.
• Strategizing happens in wave planning while executing the strategy happens during wave management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Wave Planning be Used in Warehouses with Small Inventories?

Yes, it can be used if they have large volumes of orders per day, orders with time-blocked pickups, or group orders with shipping deadlines.

Are There Specific Industries where Wave Planning is Most Beneficial?

Yes. eCommerce and retail, grocery and food distribution, healthcare and pharmaceutical, industrial supply, and consumer packaged goods industries are industries that benefit from wave planning. These are industries with high order volume, delivery sensitivity, and high operational complexity.

Can Wave Management Improve Same-Day Shipping Capabilities?

Yes, wave management is designed to make warehouse operations, including same-day shipping, possible. Wave management creates a structure that speeds up the order fulfillment, speeding up the process for all warehouse operations, such as same-day shipping.