Alongside single pickings, PULPO WMS offers different bulk picking options: cart picking and batch pickings.
Batch and cart pickings can result in a set of packing tasks assigned to a single position. In this case, the users can work on the tasks one by one, or accept all tasks assigned to a packing position at once.
Accepting multiple packing tasks related to a packing position
To accept all the packing tasks related to a packing position, scan the packing position by clicking on the Barcode Scanner Icon in the upper right corner of the Packing Tasks screen.
You will be asked whether you would like to accept all tasks related to a certain packing position.
Once you decide to accept all, batch packing starts. In one packing job, you will pack all the items related to a group of orders.
Batch packing task options
Sorting-based batch packing
By default, the batch packing in PULPO WMS is a sorting process.
In this case, to run the packing, you need to split the items of all orders picked with a batch-picking task between pre-pack positions, each related to a certain order. Only after that, the items can be packed and shipped.
The basic scheme of the process looks as follows:
Order-based batch packing
Contrary to the previously shown process, order-based packing does not require you to pre-pack items. If the setting is enabled, you can start the batch packing as described above.
After scanning any of the items located in a packing position, the app will find the packing task related to it and will show the user other items to be packed and shipped in this packing task. After finishing the first packing task, the user will scan the next item in packing, and the process will repeat until all the items are packed.
The basic scheme of the process is below:
To enable the order-bassed batch picking, open Settings -> Outgoing -> Packing and Shipping, and activate the setting Enable order-based packing in batch packing.
The batch packing process explained
To explain the batch packing process we will use the orders with the same products as described above.
Sorting-based batch packing
First, the user scans the packing position containing several batch-picked orders to accept all the tasks related to this position. After scanning the 1st item, the user will be shown a packing task it relates to and asked to select a pre-pack position.
Pre-pack positions can be physical containers located on the Packing table with their barcodes used to sort the items of the batch-picked orders. You can use any format and naming of the barcodes for the pre-pack positions.
After selecting the pre-pack position and confirming it, the product will be assigned to the pre-pack, and you will be asked to scan the next item and assign it to the pre-pack.
If the item belongs to an order already assigned to some pre-pack, the app will suggest the position it has to be taken to.
Once any of the pre-pack positions receive all the products to be packed with a certain task, the app will inform you that the task is ready for packing.
After that, you pack the items related to the order as usual. As soon as the order is packed and shipped, yu can continue assigning the items to the pre-pack positions. As soon as the last task of the batch is finished, you will be taken to the packing task list and can proceed to work in the warehouse.
Order-based batch packing
To use the order-based batch picking, the setting must be activated first.
The order-based batch packing does not require the pre-pack positions.
To start the batch packing, like with sorting-based packing, you have to pack position containing several batch-picked orders and accept all tasks related to this position.
In the next step, you will be asked to scan a product.
After doing so, the app will find an order related to the scanned product, and the list of products to be packed with this order will appear on the screen.
You can confirm quantity by scanning, where each scan adds 1 unit to the selected quantity, or simply by pressing the Confirm All -> Next Product button. In this case, the complete quantity for the selected product will be confirmed in one click, and the user will jump to the next product.
After scanning the last product of the task, the button text will change to Confirm All - > Create Shipping Boxes.
After that, you pack the items related to the order as usual. As soon as the order is packed and shipped, you can scan the next product and see the items related to the corresponding order. As soon as the last task of the batch is finished, you will be taken to the packing task list and can proceed to work in the warehouse.