ShipStation includes barcode scanning to both verify the products you pack into a shipment and to initiate printing labels for those shipments. To verify shipments, you'll scan either SKU or UPC barcodes for items as you pack. You can use the Verify option independently from the print option, or you can combine them to create a rapid barcode scanning workflow for your pick, pack, and ship process.
ShipStation's Scan options are located in the Scan tab.
There are three Scan workflow options for barcodes:
Scan to Print will print labels for orders as you scan them.
Scan to Verify confirms the picker has the right items to pack.
Scan to Verify and Print will confirm the item you pack then allow you to print the label for that shipment.
For your chosen workflow, here is what you need before you begin:
For All Workflows
A barcode scanner.
Packing slips with a Scan to View Barcode or an order number barcode.
Verify Workflow Requirements
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Add UPCs and/or Fulfillment SKUs to your product records (details in the following section).
We recommend using our CSV import method to add UPCs or Fulfillment SKUs to all of your products at once.
Multiple UPC Codes Not Supported
Scan to Verify does not support using multiple UPC codes or Fulfillment SKUs on a single product.
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Set preferences for Scan to Verify & Print to support UPC, Item SKU, and/or Fulfillment SKU for items.
Go to
Account > Workflow Settings > Scan To Verify Items Byto set your preference.
Print Workflow Requirements
Install ShipStation Connect and sign in (if not already installed and running).
Preconfigured shipment weights or a connected USB scale.
If using a One Balance-funded postage provider, auto-funding MUST be enabled.
For the Verify and Print workflow, ensure you meet all the requirements listed above.
The Scan to Print feature allows you to scan a packing slip barcode to quickly view and order and create and print the label. For orders that already have their shipment details configured, Scan to Print allows you to weigh packages and print labels in quick succession.
To use the Scan to Print feature:
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Click Workflow, then choose Scan to Print.
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Select a printer from the Printer drop-down menu.
If you are are using a scale, also select it from the Select a scale drop-down.
ShipStation will save these selections for you going forward.
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Scan a packing slip barcode for an order. This will open the order's shipment details.
If your packing slips do not include a barcode, follow the Add Scan to View Barcode instructions.
The weight from your attached USB scale will update automatically. To use your preconfigured weights instead, turn off the Use Scale toggle.
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Click Print Label or use the P hotkey on your keyboard to purchase and print a label.
ShipStation will immediately be ready for you to scan your next packing slip barcode.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 to continue scanning through your printed packing slips and creating and printing labels for the associated shipments.
To use the Scan to Print feature in ShipStation Legacy:
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Click Other Actions, then Scan to Print.
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Select a printer from the Select a printer drop-down.
If you are are using a scale, also select it from the Select a scale drop-down.
ShipStation will save these selections for you going forward.
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Scan a packing slip barcode for an order. This will open the order's shipment details.
The weight from your attached USB scale will update automatically. To use your preconfigured weights instead, turn off the Use Scale toggle.
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Click Purchase and Print Label or use the P hotkey on your keyboard to purchase and print a label.
ShipStation will immediately be ready for you to scan your next packing slip barcode.
Trigger the print action with a barcode scan!
Use the Barcode Scan Action Report to scan the print action instead of using your mouse or a hotkey!
Repeat steps 4 and 5 to continue scanning through your printed packing slips and creating and printing labels for the associated shipments.
Once you are done scanning and printing, click the X icon to close the Scan to Print screen.
The Scan to Verify workflow allows you to scan a UPC or SKU barcode to confirm the picker has the right items to pack, which minimizes packing errors and provides the ability to apply precise package weight for each shipment.
Scan to Verify gives audio and visual feedback when you scan an item barcode so you to detect packing errors and confirm that the contents of every order are correct.
In Scan to Verify mode, ShipStation will mark orders as Verified once all items in a shipment are scanned and then be immediately ready to verify the next order. The Scan to Verify mode does not have a label print step. To automatically create and print a label after verifying, use the Scan to Verify & Print mode.
Not Available in ShipStation Legacy
The Scan to Verify feature is only available in ShipStation's new layout.
Print packing slips for the orders.
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Set the Workflow to Scan to Verify.
Scan a barcode from your packing slip or enter the order number manually to pull up the order you wish to verify.
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Choose one of three ways to verify the products in the order (each method is tracked and reported differently):
Scan the barcode for each product in the order, - or -
Click Verify to manually verify each line item, - or -
Click Verify All to verify all order items.
Workflow Setting Available
If you do not want to click Mark as Verified after verifying all your products, you can adjust the Workflow Settings for your account so that ShipStation will automatically move to the next shipment after you verify the last product on an order.
In the Scan to Verify & Print workflow, you to scan a UPC or SKU barcode to confirm the picker has the right items to pack then automatically move to the print label step once all items are verified.
Scan to Verify & Print provides audio and visual feedback when you scan an item barcode. This allows you to detect packing errors and confirm that the contents of every order are correct.
Not Available in ShipStation Legacy
The Scan to Verify & Print feature is only available in ShipStation's new layout.
To use Scan to Verify & Print:
Print packing slips for the orders you want to pick and pack.
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Select your label printer (and your scale, if using one) from the drop-down menus at the top of the screen.
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Scan a packing slip barcode or enter the order number in manually.
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Choose one of three ways to verify the products in the order (each method is tracked and reported differently):
Scan the barcode for each product in the order, - or -
Click Verify to manually verify each line item, - or -
Click Verify All to verify all order items.
Each of these options will change the count for the product until they all have been accounted for. Once the total quantity for an item is successfully scanned, ShipStation considers that item Verified. Once all items are verified, move on to Step 6.
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Click Mark as Verified or press V to use the hotkey.
This will take you to the Configure Shipment Widget to create your label. You may keep any previously configured settings or update your shipping preferences, as needed. If you have a scale connected, ShipStation will automatically apply the weight from your scale to the shipment.
Workflow Setting Available
If you do not want to click Mark as Verified after verifying all your products, you can adjust the Workflow Settings for your account so that ShipStation will automatically move to the Configure Shipment Widget after you verify the last product on an order.
OPTIONAL: If you need to edit any verified items, click Edit Verification to return to the previous screen.
Click the Print Label button or press P to create and print the label.
Repeat steps 4 - 7 for each order in your stack of packing slips.
To view an order's history or to reprint a label, simply scan the barcode on the packing slip again while in the Scan to Verify & Print screen.
See Scan to Verify & Print in Action
Use Barcode Scan Actions to Purchase and Print the Label
To make your workflow even more efficient, use the Purchase and Print Label barcode scan action to remove mouse clicks and hotkeys from your process entirely!
Click Print Barcode Sheet in the Scan to Verify & Print screen.
This will print the Scan to Print Barcode, which you can keep on your workstation. Scan this barcode to purchase and print the labels for each order, instead of clicking the Print Label button or pressing the P hotkey.
Connect a USB scale to automatically apply the package weight to the shipment in ShipStation.
Select the scale during setup, scan each item and place it in the box. Once all items are scanned and the box is packed, place the box on the scale. This will automatically apply the weight from your scale as the weight of the shipment so you can create your label right away.
OPTIONAL: Use a scale as you add items and packing material or void fill. The scale will detect the added weight (bubble wrap, bonus gift, additional products, etc) and adjust as you pack the shipment.
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Once an order is Marked as Verified, the order will display Verified in the header of the shipment in its Order Details.
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The Verify workflows are not for inventory management, nor do they add product to an order with a scan. Ideally, you will have checked the order against inventory before sending a picker off to grab those items.
If an item is out of stock, we recommend you create separate shipments for the in-stock and out-of-stock items.
During Scan to Verify & Print or Scan to Verify, if you scan an item that is in the order but not currently visible in the item list, a notification will alert you that an out of view item has been counted/verified.
You may need to adjust the barcode size printed on your packing slips to accommodate your scanner. Please review the Change Barcode Size, Type, and Font section of the Adding Barcodes to Packing Slips article to learn how.
Most general-purpose barcode scanners will work with ShipStation's scan workflows, be it USB or Bluetooth. Models we've tested that work well include the Zebra Symbol LS2208 and the Motorola LI4278.
USB scales that don’t fall asleep are ideal, as ShipStation Connect is unable to wake up devices that have turned themselves off due to inactivity.
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Orders must have the following information before you can create a label:
A Ship From Location
Shipping Service
Package Type
Increase Efficiency
Use Preset Hotkeys or automation to set these options on orders quickly.
If you scan the packing slip for an order that has already had a label generated, you can print the existing label by pressing P or scanning the Purchase and Print Label barcode.
If the order weight is 0 but the service/package combination allows it (like flat rate services), the rate will display in orange.
