Ecommerce Shipping Orders (Pick, Pack, Ship)
What this workflow does
Ecommerce shipping orders are used to fulfill order-based shipments that require picking, packing, and carrier shipment.
This workflow:
- Ships individual items or small groups of items
- Supports parcel-based fulfillment
- Integrates with ecommerce shopping carts
- Automates inventory updates, billing, and tracking
Ecommerce shipping orders move inventory out of the warehouse and into delivery.
Order lifecycle overview
Ecommerce shipping orders progress through three execution phases:
- Order creation – Items and destination are defined
- Picking – Inventory is physically picked from storage
- Packing & shipment – Inventory is packed, labeled, and shipped
Each phase builds on the previous one and introduces additional operational and financial outcomes.
Orders can be picked and packed one at a time (described on this page) or together using bulk ship or batch picking, which start from the ecommerce order directory.
The ecommerce order directory
The Ecommerce Orders directory is the starting point for all ecommerce fulfillment. It lists manual and cart orders, filtered by the user's role and assigned warehouses.
Tabs
Each tab shows a count of the orders in it.
| Tab | Shows | Sort order |
|---|---|---|
| All | Every ecommerce order, manual or from a cart | Newest first |
| On Hold | Back orders and orders put on hold | Oldest first |
| Open | Orders not yet started in the warehouse | Oldest first |
| Assigned | Orders in a batch that has not started picking | Oldest first |
| Picking | Orders being picked | Oldest first |
| Packing | Orders being packed | Oldest first |
| Completed | Shipped and closed orders | Newest first |
The Order Status column shows Open, Assigned, Picking, Packing or Completed.
Columns
Every tab has the same columns, and every column can be sorted and filtered. Columns include:
- Order (link, with a priority icon if applicable) and Pick Batch ID
- Company, Warehouse and Cart Name (storefront name, or Manual)
- SKU Count, Total Qty and SKUs (kits are counted by their child SKUs)
- Picking method and Assignee
- Date Created and Time Created
- Carrier (shown once a label is generated), Tracking, and Delivery Status from the carrier
- Shipment ID and Shipment Service Level
- Ship-to name, address, city, state, country, zip, phone and email
Opening an order and selecting back returns you to the directory.
Picking methods
Buttons at the top of the directory start the multi-order picking methods. Each shows how many orders are currently eligible.
- Bulk Ship — for many orders with an identical SKU and quantity combination (see below)
- Single Item Batch, Multi Item Batch and Custom Batch — pick several orders in one trip, then pack each order separately. Batch cards also show how many more orders would become eligible once their SKUs are replenished.
- View All Batches — opens the Batches directory
→ See: Batch Picking
Bulk ship
Bulk ship processes many orders that contain the same SKUs in the same quantities as one batch. It suits an assembly-line setup and is available to warehouse roles only.
- Select Bulk Ship. Suggested batches are listed by SKU and quantity combination, with the order count and warehouse. You can search by SKU.
- Select Create Batch on a combination, choose how many orders to include (oldest first) and assign a warehouse user. The orders move to the Assigned tab.
- Step 1 – Pick products. Pick the batch-wide quantity of each SKU. No tote is used; stock is deducted from the source LPN when saved. You can add a row to pick from more than one location, save partial progress, and download the picking list at any time.
- Step 2 – Pack order. Configure packaging for one representative order. It is applied to every order in the batch.
- Step 3 – Generate and print labels. Select orders and generate labels using the customer's default service codes. Errors are shown per order; select an order to update its address, customs details or charges, or to upload your own label. Then select labeled orders and complete them. Orders can also be completed without a label after a double confirmation.
If labels cannot be generated with the current packaging, you can return from step 3 to step 2 as long as no labels have been generated (void them first).
Orders can be removed from a bulk ship batch until they are completed. Removing an order voids its label, unpacks and unpicks it, returns stock to the source location, and puts the order back in Open. A batch can be deleted while it is Ready to Pick, or once it is empty. The batch completes automatically when every order is completed.
Phase 1: Creating an ecommerce shipping order
Order creation defines what will be shipped and where it is going.
During this phase:
- A customer and warehouse are selected
- SKUs are added to the order
- Quantities are defined
- Destination and shipping details are provided
- A shipping service level is selected
SKU selection
SKUs can be searched and selected using flexible search criteria, including:
- SKU
- Product name
- Custom product attributes
This allows users to locate inventory even in complex catalogs.
Destination and shipping details
Order creation captures:
- Recipient name and address
- Contact information
- Shipping service level
- Pickup or ship ETA
Once submitted:
- The order is sent to the warehouse
- Notifications are issued to relevant users
- The order becomes available for picking
Imported and cart orders
- Orders can also be imported from a template, including by child customer accounts. Zip codes with leading zeros (for example 08060) are kept as entered.
- If a cart sends the same SKU on several lines, Teamship merges them into one line with the combined quantity.
- Kit orders from connected carts are supported. Both the kit and its child SKU stock are deducted.
Customers can view shipping details and ordered SKUs, but cannot view picking or packing activity while the order is in progress.
Phase 2: Picking inventory
Picking is the process of physically retrieving inventory from the warehouse.
During picking:
- Available locations and LPNs are presented to the picker. The oldest stock (FIFO) location and LPN is preselected.
- Inventory may be picked from multiple locations
- Barcode scanning is used to confirm SKUs
- Picked inventory is placed into a tote or container
- Quantities are validated during scanning
Picking ensures the correct inventory is staged for packing.
Warehouse users may access picking tasks through the Picking Directory, which lists orders awaiting pick completion. Each card shows the warehouse, shipment service level and, if assigned, the assignee's icon.
Picking an order
- Open the order and select Start Picking. Quantity and source LPN cannot be entered before this.
- Pick each SKU from its location and LPN into a tote. You can save partial progress and come back later.
- Each pick line must have a source LPN and a quantity greater than zero before the order can move to packing.
- When picking is complete, choose Pack this Order to go straight to the pack screen, or Pick next order.
The picking history shows who picked each line and which tote it went into.
For kit orders, only the child SKUs are picked.
Replenishment
If stock is not available in a picking location:
- When no products in the order can be picked, Replenish replaces the add pick button.
- When some products can be picked, both buttons are shown.
Replenish opens the replenishment page with the details prefilled, and offers a way back to the order once done. The replenish list shows how many units still need moving when only part of the stock is in picking locations. Kits are replenished through their child SKUs.
Phase 3: Packing and shipment finalization
Packing is performed at a designated packing station.
During packing:
- A tote is scanned to open the order
- Packaging type and box size are selected
- Package weight is recorded
- SKUs and quantities are scanned and confirmed
- Carrier rates are fetched
- Shipping labels are generated and printed
The pack screen shows the order received date, Shipment ID, shipping method and a highlighted shipment service level.
Selecting packaging
Choose packaging from the Select Packaging dropdown:
- Configured packaging — packaging set up for the warehouse or customer
- Product packaging — for products that ship in their own box. Choose a product and Single piece packaging: one unit is added automatically, with dimensions and weight from the product page. There is no packaging charge. To change it, delete the whole package. For kits, choosing the kit SKU adds its child SKUs.
Package weight is filled in automatically from the box weight plus the weight of each SKU in it. Adding products updates the weight only, not the package dimensions. Dimensions and weight can be edited before fetching rates.
You are asked to confirm before deleting a package or a SKU from a package.
Kits
Kits have no barcode, so you scan the child SKUs into the package. If the order contains the same SKU both on its own and as part of a kit, you are asked which one you are scanning.
Customs information
- International orders (ship-to country differs from the warehouse country) show a Customs info section. It is prefilled from the customer's international shipping settings. Required fields must be completed before rates can be fetched. International labels may also produce forms, which can be downloaded with the label.
- Domestic orders do not need customs details. If a carrier asks for them (for example, some military or territory addresses), use the option to add customs info and try again.
Rates and labels
Fetch Rates, Upload your own label and Close order without label stay disabled until every item is packed and saved.
Once rates are fetched, select a service and generate the label.
Charges and billing
Most charges are applied automatically during packing, including:
- Shipping charges
- Packaging charges (none for the customer's own packaging or product packaging)
- Packaging insert charges, calculated per SKU as the insert rate multiplied by the quantity
- Processing or handling fees
Manual charges may also be added when required. Each additional charge needs a quantity greater than zero, and can be removed until a label is generated.
Packing list
Use Packing List to download or print the packing slip, including in 4x6 format. The layout follows the warehouse or customer packing list template.
→ See: Document Templates
Warehouse users may access packing tasks through the Packing Directory, which lists orders awaiting packing.
Error handling and exceptions
Certain errors may occur during shipment finalization.
Invalid address errors
If the shipping address is invalid:
- Carrier services may return an error, shown at the top of the page and labelled as a carrier error
- Teamship highlights the affected field (address line, city, state, zip, country, phone or email, or customs details)
- The warehouse user must correct the address
- Carrier rates must be re-fetched
If no carrier account is set up for the customer, you'll see: Please define carrier options at account level before fetching rates.
Labels and shipment changes
During packing:
- Shipping labels may be voided
- Labels may be manually added
- Orders may be split into multiple packages
After a label is generated, the ship-to address and additional charges are locked. Void the label to change them.
Each change updates shipment records accordingly.
Order actions
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Move Order to Picking | Sends a packing order back to picking. Available only before any product is scanned and once all labels are voided. Stock is not affected. |
| Put on hold | Moves the order to the On Hold tab (and out of any batch). Release the hold to fulfill it individually. |
| Delete order | Warehouse roles only, until the order is closed. Void the label first. After a double confirmation, stock returns to the source location and LPN. |
Orders in a batch
An order that is part of a bulk ship or batch can't be picked, packed or deleted on its own. Its pick or pack page opens with actions disabled and a message naming the batch and assignee. Process it from the batch, or remove it from the batch first.
Cancelled orders
Orders cancelled in a connected cart are flagged as cancelled in Teamship, identified by their order number. For cancelled orders inside a batch, see Batch Picking.
Automation and downstream effects
Once packing is completed:
- Shipping labels are finalized
- Tracking numbers are generated
- Inventory counts are automatically decremented
- Tracking data is synced back to connected shopping carts
- Order status is updated across the system
These updates occur automatically and do not require manual intervention.
Completed orders open in a read-only view showing their transactions. Orders completed through a batch show the batch ID.
Configuration dependencies
Ecommerce shipping behavior is influenced by customer configuration, including:
- Pick and pack charges
- Carrier rate markups
- Connected carrier accounts
- Default service codes — one domestic and one international, used when labels are generated in bulk ship and batches
- Connected ecommerce shopping carts
- Packaging, including whether a package is the customer's packaging (no packaging charge)
- International shipping defaults, used to prefill customs info
- Packing list templates
These settings are managed on the Customer Profile and directly affect shipping outcomes.
Roles and visibility
Warehouse users
- Perform picking and packing
- Run bulk ship and batch picking
- Apply charges
- Generate labels and documentation
- Resolve errors and exceptions
- Put orders on hold, move them back to picking, or delete them
Customers
- Submit shipping orders
- View shipping details and ordered SKUs
- Edit ship-to details while the order is in progress
- Receive tracking updates
- Do not see in-progress picking or packing activity, batch IDs or label printing
Administrators
- Configure ecommerce settings
- Manage billing and carrier integrations
- Review order outcomes