Scan Sequences
What this does
A scan sequence is a guided, step-by-step scanning flow that walks a warehouse user through receiving or picking a product. Each screen asks for one thing (a product, a location, an LPN, an attribute, a weight), so operators can work from a scan gun or mobile device without moving between pages.
ℹ️ Where to find it: Scan Sequences is under Products in the side navigation (formerly Sequences under Admin). It is available to warehouse roles only.
Teamship supports two sequence types:
- Inbound — used when receiving inventory orders
- Outbound — used when picking bulk shipping orders
Each type has a default sequence that applies to every product, and you can create custom sequences and assign them to specific products.
When to use
- Inbound — Receive stock quickly by scanning, especially when products carry GS1-128 labels or need attributes (lot, serial, expiry, weight) captured on receipt.
- Outbound — Pick bulk orders accurately with location, LPN and product confirmation at each stop, and capture catch weights per case.
Scan sequences are optional. Manual receiving and manual picking on the order detail page remain available and unchanged.
⚠️ Outbound scan sequences apply to bulk shipping orders only. Ecommerce (pick and pack) orders are not affected. → See: Batch Picking
Sequences and assignment
Sequences are managed from two tabs:
- Sequence — create, view and edit sequences and their steps
- Assignment — choose which products use each sequence
Rules:
- A product with no assigned sequence follows the default sequence for that type.
- The default outbound sequence is system-owned and read-only. Its steps cannot be edited.
- An outbound custom sequence with attribute verification steps can only be assigned to products that have those attributes enabled.
- If the product import file includes a sequence ID, that sequence is applied to the product and the ID is shown on the inbound and outbound sequence screens for reference.
Sequences can take a few seconds to apply after you create one. Wait for the page to finish loading before assigning products.
Inbound sequences
Inbound flow
Every inbound sequence follows this order:
- Scan or select the product
- Enter the stock count
- Enter attributes (optional; depends on the steps in the sequence)
- Scan or select the location
- LPN step — assign the stock to one or more LPNs
Identifying the product (Step 1)
The first step of the sequence decides how the product is identified:
| Step 1 option | What the operator scans |
|---|---|
| Scan Product Barcode | The product's barcode |
| Scan Product SKU | The product's SKU |
| Scan GS1128 Label | A GS1-128 label. You must also choose the Application Identifier (AI) that identifies the product (for example, 01 · GTIN). |
At receiving, the first screen accepts a product barcode, SKU or GS1-128 label. Teamship works out which one was scanned.
Attribute steps
Each step after Step 1 has a type:
- Scan — the operator scans the value
- Instruct — the operator is shown an instruction
- Default — the field is filled automatically, from one of two sources:
- To Fixed Value — a value you enter in the builder (for example, Variant = 2026)
- From Label Segment — a value read from the GS1-128 label, by AI (for example, 21 · Serial Number, 10 · Batch/Lot, 310n · Net Weight, Kg). Available only when Step 1 is Scan GS1128 Label.
Builder rules:
- The identify the product by AI is required before a GS1 sequence can be saved.
- Each AI can be mapped by one Default step, and each Default step maps one AI.
- Scan, Instruct and Default steps can be mixed in the same sequence.
Receiving with a GS1-128 label
- Scan the label on the first screen. Teamship reads every AI on the label and finds the product by matching the identifying AI against product barcodes and SKUs. The product's sequence loads (or the default sequence if none is assigned).
- Steps mapped From Label Segment are pre-filled from the label. To Fixed Value steps are filled with their set value.
- Tap through each pre-filled step to verify the value. Pre-filled steps are shown, not skipped.
- Complete any remaining scan steps, location and LPN as normal.
The confirm screen shows a capture summary of which mapped fields were found on the label.
How label values are handled:
- Dates are stored as yyyy-mm-dd.
- Weights are decoded using the AI's decimal indicator (for example, 3102 + 004532 = 45.32 kg).
- Quantity defaults to 1 unless the operator changes it.
- AIs with no mapping are read and ignored.
- A mapped AI missing from the label — the step is left blank with a message; the operator enters the value.
- A label value that fails the field's validation (wrong dropdown option, number or date) — the step is left blank with a note showing the rejected value; the operator enters a valid value.
- Suggestions from the inventory order still appear on every step. Tapping one replaces the pre-filled value.
The LPN step
Every inbound sequence ends with an LPN step. You can split one product's stock across multiple LPNs in a single run, rather than repeating the sequence for each LPN. All LPNs in the run share the same attributes.
- Add the first LPN by scanning, generating (and printing) or selecting an existing active LPN. It is pre-filled with the full stock count.
- Add more LPNs as needed. Each additional LPN starts at 0; edit its quantity.
- Watch the total allocated and total LPN count at the top of the screen.
- Select Done.
Rules:
- An LPN cannot be saved with 0 quantity, and the same LPN cannot be added twice.
- If the total allocated is greater than the stock count, you'll be asked to confirm. On confirm, the stock count is replaced with the allocated total.
- Deleting LPNs (swipe left) updates the total. If you delete every LPN, you return to the first LPN step. You can't continue without at least one LPN.
LPN actions
| Action | Single LPN | Multiple selected LPNs |
|---|---|---|
| Add LPN | Yes | No |
| Edit quantity | Yes | No |
| Quarantine (with confirmation) | Yes | Yes |
| Tags (create, delete, print) | Yes | Yes |
| Storage charge (pallet billing only) | Yes | Yes |
| Weights & dims | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Delete (swipe left) | Yes | Yes |
| Camera (take or upload a picture) | Yes | No |
There is no select-all; select the LPNs you want individually. Icons are highlighted once an action has been applied. Pictures appear against the LPN in the web view.
After Done
You can print product label templates, then choose:
- See Details — review every LPN with its quantity. From here:
- Edit LPN returns to the LPN step to add or remove LPNs
- Edit location returns to the location step. If you change the location, you'll be warned that the LPN split will be cleared. Keeping the same location keeps the LPNs.
- Edit Attribute returns to the attribute step, keeping the LPN split
- Next Item — resets the sequence for the next product
Outbound sequences
Default outbound sequence
The default outbound sequence runs in five steps:
- Pick list
- Location
- LPN
- Product (product barcode)
- Catch weight
The Catch Weight step always appears for products that use catch weight and cannot be added or removed manually.
Custom outbound sequences
A custom outbound sequence can change any combination of three things:
| Setting | Default | Custom option |
|---|---|---|
| Product identification | Input → Product Barcode | Scan → GS1-128 Label, identified by 01 · GTIN |
| Attribute verification | Attributes listed on the product screen only | Add an Input step per attribute after the product step (for example, Serial Number) |
| Catch weight source | Manual Entry | From Label Segment (310n · Net Weight, Kg or 320n · Net Weight, lb). Only available when the product step is a GS1 scan; otherwise it is shown disabled with the reason. |
The outbound builder offers two step actions:
- Input — the picker confirms the expected value by scanning its barcode or tapping to confirm. Nothing is typed or captured.
- Scan — the picker scans a GS1-128 label to identify the product.
Scanning versus tapping
Every outbound screen reads Scan the barcode or Tap to confirm:
- A successful scan shows a success screen and moves to the next step automatically.
- Tap to confirm shows no success screen; use Next to continue.
Scanning is never forced, but Teamship records whether each location, LPN and product confirmation was scanned or tapped (one record per unit picked). This is available in the audit log for reporting by picker, warehouse, customer and date range. Catch weight is not included.
Picking a bulk order with a scan sequence
- Open the shipping order and start the Scan Sequence. The pick list opens.
- Choose any row on the pick list. Rows show Location, SKU and To Pick; the header shows the order's Picked Quantity.
- Location — scan or tap to confirm. The screen shows the location's zone.
- LPN — scan or tap to confirm. The screen shows the LPN's tags, and you can take or view LPN pictures.
- Product — scan the product (or tap to confirm) and add quantity by rescanning or with the + control. The order's attribute values are listed on screen to check against the unit.
- Attribute verification (custom sequences only) — scan the attribute barcode or tap to confirm. A mismatched scan shows Incorrect barcode.
- Catch weight — enter or review the weight for each case.
When the row is complete it is removed from the pick list and its quantity is added to Picked on the order. If the next row is in the same location and LPN, you go straight to its product step; otherwise you return to the pick list.
How the pick list is ordered
- Rows for locations with a path sequence come first, lowest first. Locations without one follow, sorted by location code.
- Within a location, the LPN is chosen FIFO. If FIFO splits an order line, the same SKU appears once per location; this is expected.
- The order is a guide only. Any row can be started at any time.
Blocked rows
Blocked rows stay on the pick list with their reason, so any shortfall is explained:
| Row message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Product is in a picking location | The product's only stock is in picking locations, which outbound sequences never use | Relocate the stock to a non-picking location |
| Quarantined | The LPN or product was quarantined after the order was placed | Lift the quarantine, or delete the order. No substitution is offered. |
Quantity rules
- The most you can pick on a row is the lower of the quantity ordered for that row and the quantity in the LPN.
- Scanning up to that limit moves to the next step automatically. Quantity added with + or typed in cannot go over the limit.
- Picking less — pick what is available and save. The row stays on the pick list with the remaining quantity, and the saved quantity is added to Picked. Re-enter the row and substitute a location or LPN to pick the rest.
- Backing out or a session timeout discards the row's progress, and the row restarts at 0. You'll be asked to confirm before backing out.
Substituting a location or LPN
Use the pencil control:
- Location — lists other non-picking locations holding the same product with the same attribute values as the order.
- LPN — lists other LPNs in the confirmed location, in FIFO order. Quarantined LPNs are excluded.
If you switch to an LPN already on the pick list, the two rows are merged and their remaining quantities combined. Quantity already picked is kept. The pick list is re-sequenced after any substitution.
Catch weight from GS1-128 labels
When the catch weight source is From Label Segment:
- The first scan identifies the product, sets quantity to 1 and records case 1's weight. Each further case scan adds one to the quantity and one weight.
- The product screen shows a confirmation for each case whose weight was read from its label.
- At the catch weight step, the per-case boxes are already filled. You can move between cases and edit them.
- A label with no weight records 0 for that case; it still counts toward quantity. Add the weight later from the order detail page.
- A label that doesn't match the product shows Incorrect barcode. Nothing is recorded and earlier cases are kept.
For all sequences:
- Skip Catch Weights keeps every weight already entered or pre-filled.
- Catch weight does not change on-hand weight or per-case averages. It is shown on the order detail page and carried onto the BOL.
Other GS1 values on the label (such as batch or serial) are ignored on outbound.
Pallet history
Outbound scan sequence activity is logged in the pallet history of the LPNs involved.
Scanner requirements
GS1-128 labels are read as Code 128, so no extra scanner setup is needed beyond the standard requirements. → See: Scanner Configuration
Roles and permissions
Warehouse users
- Run inbound and outbound scan sequences on scan guns, mobile devices and web
- Use all LPN actions within the inbound LPN step
Administrators
- Create and edit custom sequences
- Assign sequences to products, including through product import with a sequence ID
Customers
- Product import with a sequence ID applies the specified sequence to the customer's products
Common issues
| Issue | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Product follows the default sequence instead of a custom one | No sequence is assigned to the product, or the assignment had not finished applying |
| GS1 sequence can't be saved | No identify the product by AI has been selected |
| From Label Segment is unavailable | Step 1 (inbound) or the product step (outbound) is not a GS1-128 scan |
| "Barcode could not be read" when scanning a label | The label is GS1 but one of its values is invalid; the message names the bad AI |
| "Product not found" | The scan isn't a valid GS1 label and doesn't match any product barcode or SKU |
| A pre-filled step is blank with a note | The label didn't carry that AI, or its value failed the field's validation |
| Can't save an LPN | Its quantity is 0, or the LPN is already in the run |
| A pick list row can't be started | The product is only in picking locations, or the LPN or product was quarantined after the order was placed |
| Can't add more quantity on a row | The row has reached the lower of the ordered quantity and the LPN quantity |
| Picked quantity was lost | The picker backed out of the row or the session timed out before saving |
| Custom outbound sequence can't be assigned to a product | The product doesn't have the attributes the sequence verifies |
| A case weight shows 0 | The case label had no net weight segment; edit it from the order detail page |