The Mobile Picking App is designed to streamline your picking processes and provide you with a simple, flexible and fast way to process your orders right on site in the warehouse.The Mobile Picking App lets you efficiently manage your picking runs, minimize errors and increase productivity - all easily directly on your MDE device or Android smartphone.
The Mobile Picking App offers you numerous benefits that will greatly improve the way you work in the warehouse. Here are some of the key features:
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Easy integration and configuration: The app fits in seamlessly with existing Xentral projects, allowing you to quickly and easily select different picking methods.
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User-friendly setup: Creating user accounts and setting PINs is easily done via Xentral. The app login is carried out via QR code and PIN, making the login both secure and straightforward.
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Offline use: After scanning the picking totes, you can complete the rest of the picking process without an internet connection if necessary. This way, you stay productive even when network availability is limited.
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Intuitive picking: Scan barcodes for storage racks and products, or manually enter products if scanning is not possible. The app guides you through the entire picking process step by step.
Caution
Before setting up the app, observe the following restrictions and instructions:
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With the Mobile Picking App, you can’t enter and process serial numbers, so products with active serial number management cannot be picked using the app.
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It is not possible to pick products with different best-before dates and batches using the app; you must always pick exactly the best-before dates and batches that appear in the app for the current picking run.
For an up-to-date list of known limitations and special features, see this document.
Our video tutorial will take you through the steps of the app setup and show you an example picking process. Check it out to get a feel for the process:
Please note the following requirements for using the Mobile Picking App:
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Latest Xentral version: To ensure maximum stability, we recommend that you always use the latest version of Xentral.
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Availability according to plan: You can use the Mobile Picking App from the Business Plan and higher. Click here to get an insight into all available Xentral plans and their range of features.
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Storage locations, products and picking totes with barcodes: The Mobile Picking App is designed to capture storage locations, products and picking totes quickly and as error-free as possible. Make sure that barcodes are attached to all of these areas so you don’t have to enter information manually.
For optimal use of the Mobile Picking App on professional MDE devices, we recommend the following manufacturers and models:
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Zebra MDEs (e.g. TC26, MC 3300 - Premium model with 2D scanner and/or camera)
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Honeywell MDEs
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Sunmi MDEs
Tip
For a very first test, you can also install the Mobile Picking App on any smartphone with an Android operating system, provided that the smartphone has an integrated camera so that you can scan the barcodes of your storage locations and products.
We strongly recommend the use of the MDE devices listed above for productive use of the Mobile Picking App. Those devices are designed specifically for warehouse management requirements, giving you a smooth and professional user experience.
Follow these steps to install the Mobile Picking App from the Google Play Store:
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Pick up your desired device and search the Google Play Store for the app called Xentral Picking.
Tip
The easiest way to find the app is to scan the following QR code with your device:
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Tap on Install.
The app is downloaded and installed on your device.
Important
If your MDE device is not licensed for Google services, the installation path described above is not possible. But don't worry - you can still install the Mobile Picking App by downloading the app's APK file from our official download directory at GitHub.
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Scan the following QR code with the mobile device you want to install the app on. The download should start directly.
After you install the app on your device, the next step is to make sure users can log into the app and work with it.
Login to the app works for each individual app user using a personal QR code and PIN.
First, decide which users of your Xentral instance should work with the Mobile Picking App and therefore gain access to the app. Then, proceed with the steps below to unlock the app login for those users and set the PINs needed to login to the app.
Important
If you do not have permission to access the user administration, you cannot carry out the following steps. Please discuss the further procedure with the admin of your Xentral instance.
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In Xentral, open the Settings > General Settings > User management > Manage users menu.
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Open the desired user by clicking on the pencil icon to the right.
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Click on the Mobile Apps tab.
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If no QR code is displayed yet, click Create mobile device token.
The QR code is generated and displayed.
Tip
You can print this QR code so that your warehouse staff can attach it on their access card and scan it at any time they want to work with the app, greatly speeding up and simplifying login to the app.
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In the PIN (4 digits, numeric) field, enter the desired PIN that the user will later use for app login.
Important
The PIN may only consist of numbers!
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Click on Update PIN.
The entered PIN is assigned to the user.
To use the Mobile Picking App features, all users who are not admins need the following permissions:
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Kommissionierlauf > list, view, finish, start
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Warehouse > exportproducts
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MobilePickingTotes > list, create, edit, view, unassign
Important
For example, if you don't want individual users to create new totes (picking boxes), leave the create right disabled, but the list and view rights are always mandatory!
Proceed as follows to grant users these rights.
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In Xentral, open the Settings > General Settings > User management > Manage users menu.
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Open the desired user by clicking on the pencil icon to the right.
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Click on the Rights tab.
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In the Kommissionierlauf section, activate the list, view, finish, start rights.
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In the Warehouse section, activate the exportproducts right.
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In the MobilePickingTotes section, activate the list, create, edit, view and unassign rights.
Note
It is not necessary to click on Save. Once you click on the desired right, the color changes from gray to blue. That is all that is necessary to grant the right.
After you have completed all the steps described so far, you are ready to login to the app.
Proceed as follows to log into the Mobile Picking App.
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Open the Mobile Picking App on your mobile device.
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Scan the QR code you created as described in chapter Enabling app login and creating a PIN on your computer screen or on your employee card.
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Enter the PIN you created as explained in chapter Enabling app login and creating a PIN.
You will now be logged into the app.
In order for picking operations to be handled correctly using the Mobile Picking App, there are a few specifics to consider when setting up projects in Xentral. Read the following information carefully to avoid errors in your logistics processes.
Proceed as follows to review and adjust the project settings in Xentral.
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Use the Smart Search to open the Projects module.
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Click on the pencil icon on the right to open the desired project.
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Open the Settings tab.
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Click on Logistics/Shipping.
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For the Picking process setting, select one of the following options:
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Delivery note with storage location and automatic stock retrieval
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Delivery note with storage location, automatic stock retrieval from warehouse and scan in dispatch center
Warning
If you have used multi-order picking in your project so far, you must disable it before using the Mobile Picking App for sales orders of this project!
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Scroll down until you reach the Options section.
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Activate the Mobile Picking App option.
This deactivates the options for disabling the automatic retrieval of batches, best-before dates and serial numbers, allowing Xentral to retrieve the products including batches, best-before dates and serial numbers during shipping handover.
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Click on Save.
Before using the Mobile Picking App in your warehouse, consider which picking mode you want to use. The Mobile Picking App currently supports three picking modes:
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Multi-order run: This is the default process for picking with the app, which does not require any further presets. The term multi-order run means that the warehouse staff picks the required products for several orders (multi-order) at the same time in a run (run) through the warehouse. The sequence of a multi-order run is described step by step in chapter Carrying out a multi-order run with the app.
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Single-order run: In this procedure, the products are picked one after the other for individual sales orders. So it's kind of the counterpart of the multi-order run. Each sales order gets its own picking run. The sequence and preparation of the single-order run are described in more detail in chapter Preparing and using a single-order run.
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Single-item pick: This picking mode is particularly efficient in picking multiple sales orders, each containing only one product that is identical across those orders (sometimes called 1-piece orders or single-sort orders). This mode requires some presets in Xentral, which are described in more detail in chapter Preparing and using single-item pick.
In this chapter, we'll show you step-by-step how to do a multi-order run with the Mobile Picking App.
Note
You need an active and stable Internet connection to load the current picking runs, select a run, and assign the totes. During the picking process, it is possible to work offline as well. However, as soon as you finish the picking run, you need an Internet connection again. Otherwise, completed picking runs cannot be transferred correctly to the Xentral server and errors occur.
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Log into the Mobile Picking App.
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The app now loads all open picking runs onto the device.
Tip
Switch between All (all existing picking runs), Single (runs for single-order picking only) and Multi (runs for multi-order picking only) views to find the appropriate picking run faster.
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Tap on the desired picking run to select it.
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Tap on Start run.
The picking run is started.
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The No active totes view is displayed.
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Scan the barcode of the picking tote to activate it.
Note
You'll see directly in the app how many active totes are required for the current picking run. You'll then scan that required number. The first time you scan a picking tote, you'll see the message The scanned barcode K12 is not a known picking tote, because the system doesn't know the tote yet. In this case, tap on Create tote at the bottom right to add this picking tote.
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Tap on Continue once you have scanned the required number of picking totes.
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The app will now show you the first product to be picked and its storage location. Go to this storage location.
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Once you arrive at the storage location, scan the barcode of the storage location and perform the scan before retrieving the product.
Tip
If you scan the wrong storage location barcode, the app will show you an error message and tell you the correct storage location again. Tap on OK to remove the message and then scan the correct storage location.
After scanning the barcode of the storage location, the app will display the storage location name in green.
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Now take the required product out of the storage area and scan the barcode of the product to capture it for picking.
Optional: If a scan is not possible, tap on the action menu (three dots) at the top right and select Enter via keyboard to manually enter the barcode or product number.
Tip
Do you need more than one copy of the same product? You can simply scan the product's barcode multiple times to capture additional copies in the app. Alternatively, you can manually type in the number of products in the in-hand box at the bottom of the screen.
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Scan the QR code on the picking tote to assign the product. If you put multiple products into the same tote, scan the code of the tote several times accordingly. Optionally, you can use the counters next to the totes at the top of the app to record how many products have been placed in which tote.
As soon as all the required products are placed in a tote, the tote will be displayed in green, including the number of products it contains, and the app will display non-completely filled totes and the number of products it currently contains in blue.
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Once the first required product of the run has been fully picked, the app will show you the next storage location and the required product.
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Repeat steps 8 to 11 for this product as well, following the procedure for each product displayed until the picking run is complete.
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After the picking run is complete, the app will automatically show you a summary of the picking run.
At the same time, the data is processed in the background and synchronized with Xentral. The totes assigned to the picking run are automatically released again as soon as the corresponding delivery notes are completed in the dispatch center and can then be used for the next run.
Note
Synchronization may take a moment, especially for large amounts of data. Please wait until the process is complete.
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Take the picking trolley to the packing table.
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At the packing table, log into Xentral.
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Use the Smart Search to open the Dispatch center module.
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Open the Picking runs tab.
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In the overview, select the Run you just completed with the app.
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Optional: Check the picked products and confirm the run to make sure all products have been entered correctly.
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Now the delivery is prepared for shipping as usual, meaning the products are packed and the shipping label is printed.
During a single-order run (also known as single-order picking), a single sales order is picked from start to finish before the picking process for the next sales order begins. This procedure is particularly useful for small to medium-sized companies or warehouse areas with a limited assortment and large, bulky items. Complexity is reduced because only one sales order is processed at a time. To use this function, a matching pick list profile must be present in Xentral, which places only one sales order on the picklist at a time.
Follow these steps to create the pick list profile for the single-order run.
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Use the Smart Search to open the Pick list profiles module.
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Click on+ NEW at the top right.
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In the Pick list section, give a meaningful name to the pick list profile.
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In the Properties pick list section, enter the value 1 in the second input field for the Orders option to ensure that each pick list you create contains only a single sales order.
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In the Execution of pick list creation section, activate the Automat. execution option and select the time at which the pick lists are automatically created daily and the sales orders are handed over to logistics.
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Click on Save.
Tip
Pick list profiles offer you a wide range of settings and automation options. The settings listed above represent the basic or mandatory settings for this specific use case. You can use additional settings to narrow down the pick list profile to specific projects, for example. See the Pick list profiles article for more information.
Single-order runs can be identified in the app by the separate icon on the left of the Single tab, so open this tab in the app to find and perform all picking runs for single-order runs.
Once you have started the picking run, the rest of the process is basically the same as the multi-order run. The only difference is that the warehouse staff only picks one sales order at a time - accordingly, this method only shows one sales order per picking run in the app. Once all the products required for the sales order have been picked, the warehouse staff returns to the packing table, where the products are packed.
Watch our video tutorial to follow the single-order run process step by step:
The picking mode single-item pick enables efficient picking of multiple sales orders, each containing an identical product with quantity 1. To use this function, you must first create a suitable mobile picking profile in Xentral as well as a correspondingly configured pick list profile in which the mobile picking profile is saved.
Proceed as follows to create a mobile pick profile for the single-item pick.
After you have created the required mobile picking profile, you still need a special pick list profile in which you can store the pick profile.
Proceed as follows to create the pick list profile for the single-item pick.
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Use the Smart Search to open the Pick list profiles module.
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Click on+ NEW at the top right.
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In the Pick list section, give a meaningful name to the pick list profile.
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In the Selection orders section, for the Positions option, enter the value 1 in the to field.
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In the Limitation per product section, for the Piece option, enter the value 1 in the to field.
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In the Execution of pick list creation section, activate the Automat. execution option and select the time at which the pick lists are automatically created daily and the sales orders are handed over to logistics.
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In the Shipment settings section, select the picking profile that you have created in the previous step from the Mobile Picking Profile drop-down menu.
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Click on Save.
Tip
Pick list profiles offer you a wide range of settings and automation options. The settings listed above represent the basic or mandatory settings for this specific use case. You can use additional settings to narrow down the pick list profile to specific projects, for example. See the Pick list profiles article for more information.
In the case of single-item picking, the picking process is shorter than for multi-order picking.
At the packing table, open the Dispatch center module in Xentral and click on Picking runs. After you have opened the desired picking run, scan the required products directly into the Scan item field.
Xentral prints the required shipping label after each product scan.
Watch our video tutorial to follow the single-item pick process step by step:
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Mobile Picking App in this collection of helpful tips and tricks to help you use the Mobile Picking App.
The easiest way to create the barcodes is to use an external tool. Picking crates barcodes should always be of type Code-128. Here's precisely how you do it:
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Create the picking totes in the Warehouse > Mobile Picking Totes menu.
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Open the barcode generator of your choice, e.g. barcode.tec-it.com.
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Think of a suitable abbreviation for each tote (e.g. A01, A02 and consecutive) and generate the corresponding barcodes one by one by entering the data in the appropriate field. You can number the totes according to your wishes - but make sure you have a uniform format and a gapless numbering.
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Download the individual barcodes.
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Print out the barcodes and attach them to the picking totes so they can be scanned right there.
Tip
Do you have a lot of totes per picking trolley that you don't always want to scan individually? Then equip the picking trolley with a QR code, which in turn contains information for all the crates on the trolley. This way, when you start the picking run, you select all the crates on the trolley directly instead of scanning them all individually.
You can create a collective QR code for your picking trolley as follows:
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Make sure you have already created all the picking totes you need.
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Open the barcode generator of your choice, e.g. barcode.tec-it.com.
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In the data field, enter the following JSON, but adjust it to your circumstances first. In the example, there are 12 picking totes (A01 to A12) on picking trolley A.
{ "cart": { "rows": [ { "totes": ["A01", "A02", "A03", "A04", "A05", "A06", "A07", "A08", "A09", "A10", "A11", "A12"] } ] }}Important
When creating the JSON schema, you need to consider the following:
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All curly { {} and square [ ] brackets must have opening and closing tags.
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Commas between entries must not be missing or too much.
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Each string must be enclosed in quotation marks.
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Download the QR code.
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Print the QR code and attach it to your picking trolley so it can be scanned directly.
The boxes are used for ordering and identification (handover to the packing table, assignment of the sales order based on the goods) in the further process. The Mobile Picking App requires totes or collection containers. Free picking without any container is not possible.
Yes, this is possible. If necessary, you can also enter the information manually (such as the product number or storage location) via keyboard. Alternatively, you can use your Android phone camera for scanning.
Important
External Bluetooth scanners are currently not supported.
Yes. The assignment of the best-before dates is based on FEFO (First Expiry First Out), so the oldest BBD available is always taken first. A single picking step is only valid for a single best-before date. If you have a product with different best-before dates in stock, but you can no longer fully service a sales order, the app automatically splits the picking order into separate steps. The following table shows you what happens with the example of 4 products are required but different best-before dates available.
|
Step |
Product |
Quantity |
BBD |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Product A |
3 pieces |
BBD 1 (the oldest) |
|
2 |
Product A |
1 piece |
BBD 2 (next) |
It can happen sporadically that historical picking runs are displayed as "open" in the dispatch center or in the Picking run module, even though they have long been completed. In this case, these runs are also displayed in the Mobile Picking App and can cause confusion.
Complete the following steps to complete these old runs:
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Stop handing over sales orders to the dispatch center. Remember that sales orders are still handed over to the dispatch center even through active process starters such as autoversand_plus and batches - so disable these automations as well.
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Next, make sure that all open sales orders and pick lists are really processed.
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Now check that only the old picking runs that have already been completed are displayed.
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Now open the Picking run module and click on the tab Completed. Click on Set all open picks to done.
All open picking runs have been set to finished. The overview of all pick runs no longer shows open runs. Old picking runs and the associated delivery notes are no longer displayed in the dispatch center. Clarification cases are still preserved.
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From now on, you can resume handing over sales orders to the dispatch center.
If a cancellation occurs during a picking run, the run cannot simply be continued. To continue working, you should create a new pick list with the remaining sales orders or finish the affected delivery notes manually in the dispatch center. We are already working on a simpler solution for this case!
The shelf order is determined in Xentral. Open the Settings > Warehouse & Logistics > Warehouse > Warehouse management menu. Select the warehouse you want. Then open the editing view of each storage location and assign a sorting number to each storage location, starting with 1. This step is crucial so that the system "knows" which storage location is in your warehouse, so schedule some time to physically walk through your warehouse and plan which storage location needs to receive which sorting number.
In the app itself, it is not possible to change the sorting. The pick list with the oldest creation date is automatically always at the top; the most recent at the bottom. This display is not customizable.
As a workaround, you can work with the fast lane in Xentral. To do so, mark the sales orders that need to be handed over to shipping the soonest asfast lane. At the same time, you use a pick list profile with the fast lane checkbox activated in the Selection orders section. This pick list profile then preferably generates the pick lists for these sales orders. The name of the pick list profile should contain the keyword "fast lane" or "priority." In the app, this exact name is then also displayed as a label for the picking runs of the profile, so that the runs can be quickly recognized and processed in the warehouse.
Important
Be sure to set the Sequence to 1 or a similar value in the pick list profile so that it is executed before any other pick list profile.
No, this is not possible. You can print shipping labels in the dispatch center as usual. Alternatively, you can use pick list profiles to set up automatic shipping label printing. For practical instructions, see the article Bulk printing of shipping labels.
If a product cannot be picked, for example because it is missing from the warehouse or because you have discovered a defective copy of the product, do not leave the picking run directly. Instead, tap on the three dots in the app and create a partial delivery note for the available products and a clarification case as needed. You will later process the clarification case manually in the dispatch center.