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Using Order Pick Lists for Efficient Fulfillment

Learn how to generate pick lists for warehouse operations, organize orders by location or SKU, print pick lists, and optimize your picking workflow to improve fulfillment efficiency and accuracy.

Tony Adams avatar
Written by Tony Adams
Updated today

Overview

Order Pick Lists are essential tools for efficient warehouse fulfillment operations in 3Dsellers. They help you organize orders by location, SKU, or warehouse, streamline the picking process, and ensure accurate order fulfillment.

By generating pick lists, you can optimize your warehouse workflow, reduce picking errors, and improve overall fulfillment speed. Whether you're managing a single warehouse or multiple locations, pick lists provide a clear, organized view of what needs to be picked for each order, making it easier for your team to locate items quickly and fulfill orders accurately.

Note: To generate and use Order Pick Lists, you must have access to the Orders & Disputes section within your 3Dsellers account. Pick lists work best when your products have warehouse and bin location information configured.


How to Access Pick Lists

  1. Log in to your 3Dsellers account

  2. Navigate to Orders from the main menu

  3. Click on Orders & Disputes to view all orders

  4. Select the orders you want to include in your pick list by checking the boxes next to each order

  5. Click Print dropdown at the top of the orders table

  6. Select Generate Pick List from the dropdown menu

Generating a Pick List

Pick lists consolidate multiple orders into a single, organized document that groups items by warehouse location, SKU, or other criteria. Here's how to generate one:

  1. In the Orders & Disputes section, select the orders you want to include in your pick list

  2. You can select individual orders by checking the boxes, or use the header checkbox to select all visible orders

  3. Once you've selected your orders, click the Print dropdown button at the top of the orders table

  4. From the dropdown menu, click Generate Pick List

  5. The Product Pick List pop-up window will open, displaying all items that need to be picked

The pick list will automatically organize items by warehouse location and show all relevant details needed for efficient picking.


Understanding the Pick List Display

The Product Pick List pop-up provides a comprehensive view of all items that need to be picked for your selected orders:

Item Information

  • Item Image: Visual reference of the product to help pickers identify items quickly

  • Product Name: Full product title for clear identification

  • SKU: Stock Keeping Unit code for precise product matching

Warehouse Details

  • Warehouse Name: The specific warehouse or location where the item is stored

  • BIN Location: The exact bin, shelf, or storage location within the warehouse (shown as "N/A" if not configured)

Order Information

  • Buyer Name: Customer name or buyer ID associated with the order

  • Buyer Email: Customer email address for reference

  • Units Required: Total quantity of the item needed across all selected orders

  • Orders Section: A detailed breakdown showing each order ID and the quantity required for that specific order

Navigation and Actions

  • Pagination: Navigate through multiple pages of items using the left/right arrows

  • Items Per Page: Adjust how many items are displayed per page (default: 10/page)

  • Total Items Required: Summary showing the total quantity of items needed across all orders

  • Save as PDF: Export the pick list as a PDF document for printing or digital reference

  • Close: Close the pick list window and return to the orders view


Organizing Pick Lists by Location

Pick lists automatically organize items by warehouse location to optimize your picking workflow:

By Warehouse

Items are grouped by warehouse name, making it easy to:

  • Assign picking tasks to specific warehouse teams

  • Process orders from multiple warehouses separately

  • Track inventory across different locations

By BIN Location

When BIN locations are configured, items are organized by their specific storage location:

  • Enables efficient picking routes through the warehouse

  • Reduces time spent searching for items

  • Helps maintain organized warehouse layouts

  • Allows pickers to follow a logical path through storage areas

By SKU

Items with the same SKU are grouped together, showing:

  • Total quantity needed across all orders

  • All order IDs that require that SKU

  • Individual quantities per order

This organization method is particularly useful for high-volume items that appear in multiple orders.


Printing Pick Lists

Printed pick lists are essential for warehouse operations. Here's how to print your pick list:

  1. Generate your pick list using the steps outlined above

  2. Review the pick list in the pop-up window to ensure all items are correct

  3. Click the Save as PDF button in the bottom right of the pick list window

  4. The PDF will be generated and downloaded to your computer

  5. Open the PDF and print it using your standard printing options

  6. Distribute printed copies to your warehouse picking team

Printing Tips:

  • Print in landscape orientation for better readability of item details

  • Use a printer that supports clear text and images for easy item identification

  • Consider printing multiple copies if multiple pickers will work from the same list

  • Ensure BIN locations are clearly visible on the printed document


Optimizing Your Picking Workflow

Follow these best practices to maximize efficiency when using pick lists:

1. Configure Warehouse and BIN Locations

Before generating pick lists, ensure your products have accurate warehouse and BIN location information:

  • Set up warehouse names for all your storage locations

  • Assign BIN locations to products for precise item location

  • Update location information when products are moved or relocated

  • Regularly audit location data to maintain accuracy

2. Batch Orders Strategically

Select orders that make sense to pick together:

  • Group orders from the same warehouse to minimize travel time

  • Batch orders with similar items to reduce picking time

  • Consider order priority when selecting orders for pick lists

  • Balance pick list size - not too small (inefficient) or too large (overwhelming)

3. Organize by Picking Route

Use the pick list organization to plan efficient routes:

  • Start with items closest to the warehouse entrance

  • Follow a logical path through warehouse zones

  • Group items by aisle or section when possible

  • End near the packing/shipping area

4. Use Visual References

Leverage the item images in pick lists:

  • Print pick lists with images visible for quick item identification

  • Train pickers to use images as a secondary verification method

  • Ensure product images are clear and up-to-date in your catalog

5. Implement Quality Checks

Build verification steps into your picking process:

  • Have pickers verify SKU matches before picking

  • Check quantities against the pick list before moving to the next item

  • Mark items as picked on the printed list (if using paper)

  • Cross-reference order IDs to ensure correct items are picked

6. Track Picking Performance

Monitor and improve your picking efficiency:

  • Time how long it takes to complete pick lists

  • Identify bottlenecks in your warehouse layout

  • Adjust BIN locations based on picking frequency

  • Train team members on efficient picking techniques


Working with Multiple Warehouses

If you operate multiple warehouses, pick lists help you manage fulfillment across locations:

Generating Warehouse-Specific Pick Lists

  1. Use filters to show only orders from a specific warehouse

  2. Select all filtered orders

  3. Generate a pick list for that warehouse

  4. Repeat for each warehouse location

Coordinating Multi-Warehouse Fulfillment

  • Generate separate pick lists for each warehouse

  • Assign picking teams to their respective warehouses

  • Track fulfillment progress per warehouse

  • Consolidate shipping information after picking is complete


Best Practices

  • Keep location data current: Regularly update warehouse and BIN location information to ensure pick lists are accurate

  • Generate pick lists at optimal times: Create pick lists at the start of each picking shift or after order batching is complete

  • Use consistent naming: Maintain consistent warehouse and BIN naming conventions for easier organization

  • Train your team: Ensure all warehouse staff understand how to read and use pick lists effectively

  • Review before printing: Always review the pick list in the pop-up before saving as PDF to catch any errors

  • Update as needed: If orders are cancelled or modified after generating a pick list, regenerate the list to reflect current requirements

  • Store digital copies: Keep PDF copies of pick lists for record-keeping and audit purposes

  • Optimize warehouse layout: Arrange warehouse locations based on picking frequency and item relationships


Troubleshooting

Why don't I see BIN locations in my pick list?

BIN locations will show as "N/A" if they haven't been configured for your products. To add BIN locations:

  • Go to your product catalog or inventory management section

  • Edit individual products or use bulk edit to assign BIN locations

  • Ensure warehouse information is also configured

  • After updating, regenerate your pick list to see the new location data

Can I generate a pick list for a single order?

Yes, you can generate a pick list for a single order by selecting just that one order and clicking Generate Pick List. This is useful for large orders or orders that need special attention.

What if an item appears in multiple orders?

The pick list automatically consolidates items with the same SKU, showing the total quantity needed and listing all order IDs that require that item. This helps you pick the item once for multiple orders.

Can I modify the pick list after generating it?

Pick lists are generated based on the selected orders at the time of generation. If you need to add or remove orders, close the pick list, adjust your order selection, and generate a new pick list.

Why are some items missing from my pick list?

If items are missing, check:

  • That the orders containing those items were selected before generating the pick list

  • That the items have valid SKUs and are active in your catalog

  • That there are no filters applied that might exclude certain items

  • Regenerate the pick list if orders were added after the initial generation

How do I print multiple copies of a pick list?

After saving the pick list as PDF, you can print multiple copies using your PDF viewer's print function. Simply set the number of copies in your print dialog before printing.


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