Get started step by step
Follow this step-by-step guide to set up IPK Logistics and run your first order or picking round. Timing depends on your data, configuration and hardware.
Prerequisites
- A Shopify store with at least one product (with variants)
- An optional scanner that emits compatible keyboard input; pairing or setup may be needed
- Unfulfilled orders for the picking tutorial only; not required to try Inbound
Part 1
Initial Setup
Install and open the setup wizard
Find IPK Logistics on the Shopify App Store, click Install and approve the permissions. Open the app inside Shopify Admin. Your 15-day trial starts with the first shop configuration; no paid plan is required to begin.
Complete the five setup steps
- Prepare or reuse the variant bin location metafield:
ipk_logistics.bin_location. - Choose Barcode or SKU for scanning.
- Select your Shopify stock location. This is distinct from the physical bin value on a variant.
- Choose Order-by-order picking and packing, Picking rounds with cart mode, or Picking rounds with box mode.
- Explicitly select Mark as packed and fulfill in Shopify or Mark as packed only.
Import Warehouse Locations
Open Import Locations. Upload a CSV with a location header and at least sku or barcode. You can include all three. Matching tries barcode first, then SKU as fallback.
sku,barcode,location
ABC123,1234567890123,A1-B2
XYZ789,,C3-D4
,9876543210987,E5-F6Export and maintain your catalog
The Import Locations page also provides CSV export of your current catalog with SKU, barcode and bin location. Use it to review locations before editing and re-importing. It is a catalog export, not a download of operational history.
Part 2
Picking Orders and Rounds
Pick one order without containers
Enable Order-by-order picking and packing (simplified picking & packing) in setup or Settings. Open Picking, select an order, follow the bin locations and confirm quantities by barcode/SKU or manual entry. Report missing, damaged or stock-error items. When the items are handled, select Complete Picking and continue to packing. No cart or box setup is required.
For cart and box rounds
Create a New Round
Go to Picking in the sidebar and click New Picking Round. Select which order statuses to include (Paid, Pending, Authorized, Partially Paid) and choose the maximum number of orders. Click Create.
Scan Containers
You'll be taken to the Boxes page where you link physical containers to orders.
Cart Mode
Scan one cart barcode — boxes are auto-numbered 1 through N. Scan the cart at the packing station to access its orders. Verify each order before completing the selected packing mode.
Box Mode
Scan each box barcode individually — each gets a position number. Because each box is uniquely identified, the cart is freed right after picking. Scan a single box at the packing station to verify and pack its order, then fulfill only if that mode is selected.
Pick Items
On the Picking Work page, each item shows its warehouse location prominently. Scan the product barcode, or use +/− buttons to adjust the picked quantity.
Can't find an item? Click Report Issue and choose Stock Error, Damaged Product, or Missing Product. When every item is handled, select Complete Picking.
Review (Optional)
After completion, view the picking round summary at Picking → View: total orders, items picked vs. ordered, issues reported, and per-order breakdown.
Part 3
Packing and Optional Fulfillment
Open the packing queue or container
Open Packing Queue and select an order ready for packing. For rounds, scan the cart to access its orders or a box to open that order. Each order is verified individually.
Verify the physical items
Check the products and quantities against the picked items. Scan using the configured barcode/SKU identifier or use manual quantity controls. Complete physical verification before finishing packing in either mode.
Finish using your chosen packing mode
Mark as packed only: select Mark as packed after verification to save packing and finish the IPK workflow. IPK does not create fulfillment, update tracking or notify the customer. Handle shipping through Shopify or your existing process.
Mark as packed and fulfill in Shopify: select Pack & fulfill after verification, then confirm the Shopify fulfillment. Tracking is optional. If supplied, check the detected carrier and correct it if necessary. Choose whether to notify the customer.
Read the queue and separate states
The queue separates packing work from outstanding Shopify fulfillment tasks. Packing may be pending, partial, packed or skipped. Packed does not mean shipped. An external fulfillment state means IPK is not responsible for fulfillment; it does not confirm that another app shipped the order.
If Shopify fulfillment fails after packing, follow the status and retry instructions without repeating physical packing. For an uncertain result, check the order in Shopify before attempting another send.
Optional tags are IPK: Packed and IPK: Partially packed. Changing Settings does not retroactively fulfill already packed orders.
Handle Exceptions
Manage container release from Containers when a container must be freed without fulfilling. On the packing work page, exception actions are Skip packing before packing is saved or Close without fulfillment afterwards. These do not mark unverified items as packed or create a Shopify shipment; review the order and any remaining work.
Inbound: purchase order to available stock
Create a purchase order
Open Inbound and create a purchase order. Select the supplier and products, then enter quantities, costs, taxes, shipping costs, optional tracking and the expected arrival date. Supplier contact details can be maintained with the supplier. Creating the PO does not automatically email it to the supplier.
Receive a delivery
Open the PO and record received quantities by scanner or manual entry. Compare ordered, received and remaining quantities. Record a partial delivery when only some stock has arrived; receive the remainder later.
Put away received stock
Enter the quantity and bin location, then confirm putaway.
What's next?
Explore more resources to get the most out of IPK Logistics.
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