Creating Barcoding Work Orders
A Barcoding work order has the Cahoot warehouse print and apply barcode labels to units that are already sitting at a fulfillment center. Use it when stock arrived without a scannable barcode, when the existing barcode won't scan, or when you need existing units relabeled with a different barcode value.
When to Use a Barcoding Work Order
Submit a Barcoding work order when units already at a Cahoot warehouse need new labels:
- Inventory was received with no barcode, or with a barcode that won't scan
- You are switching a product to a different barcode value and need the stock on hand relabeled
- Labels are damaged, covered by other stickers, or printed too poorly to scan reliably
Use a different path in these cases:
- Building multi-packs or bundles. Bundle assembly is a Reboxing/Polybagging work order, and labeling the finished bundle SKU is handled as part of that process. See Reboxing Work Orders for Multi-Pack and Bundle SKUs.
- Inventory you haven't shipped to Cahoot yet. Barcode it before it ships. Units that arrive without a compliant barcode are flagged non-compliant, which delays receiving and adds charges. See Preparing Inbound Inventory.
- Working out why a barcode won't scan. Most scanning failures come from print quality rather than the barcode format, and many are fixable without a work order. Start with Barcode Requirements and Troubleshooting.
Set the Barcode Value Before You Submit
The warehouse prints from the barcode saved on the SKU in Cahoot, not from anything entered on the work order itself. Go to Products → Products, find each SKU you plan to include, and confirm the correct value is saved in the Barcode field — or in Alternate Barcode, if that is the value you want applied.
Cahoot stores a maximum of two barcode values per SKU, and the separate UPC field is never scanned at the warehouse. For supported formats and the difference between those fields, see Barcode Requirements and Troubleshooting.
Creating the Work Order
Go to Work Orders → Add New → Inventory Prep. Set Type to Inventory Prep - Barcoding, then add each SKU that needs relabeling along with the number of units to label.
What to include in Special Instructions
Special Instructions are how the warehouse knows what to do with your labels. Instructions left blank or vague are the most common reason a barcoding work order comes back with questions. Include whichever of the following apply:
- Which value to apply, if the SKU has both a primary and an alternate barcode
- Whether to remove an existing label, cover it, or leave it in place
- Any check you want performed before labeling, such as confirming the unit matches the SKU
After You Submit
Cahoot reviews the work order and notifies you through the Conversations panel once it is approved, or if we need more detail. The fulfillment partner then prints and applies the labels, and your units are available to fulfill orders as soon as the work is complete.
Barcoding is a billable service, charged per unit labeled. Pricing on large barcoding projects may be quoted differently — check your billing agreement if you want the cost confirmed up front.
Barcoding Work Orders Cahoot Submits on Your Behalf
Cahoot fulfillment centers scan every unit at pick and pack, so no unit can ship until it carries a barcode that scans and matches the value saved on its SKU. If an inbound shipment is received with units that are missing barcodes or carrying barcodes that will not scan, Cahoot may submit a Barcoding work order for that inventory rather than leaving it unsellable.
You will see the work order appear under Work Orders and be notified through its Conversations panel. It is billed the same way as one you submit yourself. The affected units stay unavailable to fulfill orders until the labeling is complete, and receiving is delayed in the meantime, so barcoding inventory before it ships to Cahoot is always cheaper and faster. See Preparing Inbound Inventory for what a compliant inbound needs.