Warehouse Communication

Replace email chaos with
structured status tracking.

Fragmented warehouse communication slows down operational execution. ShipmentPlanner gives backoffice and warehouse teams a shared 8-stage workflow — so everyone always knows exactly what needs to happen next.

8
defined statuses covering the full lifecycle
2
roles — backoffice and warehouse, clearly separated
Full
audit trail on every status change
The problem

Fragmented communication

Fragmented warehouse communication slows down operational execution and creates uncertainty that compounds across every shipment.

  • Email threads and WhatsApp messages have no structured status — everything is ambiguous
  • Backoffice has no real-time visibility into whether packing has started
  • Warehouse teams don't know what's urgent or what to prepare next
  • Rejections and issues come via phone call with no documentation
  • No audit trail — if something goes wrong, nobody knows what happened when
  • Multiple shipments in parallel create confusion about which is at what stage
The solution

A structured shared workflow

ShipmentPlanner gives backoffice and warehouse a shared 8-stage workflow — with preparation tracking, status updates, and collaboration built in.

  • 8-stage structured workflow: Every shipment moves through a defined set of statuses from 'Preparing' to 'Finished'. Each stage has a clear owner — backoffice or warehouse — and a clear meaning.
  • Role-based access: Backoffice staff create and manage shipment plans. Warehouse staff see their queue and update progress. Neither side can accidentally modify what belongs to the other.
  • Packing instructions travel with the shipment: When backoffice sends a plan to the warehouse, SKU packing instructions and images are attached. No separate communication needed — the warehouse has everything in one view.
  • Rejection and issue flagging: If the warehouse can't fulfill a shipment as planned, they reject it with a reason note. Backoffice is notified immediately and can revise the plan and resubmit.
The 8 statuses

Every stage defined, every owner clear

No ambiguity about what's happening or who needs to act.

0
PreparingBackoffice

Backoffice is building the shipment plan — adding SKUs, quantities, and pallet assignments.

1
Waiting for WarehouseBackoffice

Plan is complete. Backoffice has sent it to the warehouse and is waiting for confirmation.

2
Warehouse ConfirmedWarehouse

Warehouse team has reviewed the plan and confirmed they can fulfill it as specified.

3
Warehouse RejectedWarehouse

Warehouse flagged an issue — wrong quantities, missing SKUs, or a scheduling conflict. A rejection note explains why.

4
Labels MadeBackoffice

Backoffice has generated and provided all required labels (heavyweight, Amazon stickers). Warehouse can now start packing.

5
In ProgressWarehouse

Warehouse is actively packing the shipment. Boxes are being prepared and palletized.

6
Complete — Awaiting CarrierWarehouse

Packing is done. Pallets are wrapped and ready. Warehouse is waiting for the carrier to arrive.

7
FinishedBackoffice

Carrier has collected the shipment. Backoffice confirms receipt and closes the shipment record.

What the workflow includes

Five capabilities that make warehouse coordination seamless.

8-stage structured workflow

Every shipment moves through a defined set of statuses from 'Preparing' to 'Finished'. Each stage has a clear owner — backoffice or warehouse — and a clear meaning.

Role-based access

Backoffice staff create and manage shipment plans. Warehouse staff see their queue and update progress. Neither side can accidentally modify what belongs to the other.

Packing instructions travel with the shipment

When backoffice sends a plan to the warehouse, SKU packing instructions and images are attached. No separate communication needed — the warehouse has everything in one view.

Rejection and issue flagging

If the warehouse can't fulfill a shipment as planned, they reject it with a reason note. Backoffice is notified immediately and can revise the plan and resubmit.

Parallel shipment tracking

Run 5, 10, or 50 shipments simultaneously across multiple warehouses. Each has its own status, owner, and timeline — completely independent.

How it works

A shipment from plan to carrier pickup

1

Create the shipment plan

Backoffice builds the plan in ShipmentPlanner — SKUs, quantities, pallet assignments, and packing instructions. All documentation is attached before the plan is sent.

2

Send to warehouse

Set status to 'Waiting for Warehouse'. The warehouse team's queue is updated immediately. They see the plan, quantities, and all attached packing instructions.

3

Warehouse confirms or rejects

The warehouse reviews the plan and either confirms they can fulfill it or rejects it with a reason note. Backoffice is notified of the decision in real time.

4

Labels are prepared

Once confirmed, backoffice generates heavyweight labels and any Amazon stickers needed. Status moves to 'Labels Made', signalling the warehouse that packing can begin.

5

Warehouse packs and completes

Warehouse updates status to 'In Progress' when packing starts and 'Complete' when pallets are ready for pickup. Backoffice sees each update in real time.

6

Carrier collects — shipment closed

When the carrier picks up the shipment, backoffice marks it 'Finished'. The completed shipment is archived with a full status history and timestamps.

Frequently asked questions

How the warehouse workflow operates in practice.

What are the 8 shipment statuses?

The statuses are: 0 – Preparing (backoffice building plan), 1 – Waiting for Warehouse (plan sent), 2 – Warehouse Confirmed, 3 – Warehouse Rejected, 4 – Labels Made (backoffice), 5 – In Progress (warehouse packing), 6 – Complete Awaiting Carrier, 7 – Finished (carrier collected). Each status has a clear owner so there's never ambiguity about whose action is needed.

How does role separation work in practice?

Backoffice users (your logistics coordinators) can create and edit shipment plans, generate labels, and close finished shipments. Warehouse users see only the shipments assigned to their warehouse, can confirm or reject plans, and update packing progress. Neither can modify the other's records.

What happens when the warehouse rejects a shipment?

The warehouse selects 'Reject' and writes a reason note — e.g. 'SKU-12345 not in stock', 'pallet 3 exceeds our height limit'. The status returns to Backoffice visibility and they receive a notification. They update the plan (swap SKUs, adjust quantities, change the timeline) and resubmit. The rejection note is preserved in the history.

Can warehouse staff see packing instructions and product images?

Yes — that's the core of the warehouse view. When a shipment is in their queue, warehouse staff tap on any SKU line to see its full packing instructions, product images, label placement notes, and orientation requirements. They don't need to ask backoffice for any supporting information.

Can multiple warehouses run shipments simultaneously?

Yes. You can have an unlimited number of active shipments across different warehouses at the same time. Each warehouse only sees its own shipments. Backoffice sees all shipments across all warehouses in one unified view, filtered by status, warehouse, or date.

Is there an audit trail of status changes?

Yes. Every status change is logged with a timestamp and the user who made the change. The full history is visible on each shipment record. If a shipment was rejected, revised, re-submitted, and completed, you can trace every step with dates and actors.

Replace the email thread today

Try ShipmentPlanner free for 3 months. Invite your warehouse team on day one — no credit card required.