Managing Continuous Scanning for Order Packing in Anchanto Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Continuous Scanning in Anchanto Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) enables a scan-first packing process on the Web platform, allowing packers to handle orders, pick bins, SKUs, packaging materials, and shipping labels seamlessly without relying on repeated keyboard or mouse actions. This streamlined workflow minimizes manual field navigation, carton creation, and selection efforts, significantly boosting execution speed and accuracy in high-volume packing environments.

The continuous scanning framework is compatible across B2B, B2C, STO, and Flowthrough order types, and it fully supports both non-LPN and LPN-based carton packing flows.

Prerequisites:

• Administrative Toggle: The feature must first be enabled in the Admin Panel to make the setting visible at the Warehouse and Customer levels.

• Setting Compatibility: Enabling Continuous Scanning automatically deactivates incompatible packing settings to maintain a dedicated, scan-based progression.

• SKU Catalog Integrity: UPCs must be completely unique across the catalog. Duplicate UPCs prevent the system from automatically identifying the correct product during scanning.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Enabling and Configuring Continuous Scanning

To activate the continuous scanning logic, you must configure its accessibility hierarchically, starting from the Admin Panel down to the individual customer level if specific overrides are needed.

1. Go to the Admin Panel → Toggle Enable Continuous Scanning on Packing to active.

   • This setting is available under both the B2B and B2C configuration sections based on your operational use.

   • Enabling the B2C toggle automatically covers B2C + Flowthrough order workflows.

   • Enabling the B2B toggle automatically covers B2B + STO order workflows. 

2. Go to Warehouse Level Settings → Locate the packing configuration section → Toggle Enable Continuous Scanning on Packing to active.

• Activating this setting at the warehouse level applies the continuous scanning workflow to all customers grouped under that specific warehouse.

• This setting must be enabled under the B2B or B2C sections depending on your current operational context. 

3. Go to Customer Level Settings (Optional) → Select a specific profile under Manage Customers → Adjust the Continuous Scanning toggle.

   • Use this setting to selectively enable or disable the feature for individual customers based on dedicated account agreements. 

4. Go to Warehouse Level Settings → Navigate to Continuous Scanning Packing Settings → Toggle Auto Batch & Expiry to your preferred state:

   • Enabled: The system uses First-In, First-Out (FIFO) logic to auto-select batches and expiry details, bypassing manual selection popups entirely. When a batch is fully exhausted, the system automatically transitions to the next eligible batch.

   • Disabled: If an order requires a single SKU that is spread across multiple batches, the system will pause the scanning flow and prompt the user for manual selection via a dropdown menu.

Executing the Continuous Packing Flow

Once the system rules are set, packers can perform all core actions directly from a standard barcode scanner without touching the workstation mouse or keyboard.

1. Go to Web Platform → View the Start Packing UI or order grid → Scan the Order Number / Barcode → The system validates the barcode and automatically opens the dedicated packing screen.

   • Manual access via clicking the Quality Check button remains fully supported for mixed or hybrid operational setups. 

2. Go to the SKU Scan Field → Scan the product SKU / UPC / USN → The system instantly increments the packed quantity field by 1 upon each valid scan.

   • Products can be scanned in any physical order.

   • The cursor focus automatically locks and remains within the scan field after every successful input to ensure uninterrupted execution. 

3. Go to the SKU Scan Field → Scan the product SKU / UPC / USN continuous barcodes → The quantity field dynamically updates on-screen following valid input verification.

4. Go to the SKU Scan Field → Scan an Inner Packaging Material Barcode or Outer Packaging Material Barcode directly into the same product entry box.

   • Upon scanning, the system automatically creates the carton record, assigns the packaging material type, updates the gross weight calculation, and readies the UI for succeeding steps.

   • Multiple inner packaging material scans are supported within the same flow to manage complex multi-item sets. 

5. Go to the SKU Scan Field → Scan the Outer Packaging Material Barcode → The system finalizes packing for the current assortment of scanned SKUs and automatically brings cursor focus back to the SKU field for the next collection.

   • If you scan the outer packaging material directly without any inner layers, the system executes the identical completion and cursor reset logic. 

6. Go to the Packing Bench Workstation → The system triggers automatic printing for configured compliance documents once cartonization finishes.

   • Supported prints include the shipping label, tax invoice, packing list, and carton label.

   • If a document is missing auto-print configurations on the active bench setup, you must manually select and print it from the screen.

7. Go to the Shipping Label → Scan the printed Air Waybill (AWB) Barcode → The system logs the shipment as successfully packed and completes the workflow.

   • For multi-carton orders, scanning the final shipping label is mandatory to fully close out the order state.

   • If a shipping label lacks a scannable AWB barcode layout, you must complete the process manually by clicking the Packing Done button.

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