Creating and managing inventory transfers and shipments with a barcode scanner

You can use an external barcode scanner or your device's camera to create inventory transfers, receive shipments, and scan shipment barcodes for faster receiving. Before you get started, make sure your barcode scanner is configured in keyboard mode.

Configuring your barcode scanner

You need to configure your Zebra DS2208 or your 720/740 Socket barcode scanner into keyboard mode before you can scan barcodes to add to a transfer.

Other bluetooth scanners might work, but you might need to configure them into keyboard mode.

Configure your Zebra DS2208 scanner

To use your Zebra DS2208 scanner to create or receive inventory transfers, you need to configure it into keyboard mode.

Steps:

1. Scan the following barcode to set the data format:

   

2. Scan the following barcode to start setting the prefix:

   

3. Scan the following barcodes to set the correct character as the prefix:

   

4. Scan the following barcode to start setting suffix:

   

5. Scan the following barcodes to set the correct character as suffix:

   

Reset your Zebra DS2208 scanner

To reset your Zebra DS2208 scanner, scan the following barcode:

Configure your 720/740 Socket Scanner

To use your 720/740 Socket Scanner to create or receive inventory transfers, you need to configure it into keyboard mode.

To configure your 720/740 Socket Scanner into keyboard mode, scan the following barcode:

Reset your 720/740 Socket Scanner

To reset your 720/740 Socket Scanner, scan the following barcode:

Create a transfer with a barcode scanner

You can create an inventory transfer using either:

• An external barcode scanner on any device (desktop, mobile, or tablet)
• Your device's built-in camera scanner (mobile or tablet only)

When you create a transfer, you can view inventory quantities at the origin location and adjust the quantities that you want to transfer to a destination location. Where barcode symbols are displayed in the admin, you can start scanning immediately with an external scanner.

After you create a transfer, your transfer is saved as a draft. Your inventory isn't reserved and you can edit any details of your transfer.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Transfers.

2. Click Create transfer.

3. Optional: From the Select origin drop-down menu, select an origin location that you want to transfer inventory from.

4. Optional: From the Select destination drop-down menu, select a destination location where you want to receive the inventory.

5. In the Search products field, do one of the following:

• Scan each product that you want to add to your transfer.
• Open your device's camera scanner by tapping the barcode symbol, and then scan each product that you want to add to your transfer.

6. In the Move column, enter the quantities for each product in the transfer, or continue scanning the same variant barcode to increase the quantity. When you enter quantities, the inventory changes are displayed for both the origin and destination locations so that you can review the impact of the transfer. If you enter or scan an amount that's greater than the available product quantity at the origin location, then the inventory quantity at the origin becomes a negative number after the transfer is created.
7. Optional: Add additional information about your transfer:
   • In the Add reference name field, enter a name for your transfer.
   • In the Add note field, enter a note for your transfer.
   • In the Add tags field, search to find existing tags or create new tags to add to your transfer.
8. Click Save.

After you create a transfer, you can process it by marking it as ready to ship, in progress, or transferred.

Receive a shipment with a barcode scanner

You can receive a shipment for a transfer in your Shopify admin with an external barcode scanner or your device's camera scanner. Receiving inventory means that the item has arrived, you have evaluated the item, and have decided to accept or reject it.

When your transfer inventory arrives, you need to review the shipment and make sure that you receive everything that you're expecting. You can accept and reject in bulk for all items or for specific item quantities in a shipment. If you receive extra items in a shipment, then you can specify that you received a greater number of items in the Accept column.

There are two ways to receive a shipment with a barcode scanner:

• Scan individual items: Navigate to a shipment and scan each item barcode to accept it one by one.
• Scan a shipment barcode: If you assign a barcode to a shipment, then scan it to go directly to the shipment's receiving page without manually locating it. Refer to best practices for shipment barcodes.

Scan items to receive a shipment

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Transfers.

2. Click a transfer that you want to receive a shipment for.

3. For the shipment that you want to receive items for, click Receive shipment.

4. Scan each item with your external barcode scanner or your device's camera scanner to accept it. You can view the total received items in the Summary section.

5. Click Save.

Scan a shipment barcode to receive a shipment

If you have multiple shipments per transfer, then you can scan a shipment barcode to go directly to the receiving page instead of manually finding the right shipment. After you complete the receiving flow, you're returned to the transfer details page.

Steps:

Best practices for shipment barcodes

To get the most out of shipment barcodes, consider the following best practices:

• Use unique, descriptive barcodes: Include details such as the transfer reference name, date, or shipment number. For example, TRANSFER-2026-02-SHIP1. Each barcode must be unique within your store.
• Assign barcodes before marking shipments as in transit: This ensures that staff at the destination location can scan the barcode as soon as the shipment arrives.
• Keep barcodes under 250 characters: Barcodes longer than 250 characters aren't supported.
• Use a consistent naming convention: Establish a standard barcode format across your team to make shipments easier to identify and track.
• Verify your barcode after saving: The barcode displays on the shipment details card after you save. Confirm that it matches what you entered.

For general information about barcodes, such as terminology, types, and printing guidelines, refer to Understanding barcodes.

Troubleshooting barcode scanning issues

If you experience issues when scanning barcodes for transfers or shipments, then try the following solutions.

Scanner doesn't recognize the barcode

If your scanner doesn't recognize a barcode, then try the following solutions:

• Make sure your scanner is configured in keyboard mode. Refer to the scanner configuration instructions for your device.
• Make sure the barcode is clean, undamaged, and positioned within your scanner's reading range.
• Try typing the barcode manually to confirm that it's saved correctly on the shipment or variant.

Scanner captures only part of the barcode

Some barcode scanners in HID (keyboard) mode might only capture part of a barcode, which causes incomplete scans. If this happens, then try the following solutions:

• Switch your scanner to non-HID mode if your scanner supports it.
• Type the barcode manually as a workaround.
• Test with a different scanner to determine if the issue is device-specific.

Shipment barcode scan goes to the wrong page

When you scan a shipment barcode, the page you're taken to depends on the shipment status:

• Draft: Opens the shipment edit page.
• In transit, Partially received, or Received: Opens the shipment receiving page.

If you're taken to an unexpected page, then check the shipment status in your transfer details.

Duplicate barcode error when saving a shipment

Each shipment barcode must be unique within your store. If you receive a validation error when saving, then check your other shipments to make sure the barcode isn't already in use, and enter a different barcode.