You can now scan barcodes in the Picqer app using your device’s camera. This works in both the Android and iOS versions.

On screens where the camera scanner is available, you’ll see a barcode icon in the top right corner. Tap it to activate the camera and start scanning.

We’d love to hear your feedback on how this feature works for you.

Learn more about scanning barcodes with the camera on our support page.

Other improvements and fixes

Alongside major new features, we continuously work on smaller improvements and fixes. Here's a selection of what we’ve done in the first weeks of the new year:

• New: You can now also create internal labels for singles batches.
• New: Using rules, you can snooze a picklist until the delivery day. This is useful for Same Day Delivery orders.
• Tweak: Comments from deleted elements, such as purchase orders, are now also removed from the comment overview.
• Tweak: All overview pages in the app now have a more consistent design.
• Tweak: Draft orders are no longer included in the purchasing advice.
• Tweak: Logins from the Picqer app are now also recorded and visible in the login overview.
• Tweak: Support for beforeid in the orders API.
• Tweak: Unsnooze picklists every minute instead of every 15 minutes.
• Tweak: Improved handling of marking untracked letter mail shipments to Bol.com as dispatched.
• Tweak: Support for Track & Trace URLs with more than 250 characters.
• Fix: Picqer app crashed after registering a receipt.
• Fix: Incorrect error message when deleting a product with a linked location.
• Fix: Delete button was visible for products linked to a return.

We create a lot of videos throughout the year at Picqer. We regularly hear from viewers that they would also like to do more with video for their business, but don’t know where to begin. That’s why, as video marketer, I created a video explaining how we make our videos.
In the video, I talk about our YouTube studio, the equipment we use, our production process and in this blog, you’ll read which equipment you can use to get started.

What equipment do you need?

It’s important to emphasise that your gear is not the most important thing. The key is your message. If your message is strong, you don’t need expensive equipment to make a great video. Of course, good equipment does enhance the professionalism of your content. High-quality visuals and clear audio simply make your video more enjoyable to watch.
Here’s what I recommend to start with.

Camera

All modern cameras now deliver great image quality. What you want to look for is good autofocus and the ability to connect a microphone. Some interesting options:

• Sony a6000 series
• Fujifilm XT series, such as the XT-30
• Canon EOS M50 II
• Nikon Z50

Out of these, I recommend the Sony a6400. It offers excellent autofocus, which is especially helpful when you’re already juggling a lot while filming. With strong autofocus, you don’t have to worry whether you’re in focus. The camera handles that for you.

Most of these cameras come with a standard zoom lens, which is a great place to start. As a next step, a 35mm or 50mm f1.8 lens is a great upgrade. These lenses offer better image quality than a zoom lens and have a wider aperture (f1.8). The wider the aperture, the more light the lens lets in, and the more you can play with depth of field. More light also means you won’t need such strong lighting. And you can create blurry backgrounds that add production value to your video.

The new year has begun, which means it’s time to look back at the past year. After two years in which COVID-19 had a major impact on the number of online orders, 2022 was more stable and predictable. This trend is clearly visible in the data. We compared the average number of orders across all Picqer user webshops in 2022 with 2021. Below, we reflect on the differences and highlight the busiest days of the year.

Busiest days of 2022

As usual, the top 10 busiest days in 2022 were largely dominated by Black Friday week and Cyber Monday. We also saw plenty of activity in the weeks leading up to Christmas. However, there was a shift. Last year, the Monday before Christmas was the second busiest day of the year. This year, it ranked fourth. Cyber Monday and the Sunday after Black Friday moved up to second and third place.

Comparing Black Friday week and Cyber Monday with the previous year, we saw a 3.79% increase. Even though more businesses are choosing Green Friday and intentionally opting out of Black Friday, there were still more orders placed.

In the 14 days leading up to Christmas (10 to 23 December), there were 4% fewer orders compared to 2021. Interestingly, physical stores saw record levels of debit card payments on the Friday before Christmas. This suggests that more people may have chosen to shop in physical stores for their holiday purchases.

Top 10 busiest days

Here are the 10 busiest days of 2022:

20% fewer orders in Q1

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many stores had to close in the first quarter of 2021, which led to a sharp increase in online orders. In 2022, stores remained open. This resulted in a much more stable trend and a visible 20% decline in orders in Q1. From July to November 2022, we saw more orders than in 2021. In December, the number of orders once again dropped below the previous year's level.

You can now connect the carrier GLS to Picqer.

What is GLS?

GLS is one of the leading carriers in Europe. GLS offers a wide range of shipping services that you can combine with additional options.

Every day, GLS delivers goods for thousands of businesses to both commercial and residential addresses, with a strong focus on delivery quality and fast turnaround times.

Once you connect Picqer to GLS, you can create shipping labels with a single click, and they are automatically pre-registered with GLS. Share Track & Trace details automatically and automate options such as multi-parcel shipments, Saturday delivery, express shipments, parcel shop delivery, adding return labels, and more.

Get started

Not yet a GLS customer? Visit the integration page for more information.

Already have a GLS account? Check out the integration guide and easily connect Picqer to your GLS account.

You can now connect the Returnista returns solution to Picqer.

What is Returnista?

Returnista is a returns solution that helps automate and optimize your returns process. Through a branded return portal, customers can initiate returns themselves. They only need to enter their order number and email address. The order is retrieved in real time from Picqer. Customers select which items they want to return, the reason, and which carrier they want to use. A return label is generated instantly. All return information is visible both in your return portal and directly in Picqer. This allows you to process returns quickly and easily.

Once Picqer is connected to Returnista, returns are automatically pre-registered in Picqer. When a return package arrives at the warehouse, you can scan the barcode on the shipping label. After inspecting the returned items, the stock is automatically updated.

Get started

Not yet a Returnista customer? Visit the integration page for more information.

Already have a Returnista account? Head to Returnista.nl to have the integration set up by Returnista.