Glossary
An overview of important terms for when you start setting up your own warehouse.
A
ABC products: You can divide your products into A, B and C products, based on how often you sell a product (sometimes multiplied by the margin per product). A products are the top 10% of products, B the 20% after the A products, and C the final 70%. This is often used to decide a product's location in the warehouse and how much safety stock you need.
API: Short for Application Programmable Interface. Developers use it to build connections between different applications so they can work together.
B
Backorder: The part of an order that cannot be delivered because it is not in stock, and is delivered later once stock has been replenished.
Barcode: A code of stripes that a computer can scan to recognise which product, order or shipment it is dealing with.
Batch picking: With batch picking you collect several orders at once in a single trip through your warehouse.
Bol Retailer inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock on Bol.
C
Colli: The number of 'parts' an order or shipment is sent in. Usually the number of boxes in a single shipment.
E
EAN code: A 13-digit code that is unique per product. It is mainly used in retail to scan products at the checkout. The EAN code (nowadays also called a GS1 code) can also be shown as a barcode.
Excel inventory management: With a handy Excel stock list you can enter and track all the products in your assortment.
F
Fulfilment: Fulfilment is the handling of orders. A fulfilment company takes care of the entire logistics process for your online store.
H
HS code: An international standard classification for types of products, used for customs, import and export.
I
Inventory management app: With an inventory management app you keep your stock up to date in real time in a system like Picqer. By using an app on a mobile device, you update stock wherever you are in the warehouse.
Inventory management software: With inventory management software you keep your stock up to date in real time in a system like Picqer. The software is connected to your online store, so the stock shown in your store is always up to date as well.
L
Lightspeed inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock in Lightspeed.
M
Magento inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock in Magento.
Marketplaces: Marketplaces are platforms where you can sell products to consumers. Your products appear as listings among other products on the platform. Examples of marketplaces are Bol, eBay and Amazon.
O
Order picking: When order picking, a warehouse employee collects the items listed on a picking list from the warehouse. They then make sure the items are prepared for shipping.
P
Packing slip: A packing slip is a description of the contents of a parcel and contains all the important information for the customer, such as the product type, the quantity and supplier details.
Packing table: The table and the space around it where you pack orders.
Picking: Walking through the warehouse to take products off the shelves for orders.
Picking list: A list of all the products of one or more orders that you need to pick from the warehouse, often sorted by location.
R
Return: An order that has come back from the customer, for example because the product does not fit or the colour is not nice, but also because you sent the wrong product.
Return form: The form a customer includes with a return, showing the order and the reason for the return.
S
Shipping label: A label that shows the details of the sender and recipient. The shipping label also contains the barcode that is scanned when you hand over your parcel.
Shopify inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock in Shopify.
Shopware inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock in Shopware.
Singles batches: A picking list is a single when it contains just one product line. With a singles batch you collect several single-line picking lists at once in one cart.
SKU: Short for stock keeping unit. Also known as a product code or article number. A unique code for a specific product you keep in stock.
W
Warehouse layout: With a good warehouse layout you work more efficiently, faster and with fewer mistakes. When laying out your warehouse you need to take various factors into account.
WMS system: Warehouse Management System, software for managing a warehouse.
Free stock: This is how many units of your stock you can still sell. It is calculated as 'products on the shelf' minus 'already sold but not yet picked'. For example, 12 on the shelf minus 3 already sold = 9 units of free stock.
WooCommerce inventory management: Use Picqer to get a grip on your stock in WooCommerce.
