How can I efficiently print barcode labels for received PO items on Shopify POS?

[DDREAM]

We are in our first month with Shopify POS.  We moved from Intuit POS to Shopify POS.  One of our biggest pain points is barcode printing, especially with received items from PO.  For example, if I have a PO that contains 300 individual items, ranging in quantities from 1 to 5 for each item, after I go through and receive the items, I cannot instruct Stocky or Shopify to print only the labels from the items I received.  This was possible in Intuit POS.  After I did the receive process, I would click generate labels and it would print barcode labels to sheets of Avery labels on a printer.  With Shopify, after I receive the items, I then have to go in and search for each item (hundreds of items) and then click Print Barcode and then go in and adjust the inventory for each barcode label.  With Intuit POS, this took minutes.  It now takes me hours.  How close is Shopify to adding this feature.  Without it, I'm not sure if Shopify will work for many of us coming from Intuit POS, especially those of us who have 100's of items on a PO and generate barcode labels.   Thank you

[JFKatz23]

Thank you so much for posting this.  We are on the fence about switching from QB POS and I've been trying to watch all of the Shopify demo videos.  Saw one on printing tickets and thought "Surely, it cannot be this difficult to print tickets for a PO."  I currently print hundreds of tickets a day, I cannot imagine any scenario where this would get more difficult.  Please post updates if you find any easier way.  Thank you

[TresaM]

This issue was discusseed in our office yesterday.  It is going to slow down printing barcodes tremendously.  Because so many retailers are transitioning from Quickbooks to Shopify I am hopeful this issue will be addressed soon to make the process more efficient.  The fact the Shopify Community Administrators are not responding AT LEAST daily is very disappointing.   

[bdeaw]

So we have not yet tested this to see if it works but we had a meeting with shopify this morning and were shown this process to print labels for just the received products.   It is only for Dymo printers. Is this what you are using?

We have a Dymo lablewriter 4xl printer that I was unable to set up a few days again. I'm hoping it will work when we try again.

[DDREAM]

Thank you.  We looked at this but given the volume of labels, we use the Avery Label Sheets (8.5 x 11 with 30 labels per sheet).  It would be quite expensive and time consuming to use the Dymo printer as it does single labels and we are often printing 100's at a time.  Shopify should have a way to chose multiple printers and associated Label Template.  

[CameronRussell]

I ended up using Microsoft Word and Excel to print labels for my store after migrating. Using the mailings tab on word and using the CSV file from Stocky I made a custom label template on Word, filled in the data from the Excel spreadsheet. Had to make a macro to expand the csv for how many was received. Word probably already has a sticker template for Avery labels. Its a little clunky and I wish shopify would make a way to print on printers other than Dymo.

[Shay]

Hi everyone! Thank you for sharing your feedback here about this concern. I can tell from your comments that this is a really important issue for you all. While we always share merchant feedback from our community forums to our developers, I would also encourage you all to reach out to our dedicated Quickbooks Migration team to let them know that this is a needed feature for you:

Direct phone line: +1 833 476 1302

Hours Of Operation: Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm EST

Shopify POS for QuickBooks Merchants

The more feedback we receive the better the chance is that we can get this feature implemented! 

[DDREAM]

Shay, thank you.  I spoke with the Shopify team in June, before we rolled this out when we discovered this issue.  The team said they added the request with the developers.  If, however, this cannot be fixed, I may not be able to use Shopify as I am spending far too much time and frustration to print labels.  Best guess is it has consumed 15+ more hours each week just for this task (then add in the fact that the label template doesn't properly align with any label sheet).  The steps to print on Avery Sheets after receiving are the following:

• Receive Items on the PO (Hundreds)
• Go to Retail Bar Code Labels
• Click Print Labels
• Search for each individual item and click to select the item (do this 100's of times)
• Click Print
• Scroll through the 100's of items that were selected from the newly received PO and then adjust the quantities for each item, matching the quantity received.  Do this for 100's of items.
• Print

Possible Solution:

1. Shopify (or Stocky) generates a way to save a report of items just received and associated quantities from the PO that can be merged into a Retail Bar Code Printing Script.
2. Or, Shopify (or Stocky, when you click Done when receiving items, instead of only integrating with Dymo, integrate with Retail Bar Code temples so the items and associated quantities can be printed to label sheets.

[CameronRussell]

Steps I used to make labels:

• Make label sized blank document (https://www.avery.com/help/article/finding-a-word-template-on-a-windows-pc)
• Download the .csv of a received Purchase Order on Stocky
• Because I want to display product variants on my tags I have to edit the file in excel. Find and replace 'Default Title' with ' ' so that products without multiple variants don't all have 'Default Title' on each tag.
• I  use a macro to expand the list so that each product has its own line so if I ordered 3, there will be 3 rows so 3 tags print. Choose a column that has the quantity ordered when the dialog box opens. Macro at bottom of post.
• Once saved, back in word with the blank label template open, click 'Select Recipients' and choose the edited .csv
• Now you edit the document to your liking using the Insert Merge Fields tab - this will fill out sequentially the data from the spread sheet to make labels.
• Once finished you can select Finish & Merge and choose the printer.
• there may be some differences because I use thermal labels, but I was able to make nearly identical labels as  on quickbooks.

Dim i As Long, j As Long, k As Long, m As Long

With Worksheets(1)

i = InputBox("Enter the number of the column that contains the quantities.")

For j = .Range("A1").CurrentRegion.Rows.Count To 2 Step -1

For k = 1 To .Range("a1").Offset(j - 1, i - 1).Value - 1

.Cells(j, 1).EntireRow.Insert

For m = 1 To .Range("A1").CurrentRegion.Columns.Count

.Cells(j, m).Value = .Cells(j + k, m).Value

Next m

Next k

Next j

End With

[DDREAM]

One last question, if there is a dedicated Shopify POS QuickBooks Migration Team, why wouldn't they be monitoring this Group?

[DDREAM]

To Shopify - a possible solution to provide your development team.  In Retail Barcode Labels, after I press Print Labels, why not provide the ability to search for Items by the PO.  If I could search for a PO Number and then it pulled up everything in that PO, it would end the Individual items searches.  At that point, I would have a list of everything in that PO.  In this solution, I would then have an option to either individually select items or press Select All Items from the search.  From there, I can press Print Labels and pick from one of my templates.  

[TresaM]

Shopify support has been less than stellar.  It's very disappointing that the help articles are generic and, it appears, the support staff are not elevating questions they are unable to answer to technical support.  Had I known skus are not supported when we import from QB POS we would never have chosen Shopify POS.  

[DDREAM]

Shay, do you know if the Shopify Development Team is considering addressing this issue?  As "Stores" get closer to the cutoff date in October for the Intuit POS system, and for those who then switch to Shopify, this will really impact them.  For me, I am spending far too much time to print labels and may need to switch if a solution is not created.  

[NicoleEll]

Hi DDREAM I'm wondering if you have tried an alternative label printing app?  We haven't gotten to the point of printing labels for new PO's received but I think Barcode Man app will do what you want.  The Retail Barcode app from Shopify doesn't work for the labels we use so we have gone third party.  When I just checked here i what I see about importing a CSV from Stocky 

[TresaM]

Shopify support or community monitors need to research this and post if this is an actual solution.  The migration is already way too time consuming to put another work around on our plate.  

[DDREAM]

Thank you.  I researched Barcode Man and they do not offer this feature.  In fact, in their review section, someone is also indicating this feature does not exist.  Shopify needs to address this as it requires countless hours to generate barcode labels when receiving from a purchase order.  It simply is not sustainable.  It would be nice to hear if Shopify will address this soon, otherwise I may need to start the process all over again obtaining a new POS system.  

[bruce07]

DDream,

Did you ever get any resolution to your ticketing issue?  We are in the same situation as you and have had very little success.  Actual we are no closer to having this issue fixed then when we started. I continue to print tickets on the QB POS.  Please let me know if you have had any success that I can use for our store.

Thanks,

Bruce

Tails in the City

[TresaM]

I checked to find the latest login for Shopify Community Manager was 7-25-23.  That tells me this discussion is not being monitored.  

[DDREAM]

For any of the Group Admins, can you ask the product team at Shopify if they have any information on a possible solution.  As October is nearing, this will be a huge frustration and disappointment for anyone converting from QB POS to Shopify POS.  Thank you

[Shay]

Hi everyone! Firstly, I want to assure you that the threads on this board are being actively monitored and we have a range of associates who work in and moderate our community forums. 

Thank you for your continued feedback on this. I recognize that the current functionality of the Shopify POS and Stocky app is not suitable for your needs when it comes to managing large POs. At this time, I don't have any further update as to if/when this feature will be made available.

All your feedback provided here has been shared, and will continue to be shared, with our developers for further consideration. I encourage you to contact our retail support team and quickbook migrations team directly as well, if you haven't already. 

[Steve_Optix]

Hi Shay, We've been using Shopify for our website for five years, we really want to replace our current POS with Shopify but this is a deal breaker. It really needs to be looked at. It is so important to so many retailers and will lose Shopify a boat load of trade if it's not provided. Please get on it!

[Steve_Optix]

Shay, do Shopify not realise they are going to lose loyal customers of several years, if they do not fix this? My company has paid thousands to Shopify but our business will have no choice but to go elsewhere. Please will you guys realise the seriousness of this request from multiple users??

[Birdie1]

Shay, Is there a status update on this? I’ve recently migrated from Lightspeed and I cannot even begin to express my disappointment with this inability to print barcode labels from a PO. This should be a standard functionality. 

[Shay]

Hi @Birdie1 

Thank you for joining the conversation for adding your feedback here. At this time I don't have further updates on this topic, but I am continuing to share provided feedback with our devs for consideration. I recognize this is an important feature for many of you, and I am making sure that is communicated to the appropriate teams. 

[Steve_Optix]

It's a shame, Shopify has now lost us as a POS customer beacuse they can't provide this simple function that bricks & mortar retailers need. We've decided to stick with our current POS. Stick to wjhat you're good at Shopify, websites. 

[Mellissa]

I am extremely disappointed that this feature is not available. This also might be a deal breaker for us as well. This function is the most basic function of a POS for brick and mortars. Every system that any retail store uses has this function. Shopify is going to lose a lot of business if this is not added. We did not realise that you could not print barcode labels from the PO until a few days ago. We just switched over to Shopify POS so that we could sell online and instore and have our inventory match up. Having to search for each individual item and then adjust the quantities is extremely frustrating and time consuming. If you could just print straight from the PO it would be one click and your ready to print and sell. I know that it would not be hard for them to fix this. It seems like they don't even understand what POS systems have been doing. They should have researched this before encouraging people to integrate their online store with POS for in person sales. Barcodes are EXTREMELY important for in person sales. Come on Shopify, fix this!!

[Birdie1]

Hi Shay, I’m glad to see that this thread is being monitored and relieved to know that you are working on our behalf to resolve this situation. 

We have installed the multi-label barcode App and while it makes an attempt it is not an adequate solution for serious brick and mortar retailers who are accustomed to using powerful POS systems where label printing is integrated into the system functionality. From the other reviews I can see that we are not alone in spending a lot of money and time on this POS transition. We are all aware that Shopify has the potential of substantially increasing their earnings if more retailers move their POS platforms over. I truly hope that Shopify understands the big investment we are all making- and the trust we put into your company when undertaking these transitions.
It is so frustrating to discover that the Shopify POS platform has been marketing itself to serious, existing brick and mortar businesses but is not actually ready for us. Please do what you can to convey to management that just as we have all invested in the transition process we need them to invest in fixing this…. 

[bruce07]

TresaM,

We have found Multi-Label Barcodes app to be the best.  It works on our Zebra printers and our existing square labels and barbell labels.  You get all of the information printed on tickets ie: description, price, size, color, ect.  The support we have experienced from Multi-Label Barcodes far exceeds any help we have received from Shopify.  We have over 10,000 labels/skus in our store and this app also generates new skus.  It really is a shame that Shopify doesn't have tickets and receiving merchandise/PO's integrated into their system.  I hope you reach out to Multi-Label Barcodes to help you resolve your ticketing solutions.

Thanks!

[Steve_Optix]

And they print labels based upon a PO or delivery do they?

[bruce07]

Yes!  You need to download a CSV file after you enter the PO in Stocky and then upload the CSV file to Multi-Label Barcodes app that is located in your Shopify Admin page.

[Steve_Optix]

Really??
That is a flipping rigmarole and an absolute pain in the behind!
No one wants to do that.

We book in over 500 purchase orders a year with thousands of items that need barcode labels/tags automatically added to the print queue, so why on earth can't developers come up with a simple solution for this??

[rorianderson]

We've been using Shopify POS for about two months.  I can't believe the difficulty in getting help for any kind of issues.  I'm spending way way too much time entering and receiving items then printing labels each day.  I just came to this forum thinking I must be doing something incorrectly that it's so time consuming.  Apparently, we're all feeling this.  

[DaphneOlive]

I second this - the ability to print barcode labels from a PO is so important. to have to enter all of the items again in order to print labels feels like a huge waste of time.  

I know stocky allows for bar code label printing, but we cannot use those huge labels for our merchandise. One of the most important workflow functions for us in QB POS was the ability to print barcode labels in the size we need with the click of one button. 

[Katie_McMillan]

100% agree.  This is a huge problem. 

[Blake_Crabb]

try using this app to print barcode labels from a PO. it's working for me.

https://apps.shopify.com/multi-label-barcodes

[AmelieMichel]

I will add our voice to the strong (desperate?) requests for the need to easily print bar code labels from within a received PO. We migrated to Shopify two weeks ago. While happy with most of our experience, the lack of this function was a shocker. 

[Steve_Optix]

Very desperate, very strong requests! I can't fathom why Shopify won't give what their users need??

[Blake_Crabb]

use this app to print barcode labels from a PO. it's super simple.

https://apps.shopify.com/multi-label-barcodes

[Jkelly21]

Agreed.  This issue needs to addressed asap.  Many new migrating customers will be baffled that this functionality doesn't exist.  'Print barcode labels from PO' - should be an easy update for software of this caliber.  Get on it Shopify! 

[Blake_Crabb]

for everyone wanting to print barcode labels from a PO, use this app! it makes it super simple. you just need to get your Stocky API number from Shopify. it is explained in the app.

https://apps.shopify.com/multi-label-barcodes

[Ellen8]

Thank y We should not have to pay $10 a month for a function that is integral to the business and ought to be part of the software. 

[BUW]

I understand your frustration with the barcode printing process in Shopify, i was having the same problem and just thought up a possible solution... let me know if it works for you.

After checking in a Purchase Order (PO), go to the Products section in the left sidebar of Shopify POS. There, you'll find a sort button (the arrows on the right side). Select these arrows and choose "Updated & Newest First." This should give you a list of items that have just been updated, closely reflecting the items in your recently checked-in PO. This way, you won't have to search for each item individually. You can select them all with a click+shift and then select more>print barcode labels and it's way better. 

Good Luck!

[Jkelly21]

Thank you for sharing this clever work-around!  That said, I'm still hoping Shopify will add 'Print Labels from Purhcase Order' functionality directly on PO page.  This will allow quantities auto populate to exactly match that of PO

[katie_leary_seb]

great tip. thanks. for the volume of new products this worked for me but I understand the need to have printing barcodes as part of the PO process so hope Shopify will address it for folks with greater volume or just basic ease of use. It's such an obvious need. 

[Mellissa]

Is this topic something that Shopify is talking about fixing? We brick and mortar clients would really like an answer. We cannot use Shopify if everything that is supposed to be basic POS 101 is not included. The fact that you cannot print barcode labels straight from the purchase order with all the quantities already added and the fact that you have to add the cost in twice (once in the product page, and again in the purchase order) makes putting in new product time consuming and infuriating. It was so much faster with our old out of date POS. Why would people switch over to a service that takes 5-10 times longer to put in products? If you want to corner the market with brick and mortar stores and not just online stores, you are going to have to do better Shopify!!!

[Brett11]

I regret choosing Shopify POS and would recommend anyone "on the fence" to consider all the alternatives. It's not too late to save yourself.

[shoptube56]

we really need this!

[Talktohenryj]

I’m a developer in the Shopify ecosystem. I’d love to help build a better solution for this. Would you be open to a quick call to discuss what would be the right solution for this? 

[NicoleEll]

We will.  I think everyone who has migrated from QB would love a solution

[Themusicalbox]

Hi Talktohenryj,

Do you have a solution for this matter?

I am new to Shopify, everything is done, my website, bought all the hardware, and never thought it would be SO painful to print a product label.

I should have done more research.

I am migrating from Lightspeed Retail, where the labels were super-easy to print.

Now, I am considering returning all the hardware purchased and keeping Lightspeed POS because of this inventory problem.

We have more than 5K Skus and doing a lot of recurring order, it's just not an option to print a one label at the time.

Thanks for your help!

H