Choosing a Picking Strategy
WareSquared supports multiple picking strategies to match your warehouse workflow.
Available Strategies
| Strategy | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| FIFO | First In, First Out — picks oldest stock first | General merchandise, perishables |
| FEFO | First Expired, First Out — picks soonest-expiring first | Medical supplies, food, cosmetics |
| Nearest Location | Picks from locations closest to the shipping area | High-volume, speed-focused |
| Manual | Picker chooses which location to pick from | Flexible, experienced teams |
Configuring Strategy
Picking strategy is set per warehouse:
- Go to Warehouse → Warehouses
- Edit the warehouse
- Select the Picking Algorithm
- Save
FIFO vs FEFO
FIFO uses the date stock was received to determine pick order. Oldest received stock is picked first.
FEFO uses the lot expiration date. Stock expiring soonest is picked first, regardless of when it was received. This requires lot tracking to be enabled.
Tip: Use FEFO for products with expiration dates (cosmetics, medical supplies, food). Use FIFO for products without expiration concerns. Use Nearest Location when speed is the top priority.