Batch, serial and expiry tracking
Every batch, serial and date, under control.
For food, drink, beauty, supplement and electronics brands. We record batch numbers, serial numbers and expiry dates, ship your shortest-dated stock first and allocate specific batches to orders when you need us to.
How it works
From goods in to your customer’s door.
Recorded at goods in
Batch numbers and expiry dates are recorded against your stock as it’s checked in.
Stored by batch
Each batch is kept separate in the system, so you can see what you have and when it expires.
Picked in date order
The shortest-dated stock goes first, unless you tell us otherwise. Serial numbers are recorded against orders.
Reported to you
Batch and expiry details on request, and live stock levels in your portal.
What we track
Three ways to keep control.
Choose what you need for each product: batches, serial numbers, expiry dates, or all three.
Batch tracking
Every batch kept separate, so you can see what you hold and trace which batches went out.
Serial number tracking
Individual serial numbers recorded against orders. Ideal for electronics, warranties and returns checks.
Expiry date control
Expiry and best-before dates recorded, and the earliest-dated stock picked first.
Picking rules
First expired, first out.
For products with a shelf life, the order stock leaves the warehouse matters as much as the stock itself.
FEFO: first expired, first out
The batch with the earliest expiry date is picked first, whenever it arrived. The right rule for food, drink, supplements and most beauty products.
FIFO: first in, first out
The batch that arrived first is picked first. Fine without a shelf life, but a newer delivery with a shorter date could sit on the shelf and expire.
Free tool
Shelf-life checker.
Retailers and marketplaces often insist on a minimum shelf life when stock arrives. Enter a batch’s expiry date to see how long you have left to sell it through each channel.
Your batch
Minimums vary by retailer and product, so check your supplier agreements. The defaults are examples only.
Your result
Who it’s for
Built for products that need tracing.
Food and drink
Best-before dates, date-coded promotions and retailer minimum life. Our Rotterdam warehouse is FSSC 22000 certified and NVWA registered.
Find out more →Cosmetics and skincare
Batch codes for traceability, gift sets built from the right batches, and short-dated stock kept apart.
Find out more →Electronics
Serial numbers recorded against orders, so you know which unit went to which customer for warranties and returns.
Find out more →Case study · Dr. Will’s
140pallets stored and picked by batch and date
- Tesco, Ocado and Waitrose orders
- Shopify orders from the same stock
- FIFO by batch and best-before date
- Clear stock and expiry reports
Supermarkets and Shopify from one warehouse, every bottle in date.
“Food in glass is hard to get right, and Scale 3PL gets it right. Every order is picked by batch and best-before date, and our supermarket orders follow each retailer’s packaging rules.”Operations Manager, Dr. Will’s Read the full case study →
Why Scale 3PL
Control over every batch, serial and date.
Shortest-dated first
Standard on every order unless you ask for something different.
Batch allocation
Reserve specific batches for orders, customers or retailers.
Regular stock counts
High-value lines counted weekly or monthly, others monthly or quarterly.
Every order filmed
CCTV on every packing desk, with footage of any order on request.
Returns checked
Restocked, quarantined or disposed of, following your rules.
Your own account manager
A named person who knows your brand. No ticket queues.
Live stock and orders
Your portal, powered by Mintsoft, linked to your sales channels.
UK and EU
Ship from Thame, Rotterdam or both.
FAQs
Batch, serial and expiry tracking, answered.
Can you track batch numbers and expiry dates?
Yes. We can record batch numbers and expiry dates for your stock and provide them to you on request. If this wasn’t set up when you joined, speak to your account manager.
Can you track serial numbers?
Yes. Serial numbers can be recorded against the orders they’re shipped on, so you can see which unit went to which customer. Useful for electronics, warranties and returns.
Do you ship the oldest stock first?
Yes. We send out the oldest stock first unless you tell us otherwise.
Can you allocate a specific batch to an order?
Yes. Batch or expiry date allocation can be applied during fulfilment when you need it, for example for a retailer order.
What is the difference between FIFO and FEFO?
FIFO (first in, first out) picks the stock that arrived first. FEFO (first expired, first out) picks the stock with the earliest expiry date. For products with a shelf life, FEFO stops short-dated stock being left behind.
Do you store chilled or frozen products?
No. Both of our warehouses offer ambient storage only.
What happens to returned items with a shelf life?
Returns are inspected and then returned to stock, quarantined or disposed of, following your instructions.
Selling products you need to trace?
Tell us about your products, batches, dates and channels, and we’ll send a clear quote, usually within one business day.
Is Scale 3PL right for you?
Built for brands ready to scale
We work best with growing D2C and B2B brands shipping 300+ orders a month. Selling into Europe? Our Rotterdam hub gets you there without the Brexit headaches.
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