Batch, serial & expiry tracking

Batch, serial and expiry tracking

For food, drink, beauty, supplement and electronics brands. We record batch numbers, serial numbers and expiry dates, ship your oldest stock first and allocate specific batches to orders when you need us to.

Oldest stock out firstBatch allocation to ordersSerial numbers recordedBatch and expiry reportsFSSC 22000 in Rotterdam
99.98%
Picking accuracy
99.87%
On-time despatch
12pm
Same-day despatch cut-off
UK + EU
Thame & Rotterdam
How it works

From goods in to your customer's door

Step 1

Recorded at goods in

Batch numbers and expiry dates are recorded against your stock as it's checked in.

Step 2

Stored by batch

Each batch is kept separate in the system, so you can see exactly what you have and when it expires.

Step 3

Picked in date order

We send out the oldest stock first, unless you tell us otherwise. Specific batches can be allocated to orders, and serial numbers recorded against them.

Step 4

Reported to you

Ask us for batch and expiry details on your stock at any time, and see stock levels live 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. This is the right rule for food, drink, supplements and most beauty products.

Batch AExp. Jan
Batch BExp. Mar
Batch CExp. Jun

FIFO: first in, first out

The batch that arrived first is picked first. Fine for products without a shelf life, but a newer delivery with a shorter date could sit on the shelf and expire.

Arrived AugExp. Jun
Arrived SepExp. Jan
Arrived OctExp. Mar
Tell us about any special rules when you join, for example a specific batch reserved for a retailer or a batch on hold. If batch, serial or expiry tracking wasn't set up when you joined, speak to your account manager.
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 batch
Days of life left
Expires on
Last day to ship to retailers
Last day to ship wholesale
Last day to ship D2C
Talk to us about tracking
Why Scale 3PL

Control over every batch, serial and date

  • Oldest stock out first. Standard on every order unless you ask for something different.
  • Batch allocation. Reserve or allocate specific batches to orders, customers or retailers.
  • Serial number tracking. Know exactly which unit went to which customer.
  • Regular stock counts. High-value lines are counted weekly or monthly, others monthly or quarterly.
  • Returns checked. Returned items are inspected and put back into stock, quarantined or disposed of, following your rules.
  • Every order filmed. CCTV on every packing desk, so you can see exactly what went into each parcel.

What every brand gets

Whatever you sell, these come as standard.

Every pack on cameraEach packing desk is filmed, so footage of any order is available on request.
Your own account managerA named person who knows your brand. No ticket queues.
Live stock and ordersYour client portal, powered by Mintsoft, connected to your sales channels.
UK and EU fulfilmentShip 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 transparent quote, usually within one business day.

Scale 3PL Contact

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.

  • Fashion & footwear
  • Beauty & skincare
  • Supplements
  • Food & drink
  • Gifting
  • Pet products
  • UK & EU fulfilment

Tell us about your brand

Fill in the details below and we'll come back to you within one working day.

Thanks — we'll be in touch

Your enquiry has been sent to our team. We typically respond within one working day.

Standard pricing under 299 orders/month
Everything you need to get started, no hidden fees
Monthly licence fee£399.00
Admin charge per order£1.50
Picking per unit£0.45
Shipping from£5.50
Goods in per ASN£30.00
Storage pallet / week£8.50
Storage shelf / week£3.50
Storage bin / week£1.50
Happy with these rates? Email us directly to get started hello@scale3pl.co.uk All prices exclude VAT.

We respond within one working day.

Something went wrong please email us at hello@scale3pl.co.uk.