How to Ship Orders and Create Shipping Labels Using Cahoot

How the Integration Works

Orders sync between Pulse Commerce and Cahoot on-demand, meaning orders only import into Cahoot when you actively request them using either workflow method.

Basic Sync Flow:

1Create Item Fulfillment in Pulse: When orders receive an Item Fulfillment in Pulse Commerce (either individually or in a batch), they become available to import into Cahoot

2Import to Cahoot: Use either the Item Fulfillment ID or Batch ID to import orders on-demand into Cahoot

3Create Labels in Cahoot: Use Cahoot's shipping tools to create labels with real-time carrier rates, barcode verification, and automated packaging selection

4Tracking Updates to Pulse: After creating labels in Cahoot, tracking numbers and carrier information automatically sync back to Pulse Commerce, updating order status to Shipped or Partially Shipped

Import and process orders individually using packing slip barcodes or Item Fulfillment IDs. This workflow is ideal when you need manual verification for each order.

Step-by-Step Process

In Pulse Commerce:

1Create Item Fulfillments using either method:

• Direct Fulfillment: From sales order page, click the [Mark Picked & Packed] button
• Batch with Picking List: On the Create Bulk Fulfillment page, create a batch by selecting orders and choosing "Create Picking List and Packing Slips" (see Bulk Fulfillment article)

2Print the packing slips with barcodes

Each packing slip includes a barcode containing the Item Fulfillment ID

In Cahoot:

3Scan the Packing Slip Barcode or paste in the Item Fulfillment ID

• Navigate to Cahoot's Scan to Print page
  
• Either scan the packing slip barcode OR manually enter/paste the Item Fulfillment ID
  
• System opens the Create Label page for that order

4On the Create Label page:

• Review shipping address and order details
• Select package type or enter dimensions/weight
• Compare carrier rates and select shipping method
• Add any special services (signature, insurance, etc.)

5Click Create Shipping Label

6Label generates and prints automatically

7Tracking information syncs back to Pulse Commerce and order status updates to Shipped

Import multiple orders at once using a Batch ID, then leverage Cahoot's Auto-Label Queue for automated bulk label creation. This workflow maximizes efficiency for high-volume fulfillment.

Step-by-Step Process

In Pulse Commerce:

1Navigate to Orders → Create Bulk Fulfillment

2Apply your search filters and click Search

3Select orders using checkboxes

4From the dropdown, select Create Picking List or Create Picking List and Packing Slips

5Click Go

6Print the packing slip and picking list for your warehouse team (optional for scanning)

7On the Bulk Fulfillment Confirmation page, copy the Batch ID (e.g., 13830)

In Cahoot:

8Navigate to Orders → Import Fulfillment Batch

9Paste Batch ID or Scan the Packing Slip from Pulse into the Fulfillment Batch ID field

10Click Submit - all orders from that batch load into Cahoot

11Orders appear in the No Match Found status on your Print and Ship My Orders page

Optional: Using Scan Verification Workflow

If you use Cahoot's Scan Verification feature, you can verify items before creating labels:

• Navigate to Scan to Verify and Print in Cahoot
• Scan the packing slip barcode you printed from Pulse Commerce
• This pulls up the order from your batch so you can scan individual items for verification
• The "Remaining to scan" counter shows how many more orders from the batch still need verification
• After scanning all items, click Mark as Verified
• Click the "Click here" link that appears to go directly to the Create Label page for manual label creation

This workflow ensures order accuracy by requiring item-level barcode verification before label generation.

For Automated Label Creation (Requires Package Manager Data):

12Select orders using checkboxes (or click Select All)

13Click Other Options → Add to Auto-Label Queue

Alternative: For individual orders, open the sales order page and click Create Shipping Label dropdown → Add to Auto-Label Queue

14Cahoot's AI system automatically:

• Selects packaging and weight based on your configured Package Manager Data
• Compares carrier rates and chooses the most cost effective service
• Generates shipping labels in bulk

15Check the Shipping Label Ready status in Cahoot after processing completes (typically within minutes)

16Print all labels at once from the Print and Ship My Orders page 

17Tracking information syncs back to Pulse Commerce and order statuses update to Shipped

For Manual Label Creation (Without Package Manager):

If you don't have Package Manager configured, you'll need to create labels individually:

12Click on each order in the Print and Ship My Orders page and click Create Shipping Labels from sales order page

13Manually select package, enter dimensions/weight, and create label

14Repeat for each order in the batch

Additional Automations Available

Cahoot's automated label creation achieves 70-98% automation by:

• Learning from past shipments: System remembers packaging decisions and improves over time
• AI-powered box selection: Automatically chooses optimal packaging based on item dimensions
• MLMQ learning: Remembers packaging choices for similar orders
• Rate optimization: Automatically selects best carrier rate

To use the Auto-Label Queue for automated label creation, you must configure Package Manager data in Cahoot. This tells the system which packaging to use and the total shipped weight for each SKU.

What is Package Manager Data?

Package Manager Data defines the standard packaging configuration for each SKU, including:

• Which box or mailer the item ships in (from your configured packaging supplies)
• Total package weight - the combined weight of a single item plus its packaging

This data enables the Auto-Label Queue to automatically create labels for single quantity, single line orders without manual intervention.

Setting Up Package Manager Data

Step 1: Create Your Packaging Supplies

1In Cahoot, click your name dropdown in the top navigation and select Settings

2Select the Packaging Manager tab

3Click Add New to create each box, mailer, or bag you use for shipping

Click to expand image

4For each packaging item, enter:

• Packaging Type: Box, Mailer, or Supplies
• Name: Use a naming convention that helps your team identify the packaging (e.g., "Box 12x12x4" or "Bubble Mailer #3")
• SKU: Internal identifier for the packaging
• Dimensions: Length, width, and height of the box or mailer
• Optional fields: Packaging cost, weight, bin location, barcode

Click to expand image

Orders Shipped Outside Cahoot

If you ship an order directly in Pulse Commerce or through another channel (not using Cahoot), the system adds a "Shipped outside Cahoot" tag to the Cahoot order.

This prevents:

• Duplicate fulfillment attempts
• Inventory discrepancies between systems
• Confusion about which orders need labels

Real-Time Rate Shopping

Automatically compare rates across carriers:

• Real-time rate comparison for UPS, FedEx, and USPS
• System selects best rate automatically (for Auto-Label Queue)
• Access to negotiated rates through Cahoot's shipping volume
• Manual rate selection available for Item Fulfillment workflow

Barcode Scan Verification (Optional)

Reduce shipping errors with scan-to-verify workflows:

• Scan packing slip to pull up the order
• Scan items in any order to verify match
• System only prints label after perfect match
• Lock system to require scanning, or allow bypass with required reason documentation

Integration Benefits Summary

• Seamless Workflow: Orders flow from Pulse to Cahoot on-demand without manual data entry
• Flexible Processing: Choose between one-by-one or automated bulk fulfillment
• Accurate Tracking: Shipment information updates back automatically, keeping customers informed
• Multi-Warehouse Support: Handles complex scenarios where orders span multiple warehouse locations
• Reduced Errors: Automatic data sync and barcode verification eliminate mistakes
• Cost Savings: Access to negotiated carrier rates and intelligent rate shopping
• Quality Control: Barcode scan verification prevents shipping wrong items
• Scalability: Start with Item Fulfillment workflow and graduate to Batch automation as volume grows

Browse the Cahoot knowledge base to learn more about shipping features and Package Manager configuration.

Can I switch between Item Fulfillment and Batch workflows?

While technically possible, it's not recommended. Choose one workflow that matches your operation and stick with it to avoid confusion and potential duplicate processing. Most merchants start with Item Fulfillment workflow and transition to Batch workflow once they have Package Manager configured and higher order volumes.

What happens if I don't have Package Manager configured?

Without Package Manager data, you cannot use the Auto-Label Queue for automated bulk label creation. You'll need to use the Item Fulfillment workflow (one-by-one) or manually create labels for each order even after importing a batch. Configure Package Manager to unlock automation benefits.

How does Multi-Warehouse Order Handling work?

The integration intelligently handles orders containing items from multiple warehouse locations:

• Create a single shipment in Cahoot for the entire order
• When shipment data syncs back to Pulse, the system automatically splits it by warehouse location
• Pulse creates separate shipment records for each warehouse
• This ensures compliance with warehouse-level tracking requirements

What happens if I edit an order in Pulse after it syncs to Cahoot?

After you make the edit in Pulse, go to the Sales Order page in Cahoot and click the Refresh Order from Pulse Commerce option in the Create Label dropdown in the top right. This creates a new order with your edits and archives the original.

Does Cahoot work with Shopify?

Yes, orders flow from Shopify into Pulse Commerce, then sync to Cahoot for fulfillment, with tracking information updating back through all three systems automatically.

How long does it take for Auto-Label Queue to generate labels?

Typically, the Auto-Label Queue processes orders and generates labels within a few minutes, depending on the number of orders in the batch. Check the Shipping Label Ready status in Cahoot to see when labels are ready to print.

Can I use barcode scanning with the Batch workflow?

Barcode verification is primarily designed for the Item Fulfillment workflow where you scan packing slips and individual items. The Batch workflow with Auto-Label Queue focuses on automation rather than manual verification.