How to Send Stock to Scale 3PL UK

1. Purpose

To explain how clients must prepare, notify, and deliver stock to Scale 3PL warehouses to ensure efficient booking-in, inventory accuracy, and order fulfilment readiness.

2. Scope

This process applies to all inbound deliveries into Scale 3PL warehouses, including:

• pallet deliveries
• carton deliveries
• courier shipments
• container unloads
• stock returning from third-party suppliers or printers.

3. Process Principle

Scale 3PL operates a barcode-led and WMS-governed inbound process.

Accurate SKU setup, barcode integrity, ASN creation, and inbound documentation are essential for:

• accurate booking-in
• stock traceability
• pick accuracy
• inventory control
• efficient fulfilment operations.

4. Responsibilities

Client Responsibilities

Clients must:

• notify the warehouse before dispatching stock
• create an ASN in Mintsoft before delivery
• provide accurate SKU and barcode information
• ensure all sale units are barcoded and scannable wherever possible
• provide packing lists and shipping documentation
• ensure cartons and pallets are correctly labelled
• provide visibility of upcoming inbound volumes where possible.

Scale 3PL Responsibilities

Scale 3PL will:

• receive inbound deliveries
• reconcile deliveries against ASN documentation
• inspect deliveries for obvious damage or presentation issues
• book stock into Mintsoft
• allocate stock into warehouse storage locations
• escalate any visible inbound discrepancies or issues.

5. Procedure Steps

1. Notify the Warehouse

Clients must notify the warehouse before dispatching stock and await confirmation of a delivery date and time slot.

UK warehouse: goodsin@scale3pl.co.uk
EU warehouse: goodsineu@scale3pl.co.uk

The notification must include:

• client name
• supplier name
• expected delivery date
• courier or pallet network
• number of pallets or cartons
• packing list
• ASN (Advanced Shipping Note) number generated in Mintsoft
• customs documentation for deliveries into the EU warehouse.

Where possible, clients should also provide forward visibility of inbound schedules and expected delivery volumes.

2. Prepare Cartons

Each carton must clearly display:

• product SKU
• product name
• carton quantity.

Preferred inbound format is one SKU per carton wherever feasible.

Where possible, products should also be packed in consistent internal quantities to improve inbound efficiency and putaway speed.

3. Prepare Pallets

Pallets must:

• be securely wrapped
• be stable for forklift movement
• include a packing list
• not exceed 1.6 metres in height unless agreed in advance.
• not be double stacked. 

4. Delivery to Warehouse

Deliveries must arrive during agreed warehouse receiving hours.

Drivers should report to the goods-in area on arrival.

Unannounced deliveries may be delayed or refused if warehouse receiving capacity is limited.

Pallets in an unsafe format may be refused. 

5. Goods-In Processing

Warehouse staff will:

• check pallet and carton quantities
• inspect for visible damage
• inspect for obvious packaging or presentation issues
• reconcile deliveries against ASN documentation
• book stock into Mintsoft
• allocate stock into warehouse locations.

Inbound QC checks are designed to identify obvious issues only and are not a substitute for factory quality control.

Scale 3PL may also perform additional checks where specific guidance or checklists are provided by the client.

6. Putaway

Once booked into Mintsoft, stock will be moved into warehouse storage locations and made available for order fulfilment.

Typical inbound deliveries are targeted to be available for fulfilment within 24 hours of receipt.

Complex or mixed-SKU inbound deliveries may require up to 48 hours for processing.

Clothing must be packed in seperate poly bags with SKU informaiton and barcodes firmly attached to the outside. Failure to do so will incur addtional charges and delays. 

6. Barcode and Labelling Support

Where required, Scale 3PL can:

• print and apply barcodes
• relabel products
• standardise label formats
• apply barcode templates compatible with Mintsoft and Shopify.

Additional charges may apply.

7. Third-Party Stock Movements

When stock is sent to third-party suppliers such as printers or rework facilities:

• full carton quantities should be used wherever possible
• partial carton movements may require additional reconciliation
• discrepancies must be reported immediately upon return.

Additional reconciliation may be required where:

• cartons are broken down
• quantities differ between outbound and returned stock
• tagging, bagging, or barcode application is incomplete.

8. Training Resources

Client support portal:
https://www.scale3pl.co.uk/client-support

UK goods-in process:
https://www.scale3pl.co.uk/goodsin

EU goods-in process:
https://www.scale3pl.co.uk/goodsin-eu

9. Related Articles

• Getting Started with Scale 3PL
• How Orders Are Processed
• Returns Process

10. Version Control