#Japan #Shopify #Shibuya #PickFlow #Barcode Scanning

Introducing PickFlow

Flatto Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, has rolled out its innovative Shopify app named PickFlow. This app allows Shopify store owners who dispatch products from their own warehouses or backyards to perform barcode inspections using their smartphones, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated handheld terminals or warehouse management systems (WMS). With full Japanese language support for both operator and management interfaces, the app also provides customer service in Japanese.

What Users Are Saying

One satisfied customer, Kaamaasa Shoten, a specialist store for kitchen knives and utensils, shared a glowing review on the Shopify App Store on July 26, 2026, giving it a five-star rating:

"I was looking for a Japanese version of a picking app and was incredibly helped. After using it, I had zero shipping mistakes. There’s no need to invest in elaborate systems or machines, making this app outstanding in terms of convenience and cost performance. I highly recommend it for businesses dispatching from their own warehouses."

Source: Shopify App Store Review

What is PickFlow?

PickFlow is a Shopify app designed to automatically import unshipped orders and complete the picking and barcode verification processes solely through a smartphone. Operators can open an invitation link on their iPhone or Android browsers and scan product barcodes with the camera. Any discrepancies in ordered items or quantities are immediately flagged as errors, enabling even novice staff without product knowledge to perform accurate picking tasks.

Critical challenges in the e-commerce shipment environment include high rates of shipping errors due to reliance on visual inspections. Key issues cited include:

• - Product Mix-ups: Employees may confuse similarly looking items, such as different colors or sizes, leading to mistakes in product numbers.
• - Quantity Errors: Mistakes may occur when counting multiple items, risking errors in order fulfillment.
• - Ineffectiveness of Visual Checks: In busy seasons, visual inspection may degenerate into merely comparing a list with items, leading to overlooked details.
• - Missing Components in Sets: Bundled gifts may lack some items due to inadequate detailing in the packing list.

Shipping errors result in costly returns, re-shipments, customer inquiries, and diminished review ratings. The conventional solutions like handheld terminals or WMS come with significant costs and complications, making them hard to adopt for small to mid-sized Shopify stores.

Solution: Transform Smartphones into Handy Terminals

PickFlow utilizes the smartphone camera as a barcode scanner, allowing users to begin verifying products simply through their browser without new device purchases or app installations. There is no immediate need to eliminate paper picking lists; the app allows for printed picking lists displaying shelf numbers and barcodes, thereby enabling an operational workflow where staff can collect items while referring to paper lists before using their smartphones for verification.

How PickFlow Changes the Game

1. Product Verification:
- Old Way: Visual comparison to check against a list.
- With PickFlow: Scan barcodes for automatic verification.

2. Error Detection:
- Old Way: Mistakes are only identified post-shipment or via customer complaints.
- With PickFlow: Errors show up in real-time during scanning, preventing progress until resolved.

3. Product Location Management:
- Old Way: Shelf locations are remembered or noted inadequately.
- With PickFlow: Both printed lists and task management screens display shelf numbers.

4. Documentation of Inspections:
- Old Way: Manual entries on paper lists.
- With PickFlow: Automatic tagging on orders with completion records and assigned personnel details.

User engagement is simplified, as staff can easily start their duties by opening a link and setting a PIN, without consuming Shopify staff account allocations.

Key Features

1. Smartphone Barcode Inspection:
- Automatic matching with target orders, flagging discrepancies instantly; supports both barcodes and SKUs.

2. Bulk Printing of Picking Lists and Delivery Notes:
- Select and print up to 100 unshipped orders simultaneously, including shelf numbers and barcodes.

3. Shelf Number Management (CSV Import):
- Register and display shelf numbers on both printed and mobile task lists, with mass registration for up to 10,000 entries via CSV.

4. Unlimited Operator Invitations:
- Invite as many workers as needed via a link and PIN—no Shopify staff account slots consumed.

5. Automated Expansion for Bundled Products:
- Decompose bundle items into individual entries in picking lists for barcode scanning.

6. Automatic Tagging Upon Completion:
- Automatically associates completed inspections with orders, allowing specific filters in Shopify’s management system.

Supported barcode types include JAN, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, CODE-128, CODE-39, and QR codes, with both management and operator interfaces provided in Japanese and English.

Implementation Steps

1. Install PickFlow from the Shopify App Store (orders automatically imported).
2. Generate and share the invitation link with operators.
3. Operators begin picking using the link and their PIN in their smartphone browser.

Options for registering shelf numbers and defining bundled products are flexible, applicable to all Shopify plans without requiring Shopify Plus.

Pricing Plans

• - Free: Up to 50 picks monthly, support for 2 operators, full feature access.
• - Standard: $19.99/month plus pay-per-pick fees starting at $0.09, with decreasing rates based on volume.

The free plan offers unrestricted features, making it an excellent tool for real-world shipment operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference from existing picking apps or WMS?
- PickFlow focuses solely on improving picking and verification processes without requiring a full WMS or supply chain system integration.

2. Is a dedicated barcode reader or terminal necessary?
- No, smartphones' cameras suffice for scanning.

3. Do staff members need Shopify accounts to operate?
- No, invite links and PINs enable participation without account usage.

4. Are bundled products and items without barcodes supported?
- Yes, PickFlow accommodates both and allows for independent size scanning without pre-registered barcodes.

Future Prospects

PickFlow supports both Japanese and English, catering to Shopify stores domestically and internationally, and plans to continually evolve based on feedback from real-world usage.

Service Overview

• - Name: PickFlow
• - Shopify App Store: PickFlow
• - Service Website: Flatto
• - Pricing: Free plan available (up to 50 picks) / Standard starts at $19.99/month plus pay-as-you-go pricing.
• - Supported Plans: Available for all Shopify plans (No Shopify Plus required).
• - Supported Languages: Japanese, English
• - Case Studies and Feedback: Shopify App Reviews
• - Company Overview:

- Name: Flatto Co., Ltd.
- Established: November 2024
- Representative: Naoki Iida
- Location: Shibuya, Tokyo
- Business Focus: Design, development, and operation of Shopify apps, along with custom app development.