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PackScan setup guide

This guide takes you from install to your first shipped order with PackScan, the scan-to-pack station for Shopify. Carrier approvals can add extra time, especially FedEx label certification. If you get stuck, email support@packscan.shop.

Before you start

  • A computer with Chrome (or another modern browser) at your packing station.
  • A USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner, or a phone with a camera.
  • A 4×6 label printer. Zebra thermal printers are supported directly.
  • Your own carrier account for at least one of FedEx, UPS, or Stamps.com (USPS). PackScan uses your account, and your carrier bills postage to it.

1. Install PackScan and try Demo mode

  1. Install PackScan from the Shopify App Store on the store you pack for. The Base plan is $49.99/month with a 14-day free trial and no per-order fees.
  2. Open PackScan on your packing computer and click Settings.
  3. Under General, leave Mode on Demo (sample orders, no Shopify writes) for your first run. Demo mode uses sample orders and a built-in FedEx sandbox test account, so no real labels, charges, or Shopify changes are made.
  4. Scan or pick a sample order, scan its items, choose a box, compare rates, and print a test label. When you're comfortable, come back and switch Mode to Live Shopify.

If PackScan asks you to sign in again, open it from Apps in your Shopify admin.

2. Enter your ship-from address

In Settings → Ship-from address, fill in Company, Phone (digits), Street, and City / State / ZIP. This address prints on your carrier labels.

3. Connect your carrier accounts

Carrier keys go in Settings → Carrier accounts. You only need the carriers you ship with.

Keys are saved per browser. Carrier keys and passwords are stored in the browser on that packing station, not shared between computers. Enter them on each station you pack from, and don't save them on a shared or public computer.

Set up the FedEx API for PackScan

PackScan uses two FedEx APIs: Rates and Transit Times API (live rates) and Ship API (labels). You create these keys in the FedEx Developer Portal under your own FedEx account. The steps below follow FedEx's FedEx Shipper getting-started guide. FedEx may change its screens, so check its guide if something looks different.

You'll need: a fedex.com user ID and your FedEx shipping account number.

  1. Sign in to the FedEx Developer Portal. Go to developer.fedex.com and sign in with your fedex.com user ID, or sign up for one.
  2. Create an organization. From the menu, select My Projects, then Create an organization. For I work for a company that, choose Ships with FedEx and needs to integrate FedEx APIs into their own applications. Enter your company name, website, and an organization name, then select Create. If your company already has an organization, ask its administrator to invite you instead.
  3. Add your FedEx shipping account. Select Add shipping accounts, then + Add Account. Enter your FedEx account number, a nickname, and the billing address used when the account was set up, then accept the End User License Agreement.
  4. Create an API project. Go to My Projects → APIs tab → + Create API Project. Confirm your API needs, then select Rates and Transit Times API and Ship API. Give the project a name (for example, “PackScan”), select the countries you ship to, and accept the terms.
  5. Move the project to production and copy your keys. Open the project, select the Production key tab, and confirm the shipping account number for the project. Copy the production API key and secret key to a safe place. FedEx shows the production secret key only once. If you lose it, you can generate a new one in the portal.
  6. Complete FedEx label certification. FedEx requires Shipping Label Certification for the Ship API before your production keys can create labels (the Rates and Transit Times API needs no certification). FedEx reviews sample labels made in its test environment under your own FedEx project. In the US and Canada, you fill out FedEx's Label Cover Sheet (contact details, services you plan to use, account number, and production API key) and send the sample labels to the FedEx Bar Code Analysis Group at label@fedex.com. FedEx asks for 600 DPI scans and ZPLII labels for Zebra printers, allows about three business days for review, and emails you when your production credentials are approved. Approval applies per project. PackScan's Use FedEx sandbox (test keys) switch uses a built-in demo test account for trying the app, not your FedEx project, so labels printed with it can't be used for certification. Before you go live, email support@packscan.shop to coordinate certification, and we'll walk you through it.
  7. Enter your keys in PackScan. In Settings → Carrier accounts → FedEx, enter:
    • Production API key: the API key from the Production key tab
    • Production secret key: the secret key you saved
    • Production account number: your FedEx shipping account number
    Then turn off Use FedEx sandbox (test keys) so PackScan uses your account. That switch uses a built-in demo test account for trying PackScan, not for FedEx certification. Your production keys stay saved while it's on.
  8. Choose FedEx services and printing. Under Enabled shipping services, check the FedEx services you want packers to see (for example, FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery). Unchecked services are hidden from rates. If you print to a Zebra, open Printing & labels and check FedEx label is for a Zebra thermal printer (ZPLII, 4×6). You can also turn on Auto-print 4×6 label after FedEx creates it.
  9. Click Save, then repeat step 7 on every other packing station.

Set up UPS

PackScan needs a UPS app with the Rating and Shipping products. You create it on the UPS Developer Portal while signed in with your ups.com user ID.

  1. Sign in at developer.ups.com, open My Apps, and select Add Apps.
  2. Under I need API credentials because, choose I want to integrate UPS technology into my business. Select the UPS account to associate with the credentials, agree to the UPS API Access Agreement, and continue.
  3. Fill in the contact details, then on the app details page enter an app name (for example, “PackScan”) and confirm the billing account number.
  4. Add the Rating and Shipping products to the app, then save.
  5. Open the app under My Apps and copy the Client ID and Client Secret.
  6. In PackScan, go to Settings → Carrier accounts → UPS and enter the Client ID, Client secret, and Account number (your UPS account number). Leave Use UPS test (CIE) off for real labels, choose your UPS services under Enabled shipping services, and click Save.

Set up USPS with Stamps.com

PackScan buys USPS labels through a Stamps.com account. In Settings → Carrier accounts → Stamps.com (USPS), PackScan asks for your Stamps.com Username and Password plus a developer Integration ID.

  1. Make sure you have a Stamps.com account. Your username and password are the ones you use to sign in to Stamps.com.
  2. Get a developer Integration ID from Stamps.com. Start at the Stamps.com developer registration page and follow Stamps.com's instructions. If you're unsure, contact Stamps.com support.
  3. Enter Username, Password, and Integration ID in PackScan. Leave Use Stamps test server off for real labels, choose your USPS services (USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express) under Enabled shipping services, and click Save.

4. Add your box sizes

In Settings → Boxes, save up to 10 cartons with their dimensions and empty weight. When a packer picks a box, PackScan fills in L / W / H and adds the box weight to the package.

5. Connect a scanner or use your phone camera

  • USB or Bluetooth scanner: any scanner that types the code like a keyboard and presses Enter works. Click into the scan box and scan. Scanning an order number in the search box opens that order.
  • Phone camera: tap Scan With Camera, allow camera access, and point the back camera at each barcode. Camera scanning needs a secure (https) page, which PackScan uses.
  • Case packs: set Pack sizes EA, C1, C2, C3 in Settings so one scan adds the right number of units.
  • Turn on Scan beep in Settings if you want sound feedback.

6. Set up label printing

Zebra thermal printers

  1. Install and run Zebra Browser Print on the packing computer, with the printer connected.
  2. In Settings → Printing & labels, click Discover, choose your printer under Zebra printer, and click Test Printer.
  3. If Discover shows “Failed to fetch,” the browser is blocking access to the printer. In Chrome, click the padlock next to the address → Site settings → Permissions, allow Local network access (or Apps on your local network), then reload PackScan.
  4. If a UPS or FedEx label comes out sideways, adjust UPS label rotation or FedEx label rotation.

Other 4×6 printers (browser printing)

Choose your 4×6 printer in the print dialog, turn off Fit to page, and print at 100% scale. Making it your default printer saves a step each time.

7. Ship your first live order

  1. In Settings → General, switch Mode to Live Shopify and click Save.
  2. Scan the order barcode or pick an order from the open orders list.
  3. Scan each unit. A wrong item shows a “Not on this order” alert.
  4. Pick a saved box, confirm the weight, and compare rates.
  5. Buy and print the label and packing slip. PackScan marks the order fulfilled in Shopify with the tracking number. Leave Email customer when fulfilled on if you want the customer emailed when the order ships.

Printed a label by mistake? Open History (Label History, last 24 hours) to void it. If open orders are missing, raise Orders to load in Settings.

Need help?

Email support@packscan.shop with your store name, the carrier or printer involved, and what you were doing when the problem happened. Also see the PackScan FAQ.