A Warehouse Receiving Order (WRO) is a document or digital record that authorizes, details, and tracks the arrival of incoming inventory at a warehouse or distribution center. It specifies the products, quantities, supplier information, and expected delivery details for the shipment, enabling warehouse staff to properly verify, inspect, and receive goods into inventory.
A WRO is central to an efficient receiving process, ensuring that all inbound shipments are accurate, traceable, and properly recorded within the warehouse management system (WMS).
Purpose of a Warehouse Receiving Order
A WRO acts as the operational blueprint for receiving teams, guiding the workflow from the moment a shipment arrives at the dock to the point it is fully stored and recorded in the system.
A WRO provides:
Authorization to receive a shipment
Details needed for verification during unloading
Inventory data required for accurate WMS updates
Traceability for audits and quality control
Documentation supporting vendor compliance and accounting
Without a WRO, warehouses risk receiving incorrect goods, missing quantities, or unplanned items. This inevitably creates downstream issues such as stockouts, delays, and inaccurate reporting.
What a WRO Typically Includes
A Warehouse Receiving Order usually contains key information that helps teams process inbound shipments quickly and accurately:
Lot, batch, or expiration information (for regulated goods)
Delivery date and carrier details
Barcodes or labels for scanning into the WMS
How a Warehouse Receiving Order Works
The WRO guides the receiving process through several stages:
Pre-Receiving Preparation: Staff review the WRO before the shipment arrives to understand what to expect and plan dock space, equipment, and putaway locations.
Shipment Arrival & Unloading: When the truck arrives, the WRO is scanned or pulled up in the WMS. Staff unload the shipment and use the WRO to verify item counts, packaging condition, and SKU accuracy.
Inspection & Verification: The WRO acts as the checklist for verifying that the delivered items match expectations. Any discrepancies—such as missing units, overages, or damage—are recorded.
Inventory Update: Once verified, the WRO information is used to update the WMS, officially receiving the items into inventory records.
Putaway: The WRO helps direct items to the correct storage location based on SKU, turnover rate, and warehouse layout.
Quality Control & Documentation: Any flagged issues tied to the WRO support vendor accountability, claims processing, or corrective action workflows.
Benefits of Using a WRO
Improved Receiving Accuracy – Ensures only the correct products and quantities enter the warehouse.
Operational Efficiency – Clear documentation reduces confusion, rework, and delays at the dock.
Better Inventory Management – Accurate receiving reduces stock discrepancies and improves planning.
Streamlined Communication – Provides a shared reference point for suppliers, carriers, and warehouse teams.
Audit and Compliance Support – Creates a traceable record of inbound inventory movements.
Examples of WRO Usage
Pre-Receiving – Staff prepare space, equipment, and staffing based on incoming items listed in the WRO.
Inspection at the Dock – The WRO is scanned to confirm shipment contents before acceptance.
Updating the WMS – The WRO’s barcode is tied to real-time inventory updates.
Quality Control Review – Any damaged or incorrect products are documented against the WRO for vendor follow-up.
WRO vs ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice)
Both WRO and ASNs work together to improve receiving accuracy and reduce downstream errors. But it’s important to understand the distinctions between the two:
