Where Are SSCCs Used? Common Locations, Systems, and Use Cases

SSCCs (Serial Shipping Container Codes) are specific to logistic units and are useful wherever those units are prepared, moved, stored, or received. For beginners, 'where' means both physical locations (warehouses, trucks, docks) and digital systems (WMS, TMS, EDI networks). This article describes the common places SSCCs are used and how they create value at each point.

1. Manufacturing and Packing Areas

At the source, SSCCs are often applied in packing or consolidation areas. A manufacturing line that builds pallets of finished goods will assign an SSCC to each pallet as part of packing. Labels are applied physically to the pallet and recorded in the plant’s system so the pallet can be tracked from the moment it leaves production.

2. Warehouse Receiving and Putaway

When pallets or containers arrive at a warehouse, the receiving team scans the SSCC to confirm what was delivered against the ASN. The WMS then records the SSCC, links it to inventory items inside the unit, and assigns a storage location. SSCCs make it simple to track the location of whole pallets without item-level scanning.

3. Distribution Centers and Order Fulfillment

Distribution centers use SSCCs to manage inbound and outbound flows. For outbound shipments, the DC may consolidate multiple customer orders onto a pallet, assign an SSCC to that pallet, and include SSCCs in the ASN to the consignee. During fulfillment, SSCCs speed up cross-docking and staging operations.

4. Retail Receiving Docks

Retailers rely heavily on SSCCs to speed receiving and reduce manual checks. At the dock, scanning the SSCC immediately provides the store or distribution center with the expected contents, quantities, and purchase order references. Many major retailers require suppliers to provide SSCCs for palletized deliveries to enable fast, electronic receiving.

5. Carrier Hubs and Freight Terminals

Carriers scan SSCCs during pickup, transfer, and delivery confirmations. At freight terminals, SSCC scans support load planning and help ensure the right pallets are delivered to the correct vehicles. For intermodal moves, SSCCs help consolidate physical transfers across modes (truck to rail to ship).

6. Cross-Dock and Consolidation Points

In cross-dock operations where goods are moved directly from inbound to outbound vehicles with minimal storage, SSCCs help identify which inbound pallets should be routed to which outbound loads. This reduces handling errors and speeds movement through the facility.

7. Bonded and Cold Storage Facilities

Specialized storage facilities — such as bonded warehouses (customs-controlled) and cold storage — use SSCCs to maintain precise control over handling and inventory. SSCCs help ensure compliance with storage rules, especially when tracking temperature-sensitive or duty-controlled goods.

8. Returns Processing Centers

Returns often arrive as logistic units too. Assigning or scanning SSCCs at returns centers helps link returned pallets to original shipments, making it easier to process credits, inspect goods, and reconcile inventory.

9. E-commerce Fulfillment and Last-Mile Hubs

E-commerce fulfillment centers may use SSCCs for bulk movements between warehouses and last-mile hubs. When multiple customer orders are combined into a single pallet for transport, the SSCC acts as the identifier that ties the physical pallet back to many individual orders in the order management system.

10. IT Systems: WMS, TMS, ERP, and EDI Networks

SSCCs are as much used in software systems as on physical labels. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) track SSCCs for location and inventory control. Transportation Management Systems (TMS) use SSCCs for shipment documentation and carrier instructions. ERP systems may store SSCCs for invoicing and accounting reconciliation. EDI and ASN messages transmit SSCC data between trading partners to prepare receivers in advance.

11. Regulatory and Audit Environments

Customs authorities, auditors, and quality teams may use SSCCs to link physical shipments to declarations, regulatory paperwork, or recall documentation. In industries like pharmaceuticals or food, SSCCs assist traceability and compliance by enabling quick identification of affected logistic units.

Practical Example of Where an SSCC Travels

A pallet packed at a factory (packing area) gets an SSCC, is scanned at pickup by the carrier (freight terminal), scanned at a cross-dock (consolidation point), scanned into the retailer’s distribution center (DC receiving dock), and finally scanned at the store receiving area. Simultaneously, each scan updates records in WMS/TMS/ERP systems so every participant knows the pallet’s location and status.

Tips for Beginners on Where to Place SSCC Labels

• Place labels where forklifts or pallet jacks can easily access and where barcode scanners can get a clear read.
• Avoid placing labels over pallet straps or corners that may be damaged during handling.
• Use label protectors or laminated labels for rough handling or outdoor transit.

When SSCCs Might Not Be Needed

Not every small shipment requires an SSCC. For single-piece shipments that aren’t consolidated, a shipper may use other identifiers. However, when moving grouped items that will be handled by multiple parties or stored in a warehouse, SSCCs are often recommended or required by trading partners.

Overall, SSCCs are used wherever logistic units need a dependable identity — on the factory floor, in warehouses and trucks, within software systems, and at receiving docks. For beginners, the important idea is that SSCCs connect physical places and digital systems to make movement, tracking, and reconciliation faster and more accurate.