What is a shipping manifest in ecommerce?

It is the hand-over list a seller prepares for each courier pickup. It lists every parcel going to that courier, usually by AWB number and order reference, often with weight and payment type. The courier's pickup agent scans the parcels against it and signs a copy, which becomes the seller's proof of what the courier collected and when.

What does "manifested" or "consignment manifested" mean in courier tracking?

It means the parcel has been packed, labelled and listed on a manifest for a courier pickup, but the courier hasn't scanned it yet. "Consignment manifested" and "shipment manifested" mean the same. Some panels add their own codes, such as "RTB manifested"; check that panel's help for the prefix. The next statuses are usually "picked up" and "in transit".

How long can a shipment stay "manifested", and what should the seller or buyer do if it doesn't move?

Normally only until the next courier pickup, often the same or the next working day. If it stays longer, the parcel probably wasn't handed over or wasn't scanned. The seller should check the bay and the signed manifest, then add the parcel to the next pickup or raise it with the courier or aggregator. A buyer should contact the seller, because the courier may not have the parcel yet.

What is a manifest on Meesho, and how do you download it?

On a marketplace that arranges courier pickup, the manifest is the hand-over list for the parcels its logistics partner collects from you, generated from the seller or supplier panel once orders are packed and labelled. Panels and menu names change, so follow the current steps in the marketplace's own seller help, and keep the signed or scanned record of each pickup.

What is the difference between a manifest, an AWB, an invoice and a shipping label?

The tax invoice is the sale document for one order, with GST details. The AWB is the courier's tracking number for one parcel. The shipping label goes on that parcel and carries the AWB, the address and a barcode. The manifest covers many parcels at once: it lists every AWB handed to one courier at one pickup, and the signed copy proves the hand-over.

What happens if an order is packed but not manifested?

The courier has no record that it should collect the parcel, so it usually stays in the warehouse and the buyer sees no tracking movement. It may miss the marketplace's dispatch deadline. Run a daily check of packed orders against the day's manifests, and add any missing parcels to the next pickup's manifest before the courier arrives.

Who signs the manifest at courier pickup, and why does it matter?

The courier's pickup agent signs, usually with the count of parcels collected, and the warehouse keeps the signed or scanned copy. It matters because it is the proof of hand-over. If a parcel later goes missing, the signed manifest shows whether the courier ever received it, which decides whether you can raise a claim with the courier.

What is the difference between a shipping manifest and a bill of lading?

A bill of lading is a sea-freight document issued by the carrier for one consignment: it is a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage, and can act as a document of title. An ecommerce shipping manifest is a hand-over list of many small parcels for one courier pickup. It is not a title document.

What is a shipping manifest?

A shipping manifest is the list of every parcel a seller hands to one courier at one pickup: each parcel's AWB number and order reference, often with its weight and payment type. The courier's pickup agent scans the parcels against it and signs a copy. In tracking, "manifested" means a parcel is on a manifest but not yet picked up.

In freight and customs, “manifest” also means a carrier’s list of all cargo on a ship, aircraft or truck. This page covers the ecommerce courier manifest.

How a shipping manifest works in an Indian D2C or omnichannel warehouse

The manifest is the last step inside the warehouse and the first record of the courier’s responsibility:

Label. The courier is booked and the AWB is printed on the shipping label.
Pack. The order is picked and packed, labelled and sorted into the bay for its courier.
Manifest. At the cut-off, the warehouse generates one manifest per courier per pickup, listing every AWB in that bay.
Pickup scan. The courier’s agent scans each parcel. The warehouse checks the scan count against the manifest, notes any exceptions and keeps a signed copy.
In transit. The parcels’ tracking moves from “manifested” or “pickup scheduled” to “picked up”, and the courier now holds them.

Tracking statuses around the manifest. Status names differ by courier and aggregator. These are Shiprocket’s, from its help centre (April 2022) and its September 2026 product update:

Status (Shiprocket’s name)	What it means	Who acts
Pickup Scheduled	The seller has raised a pickup request	Seller: pack and manifest
Manifested	The manifest has been downloaded; the parcel is waiting for pickup	Seller: hand over at pickup
Out for Pickup	The courier’s field executive is on the way to collect	Courier
Picked Up	The field executive has collected the shipment	Courier
Shipped	The shipment has reached the courier hub after pickup	Courier
In-Transit	Moving from one courier hub to another	Courier
Out for Delivery	The delivery executive is out to deliver	Courier

Example: 220 parcels, 3 couriers, 4 missing scans. A warehouse packs 220 orders: 120 for courier A, 70 for courier B and 30 for courier C. It generates 3 manifests. Couriers B and C scan everything. Courier A’s agent scans 116 of 120.

Courier	On manifest	Scanned at pickup	Gap
A	120	116	4
B	70	70	0
C	30	30	0
Total	220	216	4

Reconcile before the agent leaves: list the 4 AWBs, find the parcels in the bay, and either scan them now or mark them on the signed copy as not handed over. If a parcel can’t be found, it is a warehouse loss, not a courier loss, because the courier never scanned it. Tomorrow those 4 go on a new manifest. Figures are illustrative.

Common mistakes

Manifesting before packing is finished. Parcels listed but not ready leave gaps that look like courier losses.
Missing AWBs. A parcel packed but left off the manifest has no hand-over record.
No signed copy. Without the agent’s signature and count, you can’t prove what the courier collected.
Mixing couriers in one bay. Parcels get scanned by the wrong agent or left behind.
Ignoring the gap. An unscanned parcel stays “manifested” and the buyer sees no movement.

Pickup match rate = parcels scanned at pickup ÷ parcels on manifests. Example: 216 ÷ 220 = 98.2%.
Hand-over lag = time of the courier’s first scan − time the manifest was closed.
Manifest exceptions per day = parcels on a manifest but not scanned, by courier.

Manifests in the Indian context

Aggregator panels. Shiprocket’s help article (April 2022) gives two ways to get a manifest: select orders in “Pickup Scheduled” status and download it, singly or in bulk from the Ready to Ship tab, or scan or paste AWBs and print it. Its September 2026 update added a “Manifested” sub-tab: once the manifest is downloaded, orders move there from “Pickup Scheduled”.
The signed copy. Shiprocket’s bulk-manifest guide (February 2019) tells sellers to print the manifest and “get it signed by the courier guy while giving him the shipments”.
Marketplace pickups. On Amazon.in’s Easy Ship, the seller schedules a pick-up and an Amazon agent delivers the parcel. Flipkart’s seller API documentation describes a shipment as a group of order items the seller picks, packs, dispatches and hands over together to the logistics partner. Either way, keep your own count of what was handed over.

How Fretron CommerceOS handles shipping

In Fretron CommerceOS, Ekart, ParcelX and Shiprocket shipments are booked, labelled, tracked and manifested from the order’s own screen. Delhivery and Blue Dart shipments can also be booked and labelled.

Questions and answers

What is a shipping manifest in ecommerce?: It is the hand-over list a seller prepares for each courier pickup. It lists every parcel going to that courier, usually by AWB number and order reference, often with weight and payment type. The courier's pickup agent scans the parcels against it and signs a copy, which becomes the seller's proof of what the courier collected and when.
What does "manifested" or "consignment manifested" mean in courier tracking?: It means the parcel has been packed, labelled and listed on a manifest for a courier pickup, but the courier hasn't scanned it yet. "Consignment manifested" and "shipment manifested" mean the same. Some panels add their own codes, such as "RTB manifested"; check that panel's help for the prefix. The next statuses are usually "picked up" and "in transit".
How long can a shipment stay "manifested", and what should the seller or buyer do if it doesn't move?: Normally only until the next courier pickup, often the same or the next working day. If it stays longer, the parcel probably wasn't handed over or wasn't scanned. The seller should check the bay and the signed manifest, then add the parcel to the next pickup or raise it with the courier or aggregator. A buyer should contact the seller, because the courier may not have the parcel yet.
What is a manifest on Meesho, and how do you download it?: On a marketplace that arranges courier pickup, the manifest is the hand-over list for the parcels its logistics partner collects from you, generated from the seller or supplier panel once orders are packed and labelled. Panels and menu names change, so follow the current steps in the marketplace's own seller help, and keep the signed or scanned record of each pickup.
What is the difference between a manifest, an AWB, an invoice and a shipping label?: The tax invoice is the sale document for one order, with GST details. The AWB is the courier's tracking number for one parcel. The shipping label goes on that parcel and carries the AWB, the address and a barcode. The manifest covers many parcels at once: it lists every AWB handed to one courier at one pickup, and the signed copy proves the hand-over.
What happens if an order is packed but not manifested?: The courier has no record that it should collect the parcel, so it usually stays in the warehouse and the buyer sees no tracking movement. It may miss the marketplace's dispatch deadline. Run a daily check of packed orders against the day's manifests, and add any missing parcels to the next pickup's manifest before the courier arrives.
Who signs the manifest at courier pickup, and why does it matter?: The courier's pickup agent signs, usually with the count of parcels collected, and the warehouse keeps the signed or scanned copy. It matters because it is the proof of hand-over. If a parcel later goes missing, the signed manifest shows whether the courier ever received it, which decides whether you can raise a claim with the courier.
What is the difference between a shipping manifest and a bill of lading?: A bill of lading is a sea-freight document issued by the carrier for one consignment: it is a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract of carriage, and can act as a document of title. An ecommerce shipping manifest is a hand-over list of many small parcels for one courier pickup. It is not a title document.

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Last reviewed: 5 November 2026 by Fretron.

Sources

Important Terms All Shiprocket Users Should Know. Shiprocket Customer Support, modified 12 Apr 2022. https://support.shiprocket.in/support/solutions/articles/43000662858-important-terms-all-shiprocket-users-should-know (accessed 5 Nov 2026).
How to download a manifest? Shiprocket Customer Support, modified 12 Apr 2022. https://support.shiprocket.in/support/solutions/articles/43000661615-how-to-download-a-manifest- (accessed 5 Nov 2026).
How do I create Manifest in Bulk? Shiprocket Customer Support, modified 8 Feb 2019. https://support.shiprocket.in/support/solutions/articles/43000463610-how-do-i-create-manifest-in-bulk- (accessed 5 Nov 2026).
Product Highlights From September 2026 (Ready to Ship tab revamp). Shiprocket blog, 5 Oct 2026. https://www.shiprocket.in/blog/product-highlights-from-september-2026/ (accessed 5 Nov 2026).
Sell. Pack. Ship.: fulfillment options for Amazon.in sellers. Amazon.in. https://sell.amazon.in/shipping-and-fulfillment (accessed 5 Nov 2026).
Flipkart Marketplace Seller Platform (Developer API v3.0 documentation). Flipkart. https://seller.flipkart.com/api-docs/FMPlatOverview.html (accessed 5 Nov 2026).