# Prepare your warehouse for WMS go-live
URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000043-prepare-your-warehouse-for-wms-go-live
Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000043-prepare-your-warehouse-for-wms-go-live
Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000043-prepare-your-warehouse-for-wms-go-live.md
Updated: 2026-07-20

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt).

> Use this checklist to prepare locations, products, people, devices, and a safe first day of warehouse operations.

Use this checklist before your warehouse starts receiving or fulfilling live stock in WMS.

## Before you switch on live work

Confirm the following:

1. **Locations are ready.** Create and label your receiving, bulk, pick-face, quarantine and dispatch locations. [Set up warehouse locations and work areas](/articles/14700000000033-starshipit-wms-locations-and-warehouse-setup).
2. **Products are ready.** Check SKUs, barcodes, tracking requirements and units of measure. [Configure WMS products and inventory](/articles/14700000000006-starshipit-wms-products-and-inventory-configuration).
3. **Opening stock is accurate.** Import or count stock, then resolve any material variance before releasing orders.
4. **People have the right access.** Add each user and test the tasks their role needs. [Set up WMS users, roles and client access](/articles/14700000000036-wms-users-roles-permissions-client-access).
5. **Your operating model is agreed.** Confirm which system owns stock, products and order fulfilment. [Choose your WMS operating model](/articles/14700000000042-choose-your-wms-operating-model).
6. **Your first workflows are tested.** Run one purchase order from receiving to putaway, and one order from allocation to shipment using test stock.

## Test before go-live

Choose a small set of representative orders and test the workflows you will use on day one:

* receive a purchase order;
* put stock away and replenish a pick face;
* pick, pack and ship an order;
* process a return; and
* check the stock movement history and any sales-channel writeback.

Record who will own exception handling on the first day, including missing stock, unscannable products, printing issues and orders that cannot be allocated.

## Start live operations

Start with a controlled batch of work. Reconcile the first received and shipped orders against the source system before processing the full day’s volume. Use [WMS reporting and insights](/articles/14700000000021-reporting-and-insights) to monitor throughput and exceptions.