Virtual Kits vs. Pre-Kitted Bundles: Which One Do I Need?
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Not every product you sell is a single item on a shelf. When a product is made up of other SKUs, there are two ways to handle it: as a virtual kit that is put together at the time of the order, or as a pre-kitted bundle that is built ahead of time and ships as one unit. A pre-kitted bundle can be built by your manufacturer before it reaches us, or built by our team in the warehouse. This guide explains each option so you can pick the right one, then points you to the setup guide.
At a glance
Virtual kit (bundle) | Pre-kitted by your manufacturer | Pre-kitted by Manifest (Assembly SKU) | |
|---|---|---|---|
What it is | A parent SKU that breaks into its component SKUs when an order comes in | A finished bundle that arrives at our warehouse already put together | A finished bundle our team builds in the warehouse from component inventoryinventory you send us |
How it is picked | Each component is picked individually and packed together at order time | Picked as one item | Picked as one item |
Holds its own inventory and bin location | No | Yes | Yes |
Built in advance | No | Yes, by your manufacturer | Yes, by our team in batches through a Work Order |
Tradeoff | Flexible, but slower to pick on every order | Fast to pick, but the contents are locked in at manufacturing | Fast to pick and you control when and how many get built, but components are tied up once built |
Example | A "Choose Your 3-Pack" promo | A gift set that ships from the factory in its retail box | A holiday gift set or multipack we assemble from your loose inventory |
What you set up | Build the kit in ShipHero, then tell your account manager so we can finish setup | Set it up as a regular product and send it in like any other inventory | Configure the Assembly SKU in ShipHero, then request the build through a Work Order |
Virtual kits (bundles)
Use a virtual kit when you sell a combination occasionally, or when its contents change often. When a customer orders the parent SKU, ShipHero splits it into the component SKUs and our team picks each one at order time. There is nothing to build ahead of time.
After you create the kit in ShipHero, send your account manager the kit SKU. We have to turn on a setting on our side before the kit will fulfill correctly.
Setup guide: How to Create Bundles (Kits)
Pre-kitted bundles
Use a pre-kitted bundle for high volume sets, retail ready packaging, or anything that needs to be sealed or packaged as one unit. Because it is already put together, it is picked and shipped as a single item. You have two ways to get there.
Option 1: Your manufacturer builds it
If your manufacturer can produce the bundle already kitted, it arrives at our warehouse as a finished product. From our side it is a regular product with its own SKU,product with its own SKU, barcode, on hand count and bin location. No kit or Assembly SKU setup is needed. Just set it up as a product and send it in like any other inventory.
Make sure the bundle has its own SKU and barcode that are different from the items inside it, so our team can receive and pick it correctlMake sure the bundle has its own SKU and barcode that are different from the items inside it, so our team can receive and pick it correctly.
Option 2: We build it for you
If you want our team to put the bundle together, send us the component inventoryinventory and we build the finished units in batches through a Work Order. This requires setting the finished product up as an Assembly SKU in ShipHero first. Once built, the finished item has its own on hand count and bin location and ships as a single unit.
Keep in mind that once units are built, the components inside them are no longer available to sell on their own.
Setup guides: Assembly SKUs: What They Are and How to Set One Up, then How to Submit a Work Order
Not sure which one fits?
Send us the SKU and a short description of the product and we will help you decide. If you are onboarding with us, bring it up on your first onboarding call. Picking the wrong type can cause inventory problems later, so it is worth a quick check before you build.