WMS: a mobile warehouse system with scanning for e-commerce
Receiving, dispatch, transfers and stocktaking from a phone, with code scanning and locations. No more counting thousands of items by hand.
Industry: E-commerce (flowers, gifts, accessories)
In short
- Over 2,500 product items in the database
- Operations from a phone: receiving, dispatch, transfers, stocktaking
- SKU/EAN scanning instead of counting by hand
- Multiple warehouses and locations (e.g. TAR-01-01-01)
About the project
An e-commerce shop with thousands of products (florist, accessories, party supplies) and seasonal peaks. The warehouse is run by people on the move, phone in hand.
The challenge
With thousands of SKUs and seasonal peaks, stock counted by hand quickly drifts: shortages, surpluses and hunting for goods across the whole warehouse. A system was needed that works on a phone, guides by location and lets you scan instead of retype.
Goals
- Move warehouse operations to the phone, close to the goods
- Replace manual counting with code scanning
- Organize goods by location and warehouse
- Provide accurate stock and efficient stocktaking
Technical challenges
Mobile-first, not desktop
The warehouse worker is on the move, so the whole interface is built for a phone: big buttons, code scanning, minimal typing.
Locations and multiple warehouses
Goods spread across locations (e.g. TAR-01-01-01) in several warehouses. The system tracks where things are and where they go.
Stocktaking without paralysis
Stocktaking as sessions per area, with splits and status, so you can count without stopping the whole warehouse.
Solution and implementation
All operations from one screen
Receiving, dispatch, transfer, stocktaking, search and stock view in one place, built for a phone.
Receiving with scanning
The worker scans the product code, picks the location and quantity. No more retyping from a note.
Stock view on the phone
Stock levels with the location next to each item, available on hand.
Stocktaking in sessions
Stocktaking split into sessions per area, with status and a summary.
Results
More accurate stock
Scanning and locations reduce the errors that manual counting made inevitable.
Faster receiving and dispatch
Operations happen at the goods, on the phone, instead of going back to a computer.
Control over thousands of SKUs
Multiple warehouses and locations organized in one system.
Takeaways
The warehouse is a phone, not a desk
The biggest win is moving operations to where the goods are: into the worker's hand.
Scope
- Mobile app (web)
- SKU/EAN scanning
- Multi-warehouse
- Stocktaking
- Warehouse locations
Technologies
- Web (mobile-first)
- Code scanning
- Locations
- Multi-warehouse
Frequently asked questions
What does this system do?
Receiving, dispatch, transfers and stocktaking done from a phone, with code scanning and locations.
Do I need expensive scanners?
No. You scan codes with a phone.
What warehouse does it fit?
E-commerce and warehouses that need fast handling with locations.
Will staff learn it fast?
The interface is simple, operations are large and clear, built for work on the move.
What about stocktaking?
You do it in sessions per warehouse area, with progress status.