1. Project Overview

This project delivers a robust, multi-tenant SaaS (Software as a Service) Warehouse Management System (WMS) designed to optimize and automate core warehouse operations for businesses. It provides real-time visibility into inventory, streamlines production intake, manages virtual warehouse locations, and facilitates efficient dispatch, all while leveraging mobile technology for enhanced data accuracy and operational speed. The system is built with a modern technology stack, ensuring scalability, security, and a seamless user experience across web and mobile platforms.

2. Key Features

• Product Production & Incoming Management:
  • Define and manage an unlimited number of products with detailed specifications.
  • Initiate production orders for specific items and quantities.
  • Track incoming raw materials or finished goods.
  • Generate unique, scannable QR codes for each individual product unit/pack during production.
• Virtual Warehouse & Pallet Management:
  • Create and manage a virtual representation of the physical warehouse layout (racks, aisles, locations).
  • Visualize product and pallet locations within the warehouse.
  • Real-time status tracking for all products and pallets (e.g., In Production, In Stock, Dispatched, On Hold).
  • Maintain detailed records of pallet contents, creation date, and current location.
• Mobile Application for Pallet Creation & Tracking:
  • Dedicated Flutter mobile application for warehouse personnel.
  • Pallet Creation Workflow:
    1. Warehouse staff selects a specific product item for palletization.
    2. System guides the user to scan individual product pack QR codes.
    3. Based on predefined item pallet sizes, the app prompts for the correct number of packs.
    4. Once the required number of packs are scanned, the system creates a unique QR code for the pallet.
    5. Staff can add notes or additional metadata to the pallet.
    6. The pallet is then digitally assigned to a specific virtual warehouse location.
  • Real-time Updates: All actions performed on the mobile app instantly update the central WMS.
• First-In, First-Out (FIFO) Dispatch Logic:
  • The system strictly enforces FIFO for dispatching products, ensuring older stock is moved first, minimizing obsolescence.
  • When an order for a product comes in, the system automatically identifies the oldest available pallets for that product.
• Dispatch Management (Mobile & Web):
  • Generate dispatch orders for distributors.
  • Ability to dispatch products by scanning full pallets or partial pallets (requiring breaking down and re-palletizing if needed, managed through a specific workflow).
  • Track dispatch status in real-time.
  • Confirm successful delivery via mobile app or web.
• Comprehensive Reporting & Analytics:
  • Inventory reports (current stock, stock history, stock movement).
  • Production tracking reports.
  • Dispatch efficiency and history reports.
  • User activity logs.

3. Workflow Highlight: Production to Dispatch

1. Production Order: A manager creates a production order for Product A, quantity 1000.
2. QR Generation: The system generates 1000 unique QR codes for Product A packs.
3. Mobile Palletization:
   • A warehouse operator uses the mobile app.
   • Selects Product A.
   • Scans X number of Product A pack QRs (where X is the pallet capacity for Product A).
   • The app creates a new pallet, generates a unique pallet QR, and prompts the operator to physically label the pallet.
   • The operator assigns the pallet to a specific bay in the virtual warehouse.
   • This process repeats until all 1000 packs are on pallets.
4. Warehouse Management: Pallets are now "In Stock" in their assigned virtual locations. The system tracks their age for FIFO.
5. Dispatch Order: A sales order comes in for Product A, quantity 250.
6. FIFO Selection: The WMS automatically identifies the oldest 5 pallets (assuming pallet capacity is 50 packs) of Product A that are "In Stock."
7. Mobile Dispatch:
   • A dispatch operator uses the mobile app.
   • Selects the dispatch order.
   • Scans the 5 selected pallet QRs.
   • The status of these pallets and their contents changes to "Dispatched."
   • For partial dispatches, a specific workflow allows for selecting individual product QRs from a pallet, updating its remaining quantity, and potentially creating a new partial pallet.

4. Technology Stack

Backend:

• Laravel (PHP Framework): Robust, secure, and scalable API development. Handles all business logic, data persistence, and communication with the database.
• MySQL: Relational database for storing all product, inventory, pallet, user, and transaction data.
• Frontend:
  • Angular (TypeScript Framework): Modern, single-page application (SPA) for the web-based administrative dashboard and user interface. Provides a rich, interactive, and responsive experience for managing the WMS.
• Mobile Application:
  • Flutter (Dart Framework): Cross-platform mobile development framework for iOS and Android. Enables a beautiful, high-performance native app experience for warehouse personnel, specifically for QR scanning, pallet creation, and dispatch operations.

5. Architecture Overview

The system adopts a clear separation of concerns with a backend API serving both the web and mobile frontends.

• Centralized Laravel API: Acts as the single source of truth, managing all data interactions and business logic.
• Angular Web App: Communicates with the Laravel API to provide a comprehensive management interface.
• Flutter Mobile App: Interacts with the same Laravel API for real-time operational updates, leveraging its camera capabilities for efficient QR scanning.
• Database: MySQL stores all persistent data, ensuring data integrity and scalability.
• Cloud Hosting (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP): Designed for deployment on a scalable cloud infrastructure to support multi-tenancy and high availability.