What we do
- Barcode scanning: barcodes are scanned with the camera of an Android phone or with a hardware reader that works like a keyboard. The scanned product's card and the quantity entry appear on screen, the last scan can be undone, and what to do with an unrecognized barcode is chosen on a separate screen.
- Working offline: every scan is saved on the device before it appears on screen and waits there until the server confirms it has received it. Each scan carries an ID created on the device; because the server never records the same ID twice, resending is safe and the same scan is not counted twice.
- Zone labels: printed barcode labels for zones, and assigning zones to counters. A counter changes zone by scanning the label; the shelf location is never typed by hand, so it is never left out.
- Live dashboard: the person in charge of the count follows completed zones, the share of products counted, the net difference and the estimated finish time from a computer in real time. Warnings appear for a device that went offline, a low battery and an unrecognized barcode.
- Product list from Excel: the product list is imported from the Excel file you already have; you do not need to enter products one by one.
- Reports: Excel and PDF delivery reports; templated Excel output for transferring to your own system or your client's system.
- Roles and permissions: administrator, supervisor and counter roles; permissions are switched on and off per person. With blind counting, the counter cannot see the system stock, so the quantity is entered according to what is on the shelf rather than the expected number. Scans are kept in a record trail that cannot be deleted; you can see who scanned what, when and on which device.
Who it is for
- Counting companies that count stock in stores, warehouses and supermarkets.
- Store and supermarket chains that do their own counting.
- Warehouse and logistics companies.
- Field service and maintenance teams that collect data where the signal is weak.
- Organizations that want to track fixed assets such as devices, furniture and equipment by barcode.
If you are looking for an app for your customers rather than your team, see mobile app development.
How we work
- Understanding the field: together we work out how the job is done today, which devices are used, where there is no internet, and who gets which report when the job is finished.
- Prototype: the scanning screen and the dashboard are prepared as a clickable draft and corrected to fit the workflow of the people who will use them in the field.
- Development and testing: the app is installed on your own devices; situations such as a lost connection or a device switching off are tested on purpose.
- Field trial and handover: a small-scale trial on a real job, then a short walkthrough for the team, and maintenance.
What sets the price
- Device types: phone, handheld terminal, Windows computer, browser.
- Whether it must work offline.
- Integration with your existing stock program.
- The number and format of reports.
- The number of users, devices and branches.
- Where the server lives: in the cloud, or on a computer in a field location with no signal.
The quote is free; we send the scope, timeline and price in writing within 2 business days.
Example project
Stock Counting Platform
A platform built for a company that counts stock overnight in stores and warehouses: a counting app on Android phones and handheld terminals, a management program that runs on Windows (and whose interface also opens in a browser), and a server that runs in the cloud or on a laptop in the field. The client's name is not given, for confidentiality; the platform is in development.
FAQ
Do I have to buy a special handheld terminal?
No. The camera of an ordinary Android phone or a barcode reader that works like a keyboard is enough. If you already have a handheld terminal, it can be used too; support for a device-specific reader can be added later.
Does it work in a warehouse with no internet?
Yes. Every scan is saved on the device first, sent to the server when a connection returns, and waits on the device until the server confirms it. Where there is no signal at all, the server can run on a laptop in the field; the apps connect to it in the same way.
What happens if two people count the same zone?
The second person's scans are not rejected; they are marked as "conflicting" and shown on the dashboard. The supervisor sees the situation on the dashboard and, if needed, has the zone recounted.
Can it be exported to our existing stock program?
Yes. The simplest way is a templated Excel file in the format your program imports. If your program allows it, a direct connection can also be set up; that is assessed separately in the quote, depending on the system you use.
Which reports come out when the count is finished?
In Excel: a count report with system stock, count rounds, final count, difference and decisions, the full event log, and counter performance. In PDF: a report with a cover page, a summary, uncounted products, a closing report and zone barcode labels. Report formats can be adapted to the documents you deliver.
Tell us about your project
Write a few sentences about what you count or track, which devices you use, and whether there is internet in the field.