A company specializing in rugged mobile devices for logistics and warehousing, approached us to develop a web and mobile application system for data collection and analysis of barcode scanner usage. Our solution aims to optimize scanning processes by providing valuable insights, performance monitoring, and usage pattern analysis.
We developed a web application for data analysis and user management, and a mobile application for Android that scans barcodes.
7
UK
Logistics
Product Requirements Document
Device Management Systems
Web & Mobile Application
Business Challenge
Client Request: Develop a system of web and mobile applications to facilitate the collection and analysis of data from barcode scanners.
Main Objective: Optimize scanning processes, improve workflows, and make informed decisions about scanning needs.
Importance Argument:
Often, businesses lack the ability to monitor the number of barcodes scanned and evaluate performance when using rugged portable devices. This lack of visibility can lead to productivity issues and negatively impact customer service.
For the company, this meant enhancing their product value by adding a software component.
Side Benefits:
- Understanding how frequently devices are used.
- Predicting and planning device usage, such as determining the number of scans remaining before maintenance is needed. Tracking the operational hours of devices to prevent failures and monitoring battery life cycles are crucial business processes.
The company lacked an in-house software development team and the capability to execute this project internally.Therefore, they decided to create a technical specification and find a contractor for its implementation.
When the client approached local companies for an evaluation and cost estimate, most were unable to provide a prompt and comprehensive response regarding feasibility, timelines, and costs. They indicated that a detailed assessment would require more time than was available at that stage.
The client needed a preliminary framework and estimates to determine whether the project aligned with their expectations or if they should reconsider the idea. The presence of a well-defined methodology, accurate estimations, and thorough evaluation is crucial for clients to make well-informed decisions and proceed confidently.
Important Note: This is a major mistake on the part of potential contractors. If a client needs this information, find a way to provide a quick estimate because, ultimately, you know the processes better than anyone else. In reality, this can be done quite simply (see below).
Project Phases and Timeline
Completed in 2 weeks
Completed within the initial 2.5 months
Completed in 2 weeks
Completed within the initial 1 month
Resulting Product and Solution Benefits
The solution provided not only a robust device but also access to valuable usage analytics through a user-friendly dashboard.
- Unified Dashboard: A mobile app tracks the number of barcodes scanned by each device and user, helping create usage patterns, perform performance comparisons, and improve scanner productivity.
- Device Comparison: The app is device-agnostic, enabling precise comparisons between different barcode scanners, helping businesses make informed decisions.
- Usage and Behavior Patterns: Provides insights into barcode scanner usage, optimizing workflows and ensuring efficient device utilization.
- Performance Benchmarking: Compares performance of various barcode scanners, simplifying selection of the most suitable devices.
- Intelligent Device Analytics: Offers data on frequently used devices for barcode scanning, aiding in optimizing barcode usage across devices.
- Built for Diverse Users: Tracks scanning performance by device, user, and day, providing data on scanning frequency, popular barcode types, and scanning times.
- Resource Management: Offers insights into scanner usage across locations or departments, enabling effective inventory management and resource allocation
4 Key Deliverables
- Product Requirements Document (PRD)
- Web application
- Mobile application
- Server Environment
Conclusion
This project showcases how a comprehensive approach to custom software development can deliver significant value. By integrating detailed analytics into their rugged devices, our client not only enhanced their product offering but also provided clients with essential insights for optimizing barcode scanning processes. The rapid delivery of a robust MVP in just three months underscores the importance of thorough discovery and agile development. This case study highlights the critical role of collaboration, clear communication, and innovative thinking in achieving successful outcomes in the tech industry.