CRM for a warehouse

Manual warehouse management is still possible up to a certain point, but when the number of stored goods exceeds a hundred items, automation is essential. A CRM for warehouse management will help you more efficiently handle key operations, such as product receipt and sales, inventory, transfers between warehouses, and more, and will also significantly simplify document flow with suppliers and distributors.

CRM functionality for warehouse management

CRM functionality for retail and warehouse operations can vary widely, including customized toolkits specific to your business. Typically, features are selected based on the specific company's needs, goals, and objectives, but there are core functions that are essential to the operation of such a CRM:

• Automated inventory management. Information about all products and their locations is stored in a single database, ensuring you always know which product is in stock, where it is located, its price, expiration date, and other characteristics.
• Inventory tracking. The inventory count is updated automatically, accounting for all incoming and outgoing items. Having this data readily available allows you to promptly replenish your inventory or, conversely, temporarily cancel certain purchases due to low stock levels.
• Supplier database management. Information about all suppliers, their current prices, and the history of interactions with each one is stored in a single database. This will help you identify the most suitable partners and collaborate with them more effectively.
• Document management. You can upload required document templates to your CRM and manage them electronically to minimize bureaucratic procedures.
• Financial transaction control. Information on all transactions and counterparty accounts receivable is stored in one place, allowing for more efficient management of the company's financial flows.

What technologies are used for CRM development?

When creating a CRM for inventory management, technology selection is crucial. It affects the future system's performance, implementation speed, integration with third-party services, and much more. Therefore, to select the optimal technology stack, we conduct certain preparatory work:

• We analyze the client's requirements and wishes.
• We are studying your experience using similar systems.
• We define the project concept and create high-level technical documentation.

The choice of technology is also influenced by the devices on which the CRM will be used. For example, a web or desktop version of the system is convenient for office work, while a mobile app is very useful when moving around the warehouse, receiving goods, or taking inventory.

In practice, we can create a CRM for multiple platforms with a single server, allowing your staff to work in the system across multiple devices and switch between them at any time without data loss. Based on this, the final technology stack might look like this:

• For mobile apps. Native iOS development is done in Swift, while Android development is done in Java/Kotlin. We can also use the cross-platform Flutter framework and Dart.
• For desktop applications. Python/PHP/C++ programming languages and Django/Flask/Yii2/Laravel frameworks can be used.
• For web applications. The frontend can be developed in HTML/CSS/JavaScript or reactive frameworks like Vue.js/React.js, and the backend in Python/PHP/Node.js.

How the development process is structured

When developing a CRM, it's crucial to establish close communication with the client and leave room for new ideas that may arise during development. That's why we prefer to work using the SCRUM methodology. Its essence lies in the fact that tasks are distributed among team members and completed in short sprints, each of which is presented to the client. This way, the client always knows what work is currently being done, when it will be completed, and what the expected outcome will be. In addition to the methodology, there are other development stages that the CRM goes through during production. Let's examine the main ones in more detail.

Step 1. Collecting information

Before beginning technical implementation, our specialists conduct research and understand your company's business processes, how you interact with suppliers and distributors, and your existing IT infrastructure. To do this, we organize online or offline meetings with client representatives, where every issue is discussed in detail.

Stage 2. Design

Once all the necessary information has been obtained, the project moves to the design phase, during which a prototype of the future CRM is created. Typically, this includes mockups of unique pages, a description of the functionality, a navigation system, and a development plan. The completed prototype is presented to the client, allowing the team's plans to align with the client's vision. Ideas for improving the project often emerge during this dialogue. After discussion, these ideas are easily integrated into the final prototype.

Stage 3. Design development

The visual environment of a CRM system plays a vital role. A simple and user-friendly interface will help your staff quickly master the new software and minimize the risk of errors during operation. To achieve a successful outcome, the design is often customized, taking into account the system's functionality and the specifics of its use within your company.

Stage 4. Programming

The development of the CRM software consists of two parts:

• Frontend. This is the client-side portion of the system, which is created precisely according to the design and helps the user comfortably interact with the server.
• Backend. The backend is the server part of the project. It is responsible for all functionality, data storage, and interaction with external services, such as messaging apps and telephony for quick communication with suppliers and clients directly from the CRM interface.

Step 5. Testing

After developing a CRM, it's important to ensure that all its functionality functions as intended during the design phase. To achieve this, QA engineers are involved in the project to perform software testing.

Stage 6. Technical support and development

Even with the most thorough testing, it's simply impossible to test all CRM use cases in real-world conditions. Therefore, your staff may still encounter some technical errors during the initial period after release. Such issues are promptly resolved by the developers as part of technical support. The main advantage of a custom CRM is that it can be developed at any time. Therefore, if you need new functionality as your business grows, it can always be implemented. To do this, the developers study your new ideas, design a solution, and then implement it into the existing system as a patch with updates.

Warehouse CRM development in AvadaCRM

A CRM for warehouse management is designed to automate your business operations. It will help you effectively manage inventory, monitor staff performance, collaborate with suppliers, and organize digital document flow, all of which will facilitate the rapid growth of your business.

AvadaCRM specializes in developing high-load CRM systems. We utilize innovative and reliable technologies to realize our clients' visions.