Tag Archives: tracking

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MOBILE APP FOR INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND SALES TRACKING

Inventory management:

Product database: The app needs to have a comprehensive product database where all the products can be added along with key details like product name, description, category, barcode/SKU, manufacturer details, specifications, images etc. This acts as the backend for all inventory related operations.

Stock tracking: The app should allow adding the stock quantity for each product. It should also allow editing the stock level as products are sold or received. Having an integrated barcode/RFID scanner makes stock tracking much faster.

Reorder alerts: Setting minimum stock levels and being alerted via notifications when products drop below those minimum levels ensures timely reorders.

Batch/serial tracking: For products that require batch or serial numbers like electronics or pharmaceuticals, the app should allow adding those details for better traceability.

Multiple storage locations: For businesses with multiple warehouses/stores, the inventory can be tracked by location for better visibility. Products can be transferred between locations.

Bulk product editing: Features like mass updating prices, changing categories/specs in bulk improves efficiency while managing a large product catalog.

Expiry/warranty tracking: Tracking expiry and warranty dates is important for perishable or installed base products. The app should allow adding these fields and notifications.

Vendors/Supplier management: The suppliers for each product need to be tracked. Payment history, price quotes, order cycles etc need to integrated for purchase management.

BOM/Kitting management: For products assembled from other components, the app should support Bill of Materials, exploded views of components, kitting/packaging of finished goods.

Sales & Order management:

Sales order entry: Allow adding new sales orders/invoices on the go. Capture customer, billing/shipping address, payment terms, product details etc.

POS mode: A lightweight POS mode for quick order entry, payment capture while customers wait at a retail store counter. Integrates directly with inventory.

Shipments/Fulfillment: Upon order confirmation, the app should guide pick-pack-ship tasks and automatically update inventory and order status.

Returns/Credits: Features to process returns, track return reasons, issue credits against invoices and restock returned inventory.

Layaways/Backorders: For products not currently available, the app must support partial payments, fulfillment tracking as stock comes in.

Quotes to orders conversion: Convert customer quotes to binding sales orders with one click when they are ready to purchase.

Recurring orders: Set up recurring/subscription orders that replenish automatically on defined schedules.

Invoicing/Receipts: Customizable invoice templates. Email or print invoices/receipts from the mobile device.

Payment tracking: Support multiple payment methods – cash, checks, cards or online payments. Track payment status.

Customers/Contacts database: Capture all customer master data – profiles, addresses, payment terms, purchase history, customized pricing etc.

Reports: Dozens of pre-built reports on KPIs like top selling products, profitability by customer, inventory aging etc. Generate as PDFs.

Notifications: Timely notifications to team members for tasks like low inventory, expiring products, upcoming shipments, payments due etc.

Calendar view: A shared calendar view of all sales orders, shipments, invoices, payments and their due dates for better coordination.

Team roles: Define roles like manager, salesperson, warehouse staff with customizable permissions to access features.

Offline use: The app should work offline when connectivity is unavailable and synchronize seamlessly once back online.

For building a truly unified, AI-powered solution, some additional capabilities could include-

Predictive analytics: AI-driven forecasting of demand, sales, inventory levels based on past data to optimize operations.

Computer vision: Leverage mobile cameras for applications like automated inventory audits, damage detection, issue diagnosis using computer vision & machine learning models.

AR/VR: Use augmented reality for applications like remote support, virtual product demonstrations, online trade shows, 3D configurators to enhance customer experience.

Custom fields: Ability to add custom multi-select fields, attributes to track additional product/customer properties like colors, materials, customer interests etc. for better segmentation.

Blockchain integration: Leverage blockchain for traceability, anti-counterfeiting uses cases like tracking minerals, authenticating high-value goods across the supply chain with transparency.

Dashboards/KPIs: Role-based customizable analytics dashboard available on all devices with real-time health stats of business, trigger-based alerts for anomalies.

Those cover the key functional requirements to develop a comprehensive yet easy to use mobile inventory and sales management solution for businesses of all sizes to gain transparency, efficiencies and growth opportunities through digital transformation. The extensibility helps future-proof the investment as needs evolve with mobile-first capabilities.

HOW CAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS HELP IN TRACKING IMPACT MEASUREMENT FOR IMPACT INVESTMENTS

Technology platforms have become invaluable tools for impact investors to effectively measure and track the social and environmental impact of their investments. With the proper utilization of technology, impact investors can now collect comprehensive and credible impact data, analyze results over time, and make more informed investment decisions.

Some of the key ways that technology platforms are helping streamline impact measurement include:

Data collection: Technology allows impact investors to collect large volumes of both qualitative and quantitative impact data directly from investees in real-time. Platforms provide standardized templates and dashboards for investees to regularly report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the intended impacts. This can include metrics like number of people served, carbon emissions reduced, jobs created, etc. Online surveys and apps also make it easier for investees to gather feedback directly from beneficiaries.

Data organization: The volume of impact data collected needs to be properly organized and stored for analysis. Technology platforms utilize robust databases that can house years of impact performance data for multiple investees and investment portfolios. The data is tagged and structured to be easily searchable, sortable, and filterable based on different criteria like investment theme, geography, timescale etc. This centralized data warehouse approach prevents data from getting lost or disorganized over time.

Data analysis: With impact data securely organized on a centralized platform, powerful data analytics tools can be applied. Features like dashboards, dynamic reports, and data visualization help illuminate trends, highlight correlations and critical insights. For example, analytics can track how impacted populations change over time or how strong the linkage is between financial performance and social impact achievement. Machine learning is also being used to detect anomalies and predict future performance.

Benchmarking: Technology aids the comparison of portfolio and investee impact performance against benchmarks and across time periods. Platforms can analyze proprietary datasets as well as curated public datasets to identify high-performing peers, set performance thresholds, and detect under-achievement early. Benchmarking also supports ongoing impact target-setting and strategy refinement at both investor and investee levels.

Reporting: Sophisticated impact reports demonstrating accountability and transparency can now be generated through technology. Platforms autonomously produce formatted reports aligned to industry standards like IRIS+, GIIRS, or SDG metrics. Reports are also customizable for different stakeholder needs, from fund limited partners to investees to public disclosure. Automated reporting saves significant time and resources compared to manual compilation.

Stakeholder engagement: Technology engages various stakeholders in impact measurement. Online dashboards power interactive sessions for investees to discuss performance. Surveys collect real-time beneficiary feedback. Social media integrations spread impact stories and results. These tools deepen stakeholder participation in the measurement process and impact achievement overall.

Decision making: With robust impact analytics and benchmarking available, technology acts as a decision support system for investors. Features like predictive analytics and portfolio optimization tools help them make go/no-go decisions on potential deals, rebalance allocations, and refine selection criteria over time based on impact performance trends. Technology essentially transforms impact data into actionable business intelligence.

Technology platforms have become indispensable infrastructure supporting credible and efficient impact measurement practices across the impact investing industry. By standardizing data collection, organizing disparate datasets, powering advanced analytics, generating accountability reports, and enhancing stakeholder engagement – technology is fundamentally enhancing how impact investors are now able to understand, strengthen, and communicate their social and environmental impacts at scale. As data-driven impact performance management becomes further ingrained in investment processes, technology will continue playing an instrumental role in impact measurement and the growth of impact investing overall.