E-commerce Web Site: E-commerce Web Site: Sales and Inventory Sales and Inventory

Management System Management System

Markku MarjonevaMarkku Marjoneva

The customer: Akiba OyThe customer: Akiba Oy

Founded in 2003Founded in 2003 Retailer selling:Retailer selling:

– Computers and computer equipmentComputers and computer equipment– Digital cameras Digital cameras – Home theater systemsHome theater systems– GSM, GPS and outdoor equipmentGSM, GPS and outdoor equipment

Concentrates mostly on enthusiast Concentrates mostly on enthusiast level equipment with competetive level equipment with competetive pricingpricing

PremisePremise

A new company with a web site A new company with a web site layout without functionalitylayout without functionality

Tools for editing products and Tools for editing products and product categories already doneproduct categories already done

Database design mostly doneDatabase design mostly done In need of customer site functionalityIn need of customer site functionality

Requirements 1Requirements 1

A customer web site A customer web site Browsable product categoriesBrowsable product categories Product information viewProduct information view Product searchProduct search A shopping basketA shopping basket Order sendingOrder sending Product promotionsProduct promotions

Requirements 2Requirements 2

Employee web siteEmployee web site Order management and handlingOrder management and handling Order searchOrder search Inventory management for separate Inventory management for separate

warehouseswarehouses Inventory transfers between Inventory transfers between

warehouseswarehouses

Requirements 3Requirements 3

Additional tools for employeesAdditional tools for employees Sales reportingSales reporting Warranty handling toolsWarranty handling tools Employee communication toolsEmployee communication tools Product information integrationProduct information integration

Not covered in depth in the thesisNot covered in depth in the thesis

Customer web siteCustomer web site

Customer web siteCustomer web site

Implementing the functionality to the Implementing the functionality to the site design and keeping a consistent site design and keeping a consistent overall look for the customer siteoverall look for the customer site

Using the product information already Using the product information already in the database to create product in the database to create product listingslistings

Shopping basketShopping basket SearchSearch PromotionsPromotions

Web-based applicationWeb-based application

Benefits of web-based applicationBenefits of web-based application– Platform independencePlatform independence– GUI tools readyGUI tools ready– Low learning curveLow learning curve– AccessableAccessable– Does not require installationDoes not require installation– Can be hosted off-siteCan be hosted off-site– PHP and MySQL a proven platformPHP and MySQL a proven platform

Web-based applicationWeb-based application

Disadvantages of web-based applicationDisadvantages of web-based application– Can be slowCan be slow– Simple user interfaceSimple user interface– Network outage disables the systemNetwork outage disables the system– High bandwidth usageHigh bandwidth usage– Real time tools require special Real time tools require special

arrangementsarrangements– Not suitable for all tasksNot suitable for all tasks– Possible browser incompatibilitiesPossible browser incompatibilities

Employee web siteEmployee web site

Orders were at first sent as emailsOrders were at first sent as emails Database based order management Database based order management

was needed quicklywas needed quickly Required database design and Required database design and

implementation to hold the order and implementation to hold the order and product dataproduct data

Required creation of order editing Required creation of order editing toolstools

Order editing windowOrder editing window

Order editingOrder editing

The most important functionalityThe most important functionality Holds the information ofHolds the information of

– Order statusOrder status– Customer informationCustomer information– Extra informationExtra information– Ordered itemsOrdered items

Displays product inventory statusDisplays product inventory status

Order searchOrder search

Interface is similar to the order Interface is similar to the order editing viewediting view

All fields are searchableAll fields are searchable Powerful search capabilitiesPowerful search capabilities Familiar interfaceFamiliar interface

PrintingPrinting

Receipt has to be printable from the Receipt has to be printable from the web-based systemweb-based system

There is no enforced web standard There is no enforced web standard for printing a web pagefor printing a web page

Browser selection can be controlled Browser selection can be controlled (Mozilla Firefox & MS Internet (Mozilla Firefox & MS Internet Explorer)Explorer)

Solved with CSS and PDFSolved with CSS and PDF

Inventory ManagementInventory Management

Inventory management is needed to Inventory management is needed to control the product flowcontrol the product flow

The system should know if the The system should know if the required product is in stock, if it required product is in stock, if it needs to be ordered of if it is already needs to be ordered of if it is already ordered.ordered.

This has to work on several This has to work on several warehouseswarehouses

Inventory ManagementInventory Management

When products are ordered this is When products are ordered this is marked in the databasemarked in the database

When products arrive from the suppliers, When products arrive from the suppliers, they are signed into the systemthey are signed into the system

The products and their serials (if The products and their serials (if needed) are read using barcodesneeded) are read using barcodes

The inventory tools had to be designed The inventory tools had to be designed so they work with barcode readersso they work with barcode readers

Inventory managementInventory management

Inventory status has to be updated Inventory status has to be updated automatically when orders are automatically when orders are handledhandled

The inventory status is visible from The inventory status is visible from the order editing interfacethe order editing interface

Inventory transfersInventory transfers

All products are signed in at the main All products are signed in at the main warehousewarehouse

Products are transferred from the Products are transferred from the main warehouse to other location(s)main warehouse to other location(s)

There is a tool for transferring There is a tool for transferring batches of items from one batches of items from one warehouse to another and keeping warehouse to another and keeping the inventories up to datethe inventories up to date

SecuritySecurity

Security is based on usernames, Security is based on usernames, passwords and user group passwords and user group separationsseparations

User names and passwords are used User names and passwords are used for entering the systemfor entering the system

The system is divided into seller site The system is divided into seller site and office site with different and office site with different privilegesprivileges

MethodologyMethodology

All the tools are separate script filesAll the tools are separate script files Common variables and functions are Common variables and functions are

kept in include fileskept in include files– Database connectionsDatabase connections– Global configuration variablesGlobal configuration variables– Common methodsCommon methods

Functionality can easily be tested Functionality can easily be tested and implemented separatelyand implemented separately

Problems with the projectProblems with the project

Requirements for features came as Requirements for features came as the system progressedthe system progressed

No real overall design for easy No real overall design for easy implementation of functionalityimplementation of functionality

Partially obsolete database structure Partially obsolete database structure the cannot be changedthe cannot be changed

Adding new functionality without Adding new functionality without affecting old functionality is difficultaffecting old functionality is difficult

SuccessSuccess

The project was a success and is in The project was a success and is in useuse

The system is still under constant The system is still under constant development to include new development to include new functionalityfunctionality

Design and implementation of a new Design and implementation of a new system has been startedsystem has been started

Thank youThank you

Thank youThank you