Distribution
Distributor Order Management
A documented design covering retailer self-service ordering, an offline-capable field sales app, credit enforcement at order entry and automated scheme calculation.
- Type
- Concept project
- Category
- Distribution
- Features
- 9 documented
- Stack
- 5 technologies
What the business was dealing with
A distributor covering several routes takes orders verbally on the phone and by message, which the warehouse then retypes — producing transcription errors that become delivery disputes. Credit limits exist on paper but supply continues to retailers already overdue, because the check happens after dispatch. Slab discounts and free-goods schemes are calculated manually, producing monthly arguments at settlement, and nobody can say which routes were actually covered.
How it was solved
A specified system with two order entry paths: a retailer portal with each outlet's own price list and credit position, and a field sales app that works offline on a weak network. Credit limit and overdue checks run before an order is accepted. A scheme engine applies slab discounts, free goods and period offers by rule and shows them on the invoice. Beat plans with visit check-ins give a factual view of route coverage.
Interface
Illustrative screens
These are abstract representations of the interface layout, drawn in CSS — not screenshots of a client system. They show structure rather than data.
Main features
- Retailer portal with outlet-specific price lists and live credit position
- Field sales app with beat plan, visit check-in and offline order capture
- Credit limit, outstanding and overdue enforcement at order entry
- Scheme engine: slab, free-goods, period and combination offers
- Route-wise dispatch planning with consolidated picking lists
- Collection recording in the field with receipt generation
- Retailer ledger and statement sharing over WhatsApp
- Multi-godown stock with van stock as a separate location
- Reports: route productivity, outlet coverage, scheme cost, ageing
What this demonstrates
The engineering problems this project exists to show we can handle.
- Offline-first data capture with conflict-aware synchronisation
- Business rule enforcement — credit control — at the point of entry
- A rules engine for layered commercial schemes
- Interface design for field staff working one-handed in a shop
Technology stack
- Next.js progressive web app
- PostgreSQL
- FastAPI
- Offline sync with IndexedDB
- WhatsApp Business API
Services involved in this project
Want something like this for your business?
Your operational detail will differ — that is normally where the real work is. Tell us how your process runs and we will scope it honestly.