1. E-commerce Web Site: Sales and Inventory Management System Markku Marjoneva

2. The customer: Akiba Oy Founded in 2003 Founded in 2003 Retailer selling: Retailer selling: –Computers and computer equipment –Digital cameras –Home theater systems –GSM, GPS and outdoor equipment Concentrates mostly on enthusiast level equipment with competetive pricing Concentrates mostly on enthusiast level equipment with competetive pricing

3. Premise A new company with a web site layout without functionality A new company with a web site layout without functionality Tools for editing products and product categories already done Tools for editing products and product categories already done Database design mostly done Database design mostly done In need of customer site functionality In need of customer site functionality

4. Requirements 1 A customer web site A customer web site Browsable product categories Browsable product categories Product information view Product information view Product search Product search A shopping basket A shopping basket Order sending Order sending Product promotions Product promotions

5. Requirements 2 Employee web site Employee web site Order management and handling Order management and handling Order search Order search Inventory management for separate warehouses Inventory management for separate warehouses Inventory transfers between warehouses Inventory transfers between warehouses

6. Requirements 3 Additional tools for employees Additional tools for employees Sales reporting Sales reporting Warranty handling tools Warranty handling tools Employee communication tools Employee communication tools Product information integration Product information integration Not covered in depth in the thesis Not covered in depth in the thesis

7. Customer web site

8. Implementing the functionality to the site design and keeping a consistent overall look for the customer site Implementing the functionality to the site design and keeping a consistent overall look for the customer site Using the product information already in the database to create product listings Using the product information already in the database to create product listings Shopping basket Shopping basket Search Search Promotions Promotions

9. Web-based application Benefits of web-based application Benefits of web-based application –Platform independence –GUI tools ready –Low learning curve –Accessable –Does not require installation –Can be hosted off-site –PHP and MySQL a proven platform

10. Web-based application Disadvantages of web-based application Disadvantages of web-based application –Can be slow –Simple user interface –Network outage disables the system –High bandwidth usage –Real time tools require special arrangements –Not suitable for all tasks –Possible browser incompatibilities

11. Employee web site Orders were at first sent as emails Orders were at first sent as emails Database based order management was needed quickly Database based order management was needed quickly Required database design and implementation to hold the order and product data Required database design and implementation to hold the order and product data Required creation of order editing tools Required creation of order editing tools

12. Order editing window

13. Order editing The most important functionality The most important functionality Holds the information of Holds the information of –Order status –Customer information –Extra information –Ordered items Displays product inventory status Displays product inventory status

14. Order search Interface is similar to the order editing view Interface is similar to the order editing view All fields are searchable All fields are searchable Powerful search capabilities Powerful search capabilities Familiar interface Familiar interface

15. Printing Receipt has to be printable from the web- based system Receipt has to be printable from the web- based system There is no enforced web standard for printing a web page There is no enforced web standard for printing a web page Browser selection can be controlled (Mozilla Firefox & MS Internet Explorer) Browser selection can be controlled (Mozilla Firefox & MS Internet Explorer) Solved with CSS and PDF Solved with CSS and PDF

16. Inventory Management Inventory management is needed to control the product flow Inventory management is needed to control the product flow The system should know if the required product is in stock, if it needs to be ordered of if it is already ordered. The system should know if the required product is in stock, if it needs to be ordered of if it is already ordered. This has to work on several warehouses This has to work on several warehouses

17. Inventory Management When products are ordered this is marked in the database When products are ordered this is marked in the database When products arrive from the suppliers, they are signed into the system When products arrive from the suppliers, they are signed into the system The products and their serials (if needed) are read using barcodes The products and their serials (if needed) are read using barcodes The inventory tools had to be designed so they work with barcode readers The inventory tools had to be designed so they work with barcode readers

18. Inventory management Inventory status has to be updated automatically when orders are handled Inventory status has to be updated automatically when orders are handled The inventory status is visible from the order editing interface The inventory status is visible from the order editing interface

19. Inventory transfers All products are signed in at the main warehouse All products are signed in at the main warehouse Products are transferred from the main warehouse to other location(s) Products are transferred from the main warehouse to other location(s) There is a tool for transferring batches of items from one warehouse to another and keeping the inventories up to date There is a tool for transferring batches of items from one warehouse to another and keeping the inventories up to date

20. Security Security is based on usernames, passwords and user group separations Security is based on usernames, passwords and user group separations User names and passwords are used for entering the system User names and passwords are used for entering the system The system is divided into seller site and office site with different privileges The system is divided into seller site and office site with different privileges

21. Methodology All the tools are separate script files All the tools are separate script files Common variables and functions are kept in include files Common variables and functions are kept in include files –Database connections –Global configuration variables –Common methods Functionality can easily be tested and implemented separately Functionality can easily be tested and implemented separately

22. Problems with the project Requirements for features came as the system progressed Requirements for features came as the system progressed No real overall design for easy implementation of functionality No real overall design for easy implementation of functionality Partially obsolete database structure the cannot be changed Partially obsolete database structure the cannot be changed Adding new functionality without affecting old functionality is difficult Adding new functionality without affecting old functionality is difficult

23. Success The project was a success and is in use The project was a success and is in use The system is still under constant development to include new functionality The system is still under constant development to include new functionality Design and implementation of a new system has been started Design and implementation of a new system has been started

24. Thank you