Case Studies \ A web based logistics management system
Our client, based in Saudi Arabia, is a mobile computing solutions provider offering end-to-end sales and distribution systems. These include hand-held devices and back-office applications that are necessary to configure and manage the software available on these devices. The existing back-office application, being offered to clients, was desktop based and a need was created to migrate this to a web based application. For this purpose they teamed up with Icreon. The requirements led to the creation of a .net based logistic management system that addresses the sales and distribution activities of salesmen.
Business Requirements
The hand held devices that our client offers its customers comes equipped with a back-office application to manage the software running on them. The existing back-office application was desktop/legacy based and could be used to manage master records such as the customer sequence, daily sales inventory, prices, etc for the hand held devices. The handhelds carried by the sales force communicates with the back-office database to send and receive information. With the advent of newer and more advanced technologies, our client felt the need to upgrade their application to improve its efficiency and to take advantage of the new technologies. With their plans of expanding their areas of operations, the solution was also required to provide support for multiple languages including English, Arabic etc.
Migrating from a desktop to a web based application
Benefits:
- Being web based application deployment and maintenance is easy
- Provides support for multiple languages enabling our client to offer the application to customers in their native language
- Web based interfaces available with the solution enable companies to easily setup, configure and monitor their sales and distribution activities.
Users:
The users of the system will be the employees of the company using the application. Access to the various modules of the application will be based on the roles assigned.
Solution:
To provide a solution that was robust and scalable, Icreon developed the application using the .net framework. The application was built to be compatible with both SQL Server 2005 and Oracle 10g databases thereby enabling it to be offered to a wider customer base.
The application has been designed to be multilingual with support for languages such as Arabic, English etc. At any given point in time the application is available in two languages. The languages that are to be used can be defined during the application configuration.
Sales departments can setup and manage the route sales, delivery and accounting activities for their companies. The various modules available within the application include:
Route The route module can be used to define various sales/van distribution routes as well as define the configuration parameters for handhelds used on each route. Route templates can be created allowing users to populate the route setting via the template instead of manually entering the settings. In addition this module can also be used to create and manage a database of national sales managers, region managers, regions, supervisors and areas. 
Inventory Management Details of all items available with the company can be maintained within the application. Items can also be classified into groups. Managers can define the inventory load i.e. the items that are to be made available for sale on a particular route and date. The inventory load can be used to track and measure the sales performance of a specific route. Additionally the sales targets of salesmen can be set and performance can be tracked and monitored. The system also allows the tracking of the items that have been returned due to expiry/damage or that have not been sold. Managers can also define the point of sale items available to customers 
Accounts Receivable The accounts receivable module can be used to start and close day-to-day transactions on the handheld devices.
This module can also be used to manage the opening/closing balances of the day, invoices, taxes applicable, etc.
A database of all customers and salesmen can be created and managed within the system.
Customers can be associated with a specific route; the sequence within a particular route that customers are to be visited can also be maintained.
The details of all collections received from the customer can be maintained. Invoices, debit/credit notes etc can be raised for customers.- Promotions In order to promote specific products and to build customer loyalty, special offers and free items can be offered to customers. Different pricing plans can be created and assigned to customers. The promotions module can be used to manage the same.
- Merchandizing Create and manage customer survey forms. It also allows for survey forms to be assigned to individual customers.
Basic:
Define and manage various master entries such as divisions, departments, inventory locations, reason codes for goods return, expiry return, expense reasons etc.
Administration The availability of options/controls in the forms within the system can be controlled through the administration module.
Managers can setup user roles and accounts, grant/revoke permissions to users, and define the configuration settings for the back-office application including options such as currency symbols, decimal plans, week start day, conversion rate etc.- Bank Create and manage a list of banks available within the system.
Technologies used in developing this application are:
