Smart inventory on Zebra terminals
A mobile app guiding operators step by step throughout the inventory while automatically applying the business rules defined in SAP.
Inventory lists are generated in SAP and then shared manually from a Windows computer to the Zebra terminal before the inventory begins. On launch, the app automatically detects the shared file and immediately loads the list of items to inventory.
The goal was to eliminate paper-based procedures, limit errors, and fully guide the user throughout the inventory.
Each item type follows a different procedure: standard, Kanban, or serial number. The app had to integrate these rules automatically so the operator never had to make a decision.
The problem
Develop a mobile application able to fully guide the operator throughout the inventory, with no paper procedure, limiting errors and automatically integrating the business rules specific to each item type — standard, Kanban, or serial number — so the user never has a decision to make.
The solution
Authentication. On launch, the user scans the QR code on their badge. The app checks that they exist in the local database: known user, access granted; unknown user, access denied. Each user also has a language recorded in the database, and the interface automatically switches to French or Dutch based on their profile.
SAP import. SAP generates an inventory file. The user then shares this file from their Windows computer to the Zebra terminal. On startup, the app automatically detects this file, loads it, and immediately prepares the inventory.
Guidance. For each inventory line, the app displays the location and the expected item: the user is guided to the correct location.
Standard item. The user scans the QR code on the shelf. The app immediately checks that it matches the expected item: if it's the right item, it simply asks for the counted quantity to be entered; otherwise, an error is shown.
Kanban item. Kanban items work with two bins; the bin currently in use is considered empty. If only one bin is present, the quantity is automatically recorded as 0. If two bins are present, the user scans the QR code on the back of the second bin — it contains the item reference, the management type, and the quantity of a full bin. The app automatically checks the reference and then adds the full bin's quantity, with no manual counting or calculation.
Serial-numbered item. The SAP file automatically flags items requiring serial number control. In that case, the app no longer asks to scan the shelf's QR code, but directly the one on the item's box, which contains the item reference and the serial number. Depending on the supplier, this information isn't always recorded in the same order: the app automatically checks both orders to correctly identify the item, with no special action required from the user.
How it works
- QR code authentication
- FR / NL multilingual interface
- Automatic detection and loading of the inventory file
- Step-by-step guidance
- Automatic item verification
- Smart handling of standard items
- Automatic handling of Kanban items
- Handling of serial-numbered items
- Algorithm able to interpret several QR code formats
- Inventory optimization
- Error reduction
- Business rules applied directly within the application
The results
- Complete elimination of paper procedures
- Reduced inventory errors
- Automatic application of SAP business rules
- No decision required from the operator
- Full guidance from start to finish of the inventory
- Reliable item recognition regardless of QR code format
- Interface automatically adapted to the user's language
- Better reliability of data sent back to SAP
What this project demonstrates
This project isn't just a scanning app: it's a genuine smart inventory assistant, able to embed SAP business rules directly into the software. The operator never chooses the procedure — the app reads the context, automatically applies the matching rule, and guides the user through to full completion of the inventory. This approach reflects how I work: understanding the business rules defined in the ERP, then building them directly into the tool to remove any manual interpretation on the ground.
Tools: WINDEV Mobile · Android · Zebra terminals · SAP · Manual file sharing (Windows PC to Zebra terminal) · Advanced QR code reading · HFSQL database · Multilingual support (FR / NL) · Business rule integration · Interface optimized for industrial use