labs@atheron:~/industries/warehousing$ receive --asn --putaway --wave --ship

Warehouse software

From the dock door to the invoice.

A pallet you receive on paper, put away from memory and bill from a spreadsheet costs you money at every step. We build the systems that follow it: scanning on the floor, waves for your pickers, labels from the carriers and a client invoice that adds itself up.

Start a project See the example projects

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

Receiving that runs on paper

Advance ship notices arrive by email, counts are written on the packing slip, and the stock is not in the system until someone types it in at the end of the shift.

Pickers walking the long way

Slotting was set years ago, pick lists print in order number order, and the fastest movers live at the back of the building.

Client billing rebuilt every month

Storage, handling and accessorial charges are worked out from exports and memory, and every client invoice is a negotiation about what was really done.

Retailers who want EDI yesterday

A new retail customer sends a vendor guide with EDI, labelling and routing rules, and chargebacks start the day a carton ships wrong.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile appMaterials tracking

WMS with handheld scanning

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A 3PL with two buildings receives, puts away and picks from paper lists, and its stock counts drift until the next full physical count.

// What we would build

A web WMS for the office and an Android app on rugged mobile computers for the floor: receiving against ASNs, directed put-away, wave picking, packing with carrier labels and cycle counts, with EDI orders from retail clients.

// What is in it

Receiving against advance ship notices, with license plate numbers printed at the dock
Directed put-away and slotting rules by velocity and size
Wave and batch picking, pack stations and carrier labels through ShipStation or EasyPost
Cycle counts by location, scheduled by value and movement
EDI 850, 856 and 810 with retail clients, mapped to their vendor guides
Android mobile computers, cordless scanners and industrial label printers listed by quantity

// Stack

Next.js
Kotlin for Android
PostgreSQL
EDI translator
ShipStation and EasyPost APIs
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$180,000 to US$275,000, delivered within 43 weeksCAD 256,000 to 391,500
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month
Hardware: ≈ US$34,000CAD 48,350

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Discovery and site walk-through: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 9.4 to 15.9 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
First build on devices: 2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Stock, receiving and transfers: 2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Tracking and devices working: 1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Store submission: 0.4 weeks
Pilot site live: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Billing rules checked against a past month: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Rollout: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Hardware delivery, after it is ordered: 1 to 2 weeks
Retailer EDI testing and sign-off: 2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 51,200 to 78,300
Discovery 3.9%: CAD 9,984.00 to 15,268.50
Discovery and site walk-through 3.4%: CAD 8,704 to 13,311
Design approved 7.3%: CAD 18,688.00 to 28,579.50
Core features 4%: CAD 10,240 to 15,660
Full build 2.6%: CAD 6,656 to 10,179
First build on devices 7.8%: CAD 19,968 to 30,537
Stock, receiving and transfers 10.3%: CAD 26,368.00 to 40,324.50
Tracking and devices working 6.8%: CAD 17,408 to 26,622
Testing and fixes 1.3%: CAD 3,328.00 to 5,089.50
Store submission 2.6%: CAD 6,656 to 10,179
Pilot site live 3.4%: CAD 8,704 to 13,311
Billing rules checked against a past month 8.7%: CAD 22,272.00 to 34,060.50
Launch 3.9%: CAD 9,984.00 to 15,268.50
Rollout 4%: CAD 10,240 to 15,660
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 25,600 to 39,150
Mobile computer with scanner x 20: CAD 35,190. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Cordless barcode scanner x 6: CAD 2,730. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Industrial label printer x 3: CAD 7,140. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Labels and ribbons, starter stock x 10: CAD 3,000. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Corded barcode scanner, for our build and testing: CAD 290. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

3PL client billing portal

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Clients phone and email to ask what is in stock and where their orders are, and month-end billing is rebuilt from exports in a spreadsheet.

// What we would build

A portal where each client sees its own inventory, orders and shipments and books inbound appointments, with a billing engine that turns storage, handling and accessorials into invoices posted to QuickBooks Online, built on the QuickBooks Online API.

// What is in it

Client sign-in with its own inventory, orders, shipments and documents
Inbound appointments and ASNs entered by the client, not retyped
Rate cards per client for storage, handling, kitting and accessorials
Invoices built from the activity, reviewed, then posted to QuickBooks Online
Payments and credits read back from QuickBooks Online so balances match

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
QuickBooks Online API
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$93,000 to US$142,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 132,400 to 202,400
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Data mapping and sandbox connection: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 4.4 to 7.9 weeks
Core features: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Sync built and reconciled in sandbox: 1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Billing rules checked against a past month: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Live cutover: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Hypercare: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 26,480 to 40,480
Discovery 3.4%: CAD 4,501.60 to 6,881.60
Data mapping and sandbox connection 5%: CAD 6,620 to 10,120
Design approved 3.4%: CAD 4,501.60 to 6,881.60
Core features 10.3%: CAD 13,637.20 to 20,847.20
Full build 6.8%: CAD 9,003.20 to 13,763.20
Sync built and reconciled in sandbox 15.1%: CAD 19,992.40 to 30,562.40
Testing and fixes 3.4%: CAD 4,501.60 to 6,881.60
Billing rules checked against a past month 8.7%: CAD 11,518.80 to 17,608.80
Launch 3.4%: CAD 4,501.60 to 6,881.60
Live cutover 5%: CAD 6,620 to 10,120
Hypercare 5.5%: CAD 7,282 to 11,132
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 13,240 to 20,240

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appMaterials tracking

RFID dock doors and cycle counts

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A high-volume building scans every carton by hand at receiving and shipping, and mis-shipments are found by the customer.

// What we would build

Fixed UHF RFID readers at the dock doors that read tagged cartons as pallets pass, an edge gateway that checks each read against the order, and handheld readers that turn a cycle count of an aisle into a walk.

// What is in it

Site survey first, then fixed readers and antennas at each dock door
Reads checked against the ASN or the order, with a light and a screen at the door
Handheld RFID readers for aisle counts and finding a lost pallet
An edge gateway and a small server on site so the doors keep working offline
Installation by a local contractor, shown as an indicative range

// Stack

UHF RFID (EPC Gen2)
LLRP reader interface
Edge gateway
Next.js
PostgreSQL
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$90,600 to US$139,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 129,000 to 197,300
Hosting: ≈ US$200 a monthCAD 285 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month
Hardware: ≈ US$119,000 to US$123,000CAD 169,720 to 174,720

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Discovery and site walk-through: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Stock, receiving and transfers: 1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Tracking and devices working: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Pilot site live: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Site survey and installation: 0.5 to 1 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Rollout: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Hardware delivery, after it is ordered: 3 to 6 weeks
Site survey and installation by a local contractor: 2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 25,800 to 39,460
Discovery 1.9%: CAD 2,451.00 to 3,748.70
Discovery and site walk-through 5.8%: CAD 7,482.00 to 11,443.40
Design approved 7.7%: CAD 9,933.00 to 15,192.10
Core features 5.9%: CAD 7,611.00 to 11,640.70
Full build 3.9%: CAD 5,031.00 to 7,694.70
Stock, receiving and transfers 17.4%: CAD 22,446.00 to 34,330.20
Tracking and devices working 11.6%: CAD 14,964.00 to 22,886.80
Testing and fixes 1.9%: CAD 2,451.00 to 3,748.70
Pilot site live 5.8%: CAD 7,482.00 to 11,443.40
Launch 1.9%: CAD 2,451.00 to 3,748.70
Rollout 6.2%: CAD 7,998.00 to 12,232.60
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 12,900 to 19,730
Entry server x 1: CAD 4,200 to 9,200. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Fixed UHF RFID reader x 8: CAD 21,610. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Handheld UHF RFID reader x 3: CAD 11,130. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
UHF RFID tags, 1,000 x 250: CAD 125,400. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Cellular edge gateway x 2: CAD 970. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Industrial label printer x 2: CAD 4,760. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
UHF RFID development kit, for our build and testing: CAD 1,360. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Corded barcode scanner, for our build and testing: CAD 290. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appAIFrontier model

Inbound inbox agent

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

The customer service team spends the morning reading client emails about inbound containers, rush orders and address changes, and retyping them into the WMS.

// What we would build

An agent that reads the shared inbox, recognises ASNs, order changes and appointment requests, fills them into the WMS for a person to approve, and proposes nothing it cannot trace to a source. It uses a frontier model through its API, the fastest start, since the emails are routine business correspondence.

// What is in it

Emails and attachments sorted into ASNs, order changes, appointments and questions
Proposed entries in the WMS, confirmed by a person with one click
Replies prepared from the order's real status, never invented
An evaluation set of real emails, run before every change
A frontier model through its API, with personal data kept to what the task needs

// Stack

Frontier model API
Python
Microsoft Graph or Gmail API
Next.js
PostgreSQL

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$81,700 to US$125,000, delivered within 19 weeksCAD 116,300 to 177,800
Hosting: ≈ US$558 a monthCAD 795 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route: Frontier model
Model running cost: ≈ US$383 a monthCAD 545 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot: 2.9 to 4.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 23,260 to 35,560
Discovery 2.5%: CAD 2,907.50 to 4,445.00
Specification and evaluation plan 9.4%: CAD 10,932.20 to 16,713.20
Design approved 2.5%: CAD 2,907.50 to 4,445.00
Core features 7.6%: CAD 8,838.80 to 13,512.80
Full build 5%: CAD 5,815 to 8,890
Working pilot 28.2%: CAD 32,796.60 to 50,139.60
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 2,907.50 to 4,445.00
Launch 2.5%: CAD 2,907.50 to 4,445.00
Production 9.8%: CAD 11,397.40 to 17,424.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 11,630 to 17,780

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appBlockchain

Shared receiving record

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

When a shipment arrives short or damaged, the 3PL, the client and the carrier each hold a different photo, count and timestamp, and claims drag on for months.

// What we would build

A receiving record on a private permissioned ledger that the 3PL, its larger clients and its main carriers each run a node of: counts, photos and seal numbers recorded at the door, so nobody can change the story later. If one party is trusted by all, a shared database does the same job for less, and we will say so.

// What is in it

Counts, seal numbers and photos captured at the dock and recorded on the ledger
A node for the 3PL and for each carrier or client that wants one
Carrier labels and tracking through direct carrier APIs
Claims packets exported with every record and its time
Documents held in storage, with only their fingerprints on the chain

// Stack

Next.js
Hyperledger Besu (private, permissioned)
PostgreSQL
S3-compatible storage
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$123,000 to US$188,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 174,600 to 267,100
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Architecture: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Core features: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Devnet: 2.9 to 5.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Testnet: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Carrier API accounts and test keys: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 34,920 to 53,420
Discovery 2.5%: CAD 4,365.00 to 6,677.50
Architecture 6.7%: CAD 11,698.20 to 17,895.70
Design approved 2.5%: CAD 4,365.00 to 6,677.50
Core features 7.5%: CAD 13,095.00 to 20,032.50
Full build 5%: CAD 8,730 to 13,355
Devnet 20.2%: CAD 35,269.20 to 53,954.20
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 4,365.00 to 6,677.50
Testnet 13.4%: CAD 23,396.40 to 35,791.40
Launch 2.5%: CAD 4,365.00 to 6,677.50
Mainnet 7.2%: CAD 12,571.20 to 19,231.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 17,460 to 26,710

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appAPI

Carriers and marketplaces connected

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A third-party warehouse onboards each new client by hand-building connections to their store and marketplaces, and carrier labels are printed from three different websites.

// What we would build

An integration layer that connects your WMS to client stores and marketplaces through one set of connectors, pulls orders in and pushes tracking back, and rates and prints carrier labels from one screen, so a new client is connected in days rather than weeks.

// What is in it

Client stores and marketplaces through one set of connectors
Orders in, tracking and stock levels back out
Carrier rates and labels from one screen
A status screen showing every connection's health

// Stack

Node.js
PostgreSQL
REST
OpenAPI
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$108,000 to US$165,000, delivered within 28 weeksCAD 153,900 to 235,400
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
API contract agreed: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Core resources built: 3.4 to 5.4 weeks
Security, gateway and connections: 2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Docs, SDKs and load tests: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Billing rules checked against a past month: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch and first callers: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Retailer EDI testing and sign-off: 2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 30,780 to 47,080
Discovery 1.7%: CAD 2,616.30 to 4,001.80
Design approved 1.7%: CAD 2,616.30 to 4,001.80
API contract agreed 5.7%: CAD 8,772.30 to 13,417.80
Core features 5.1%: CAD 7,848.90 to 12,005.40
Full build 3.4%: CAD 5,232.60 to 8,003.60
Core resources built 17.1%: CAD 26,316.90 to 40,253.40
Security, gateway and connections 11.4%: CAD 17,544.60 to 26,835.60
Testing and fixes 1.7%: CAD 2,616.30 to 4,001.80
Docs, SDKs and load tests 5.7%: CAD 8,772.30 to 13,417.80
Billing rules checked against a past month 8.7%: CAD 13,389.30 to 20,479.80
Launch 1.7%: CAD 2,616.30 to 4,001.80
Launch and first callers 6.1%: CAD 9,387.90 to 14,359.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 15,390 to 23,540

Start from this example

// by service

Go deeper on one kind of work.

Pages for the services we have the most to say about in this industry.

~/apps

Warehouse apps

Custom warehouse management systems for 3PLs and distribution centres: receiving, put-away, wave picking, carrier labels, cycle counts and EDI, with Android apps on rugged scanners.

~/ai

AI for 3PL service

Agents that read the 3PL shared inbox, turn client emails into ASNs, order changes and appointments for a person to approve, and answer with the real order status.

~/chains

3PL receiving ledger

A receiving and condition record shared by a 3PL, its clients and its carriers on a private permissioned ledger, so counts, seals and photos cannot be changed after the fact.

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you work with 3PLs outside Canada?

Yes. We are in British Columbia and work with warehouses anywhere; prices are in Canadian dollars.

Can you supply scanners, printers and RFID readers?

Yes, as a pass-through listed by quantity in the estimate, or you can buy them directly. We integrate with the major makers' devices through their published interfaces and claim no partnership with any of them.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the code?

You do, once the work is paid for, including the integrations and the billing rules.

// other industries

Nearby industries.

~/logistics

Logistics

Dispatch boards and driver apps, booking agents for the inbox, shared bills of lading on a private ledger and load bots.

See the examples

~/supply-chain

Supply chain

Inbound control towers, multi-tier sourcing ledgers with supplier portals, supplier risk agents and sustainability data portals.

See the examples

~/retail

Retail and e-commerce

Headless storefronts with shopping apps, customer service agents, authenticity certificates for resale and Discord drop bots.

See the examples

All industries

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

Every market

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Start a project Book a call