labs@atheron:~/industries/warehousing/apps$ build app --web --mobile

Warehouse apps

A WMS and scanning apps, built for the floor.

Packaged WMS products are built for the average warehouse, and 3PLs are rarely average: every client brings its own rules, labels and billing. We build the WMS and the floor app around your clients and your building, and connect them to the carriers and retailers you already ship to.

Start a project See the example projects

// what matters here

What is different in this industry.

Built for the scanner, not the desk

The floor app runs on rugged Android mobile computers with big buttons, scan-first screens and no typing where a scan will do, so a new picker is productive on day one.

Client rules as data

Each client's receiving, labelling, kitting and shipping rules are settings, not code, so onboarding a new client is a setup task instead of a project.

Carriers and retailers connected

Labels and rates through ShipStation, EasyPost or direct carrier APIs, and EDI with retailers mapped to each vendor guide to keep chargebacks down.

Counts you can trust

Cycle counts scheduled by value and movement, with variances explained by the scans behind them, so the full physical count becomes a check rather than a rescue.

// example projects

Priced examples for this service.

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

// questions

Questions we get about this.

Can a custom WMS replace the one we license today?

Sometimes. If your current system does the core well, we build the client portal, billing or scanning around it instead. If it is the bottleneck, we plan a cutover by building or by client so the floor never stops.

Which scanners does the app run on?

Rugged Android mobile computers and cordless ring or pistol scanners from the major makers. We list the quantities in the estimate and you can buy them through us or directly.

Can it handle retail EDI and routing guides?

Yes. We map the 850, 856 and 810 and the labelling rules for each retailer, and test with them before go-live. Their testing calendar is shown as a lead time.

Back to the industry: Warehousing and 3PL About the service: Web and mobile apps

// 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