Overview
This project focused on the design and development of a custom warehouse scanning application for a retail and ecommerce business operating from a shared stock and fulfilment facility.
The client operates both a physical retail shop and an ecommerce business, with stock managed from the same warehouse. Their existing processes relied on a stationary PC for tasks such as checking product information, locating stock, processing incoming goods, and creating and completing pick lists.
Woods & Walker developed a bespoke application for Zebra handheld scanning devices, connecting directly with the client’s existing POS system and allowing staff to carry these workflows with them wherever stock was being handled.
The result is a mobile tool designed around the practical realities of warehouse operations, from day-to-day stock management through to picking stock at trade shows and other locations.
The Challenge
The existing warehouse processes required staff to regularly return to a fixed PC to access product and stock information.
This created unnecessary movement and made certain workflows difficult when stock was being handled away from the workstation. This was particularly relevant when the client attended trade shows, where stock could be stored in vehicles some distance from the event itself.
The challenge was to provide staff with immediate access to the information and workflows they needed while physically handling stock.
The application needed to support:
- Scanning EANs and barcodes to identify products
- Checking product prices and current stock levels
- Finding the warehouse location of specific products
- Tracking incoming goods
- Creating and managing pick lists
- Picking items against a list
- Confirming individual products during picking through barcode scanning
Accuracy was also important. Rather than relying on staff to manually identify products or confirm that they had selected the correct item, the process could be tied directly to scanning the product itself.
The Solution
A Custom Zebra Scanning Application
We designed and built a 100% custom application specifically for the client’s Zebra handheld devices.
The application integrates with the client’s existing POS system, bringing relevant product, pricing and stock information directly onto the handheld device without requiring staff to return to the warehouse PC.
The Zebra SDKs were used to integrate directly with the device’s scanning capabilities, allowing staff to scan an EAN or barcode and immediately retrieve the associated product information.
Mobile Stock & Product Lookup
Staff can use the device to quickly access information while working directly with stock.
This includes:
- Product identification through barcode scanning
- Current pricing and stock information
- Warehouse stock locations
- Product information needed during picking and receiving
This removes the need to move between the physical stock and a fixed workstation simply to check information.
Incoming Goods & Picking
The application also supports operational workflows around receiving and picking stock.
Incoming goods can be scanned and tracked as they are processed, reducing manual entry and helping staff work through deliveries more efficiently.
For picking, staff can create and work from pick lists directly on the handheld device. Products can then be scanned as they are picked, providing a direct confirmation that the correct product has been selected.
This is particularly useful when working with larger pick lists or products that may be similar in appearance.
Supporting Mobile Stock Operations
The handheld approach also extends beyond the warehouse itself.
For trade shows, staff can take the device with them and work directly with stock stored in vehicles or elsewhere away from the main premises. Pick lists can be used to organise the required stock, with individual items scanned during picking to help ensure the correct products are selected.
The software therefore supports the same core stock workflows regardless of where the physical stock is located.
The Outcome
The result is a more mobile and efficient way for the client’s team to manage stock and warehouse operations.
The application has helped to:
- Reduce time spent accessing information, removing the need to repeatedly return to a fixed PC
- Improve picking accuracy, with individual products scanned and verified during picking
- Speed up incoming goods processing, reducing reliance on manual stock handling
- Improve access to stock information, with pricing, availability and warehouse locations available directly on the handheld device
- Support stock handling away from the warehouse, including trade shows and vehicle-based stock
By connecting the client’s existing POS system with purpose-built software and Zebra scanning hardware, the solution brings digital workflows directly into the physical process of handling stock.
Partnership
This project demonstrates how bespoke software can improve an established business process without requiring the business to replace its existing systems.
Rather than introducing a generic warehouse platform, Woods & Walker built a focused application around the client’s existing POS system, hardware and operational workflows.
The result is software that fits naturally into how the business operates today while providing a foundation that can evolve as those requirements change.
This is the type of work where we add the most value as a technology partner: understanding the operational problem, integrating with existing systems, and building software around the way a business actually works.
