Mobile Inventory & Shop Sync

Outcomes

Context

Retail operations where accuracy depends on tools that work in motion.

Challenge

Stock counts and product lookups happened on paper or desktop tools that did not fit warehouse aisles. Teams needed barcode scanning, photos, audit history, and sync with the shop catalog.

Approach

We built a NestJS backend with shop API integration and an Ionic/Angular Capacitor app for scanning and inventory actions. Workflows covered lookup by barcode/code, stock adjustments, media capture, and operational audit.

Architecture

NestJS API with shop connector, PostgreSQL (or equivalent relational store), Ionic + Angular + Capacitor client with native barcode plugins.

Scope

• —Barcode product lookup
• —Stock adjustments
• —Media attachments
• —Audit history
• —Shop synchronization
• —Mobile packaging

Constraints

• —Must work with gloved/fast scanning UX
• —Shop API rate and auth constraints
• —Offline-ish warehouse Wi-Fi realities

Solution highlights

• —Native scanner integration via Capacitor
• —API designed around inventory events, not just CRUD screens
• —Auditability built into adjustment flows

Technologies

Results

• —Aisle-ready scanning instead of desk-bound stock tools
• —Shop catalog sync as part of daily inventory loops
• —Photo and audit support for disputed counts
• —Single mobile codebase for Android and iOS packaging

Lessons learned

• —Warehouse apps die when every action requires typing.
• —Inventory without audit is just another spreadsheet argument.
• —Keep shop connectors replaceable — retail platforms change.