Slashdot Mirror
Open Source Inventory Control Systems?
RedBear writes "I work for a small non-profit (under 10 people) as the "tech" person (I deal mostly with simple computer problems and website work). The organization is focused on marine safety training and injury prevention. We have a lot of products for sale, mostly small things like bandanas, signal mirrors, first aid kits, etc. We also have a lot of training equipment that we loan out, mostly big things like PFDs (personal flotation devices), immersion suits and even huge inflatable survival rafts. Also, both for sale and loan, we have a ton of books, videos, brochures and displays (for conferences and such). Some of the training equipment for loan is only to be loaned to instructors certified by our organization. We're in the process of looking for a good inventory control system. It takes two people many hours every week keeping track of what equipment comes in and goes out, and when a bunch of orders come in at once they literally can't keep up. We do have a computerized database system but it was designed for the organization from scratch and uses FileMaker Pro. There's nothing wrong with that, but it really doesn't work well. It's confusing, and doesn't integrate with any other system, like our mailing list database or any sort of invoicing system." Ask Slashdot last touched on this subject with this article which inventory control with handhelds. While I'm sure such functionality would be appreciated, what other Open Source technologies would be necessary if you were going to implement across-the-board inventory control, and how well do they all integrate with each other and with the proprietary inventory control solutions?
I'd rather not watch my organization walk into the trap of a big, expensive, bloated, proprietary, non-extensible system. And since I'm the 'tech' person and even I know next to nothing about databases and inventory control systems, it really needs to be fairly easy to admin and set up. We have the funds to buy such things as a dedicated server for this, but a dedicated server and a bunch of proprietary terminals is something we'd like to avoid. We've looked around town at libraries and various stores and searched the net and saw a lot of that sort of thing. A lot of specialized hardware and proprietary software.
I'm thinking of something that might be accessible through a web browser, for searches at the very least. Since it needs to incorporate some sort of bar code reading hardware, I suppose the actual computers attached to the readers will need some sort of client software beyond a web browser, but if so it would be great if that client software were available for different platforms, in case we ever do move away from the Macs. If we need to move all the OS9 computers the OSX we can do that, but replacing all the hardware is really out of the question until they reach the end of their useful lives. (It doesn't look too good though, we searched for inventory control systems on Google and got about 200,000 hits. Add the word "Mac" and it goes down to about 7.)
So how about it? Is this a pipe dream? I'm not necessarily looking for Open Source here but it would be nice. I know there are thousands of businesses and organizations out there who already incorporate this type of system for inventory control, so what do you use? Any recommendations? This is a huge project to research and we need help just getting started!"
"What we're looking for needs to do all of the following, if possible:
- Loans:
- maintain inventory of equipment owned
- keep track of when loaned equipment is overdue
flag and automatically generate alerts about overdue items for the person(s) in charge of gear
verify whether or not an item can be loaned to the person borrowing it (are they listed in our database as a certified instructor, etc.)
tally the number of times a loan item is used over time
track length of time an item is in service
- Sales
- keep inventory of saleable items
- generate invoices and purchase orders
- tally sales and receipts
- generate alerts when saleable item inventory is low
- keep track of who buys what (by integrating with our contact/mailing list database, this is for internal use only)
- General:
- use bar codes and/or RFID tags to maintain inventory and check items in and out (both unique tags permanently attached to large items and generic tags that would be scanned for each sale of a small item from a group of identical items)
- be able to import and export data to/from FileMaker Pro, Excel, etc.
- incorporate Dewey Decimal system (or similar) for books and videos
- generate reports of contacts sorted any way we want, e.g., by type and frequency of training, other groups they are associated with, etc.
- conform to modern interoperable software standards (SQL, TCP/IP, SOAP, or whatever might be involved in a project like this)
- work with Macs, Windows, Linux, etc. (because of the above standards)
- have the possibility of integrating with a MySQL database on our remotely hosted website, allowing people to reserve gear or order items online (is this crazy talk?)
- be able to incorporate current inventory numbering system (is this crazy talk too?)
I'd rather not watch my organization walk into the trap of a big, expensive, bloated, proprietary, non-extensible system. And since I'm the 'tech' person and even I know next to nothing about databases and inventory control systems, it really needs to be fairly easy to admin and set up. We have the funds to buy such things as a dedicated server for this, but a dedicated server and a bunch of proprietary terminals is something we'd like to avoid. We've looked around town at libraries and various stores and searched the net and saw a lot of that sort of thing. A lot of specialized hardware and proprietary software.
I'm thinking of something that might be accessible through a web browser, for searches at the very least. Since it needs to incorporate some sort of bar code reading hardware, I suppose the actual computers attached to the readers will need some sort of client software beyond a web browser, but if so it would be great if that client software were available for different platforms, in case we ever do move away from the Macs. If we need to move all the OS9 computers the OSX we can do that, but replacing all the hardware is really out of the question until they reach the end of their useful lives. (It doesn't look too good though, we searched for inventory control systems on Google and got about 200,000 hits. Add the word "Mac" and it goes down to about 7.)
So how about it? Is this a pipe dream? I'm not necessarily looking for Open Source here but it would be nice. I know there are thousands of businesses and organizations out there who already incorporate this type of system for inventory control, so what do you use? Any recommendations? This is a huge project to research and we need help just getting started!"
After reviewing all your requirements, I'd recommend staying with FileMaker Pro and growing or redesigning your existing solution, barring the discovery of any already existing open source solution.
I've been designing FileMaker solutions for over 10 years, and I believe that it has all of the connectivity that you have specified -- you simply need to find someone who can put it together for you.
Plus, as you probably already know, each FileMaker client can share databases with other clients on the network. For a small number of concurrent users, this is perfectly adequate and saves the additional cost of a dedicated server. However, if you do require a dedicated server in the future, your solution will run on that server without modification.
No client exists for Linux, but you can share FileMaker databases with a web interface -- either one you design yourself or with instant web publishing which will create browser layouts based upon your FileMaker layouts. FileMaker also provides connectivity via XML, JDBC, ODBC, SQL, etc.
Don't automatically discount FileMaker based upon an unsatisfactory solution. Include the possiblity of redesigning it in your research.
Well if you need it cross platform the obvious choice is java. You also want a web interface, which could be jsp or php. mysql or postgres is the database choice, because recommending anything else on /. will get you stoned. Java seems to be a good choice also because you can use it on handheld devices and such. Problem is that you're going to need to hire some software people to make your database. There might be one that exists already, but it wont be tailored to your exact needs. You can get a small software company to make it for you, or hire some contract coders to get the job done. It isn't a hard thing, people make stuff like this every day.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
I did some looking for complex beasts like that for another project, and couldn't find anything as complex as you're looking for closed or open without buying a huge accounting package which will cover most of what you mention in a cumbersome, ugly and expensive fashion.
.02. Best of luck.
What you need is a fairly customized db/pos system, and it won't be a good fit out of the box. My suggestion is that you find a serious Linux geek with an interest in what your company provides to take it a peice at a time in trade for services you provide.
He/She can start with SQL ledger, which is web-based, open source and PostgresQL (et. al.) backed and works well. Then s/he can add the features you like a piece at a time. You'll only need one Linux box in the shop for this, as all the Macs can get to it via their browsers, and it can run in parallel with your current system until it subplants it's functionality entirely.
Just my
So you can either buy a Windows 2000 server and the software to go alog with it, or get a consulting firm to write one for you that does what you want and runs in your platform of choice. I doubt you'll be getting a free lunch, here.
Let's even assume there's something like this that's open source and runs on Linux (or BSD). Do you really think you're going to get everything you want, assuming the guy writing it hasn't decided to give it up to take care of his cats or something? And you've said you don't have the skills to modify it to begin with. So I fail to see what the 'open source would be great' point is about.
See subject. You need to either learn how to code such a beast (I'd make it web driven for the front end, using stored procedures on SQL to drive the backend.) or find/pay someone else to code it for you.
No solution is going to be perfectly suited to your needs, and modifying/retrofitting an existing system might be more trouble than it's worth.
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Well, I agree with the first poster above. Stick with Filemaker. Have you checked out the latest versions? Have you checked out the various filemaker communities on the web? It's not a "big" community, but it's there.
Filemaker *can* do all of the stuff you want. Do a little research, ask some questions, maybe even pay for some consulting if you can afford.
Also you can write bits and pieces yourself on your Mac OS X system with Perl or something, or again pay someone to do it. For instance if you need to convert data from one format to another or something. But I'd leave filemaker at the core.
I've personally done stuff like this with MySQL and custom web pages, etc. But it takes a long time to write and test and it has to grow along with the business. Rolling it out from scratch will be frustrating, you'll get going faster with filemaker and not lose your experience. Too bad you don't have the opportunity to start with Free software (freedom from lock-in) but when it comes down to it I'd stick with filemaker.
And don't be ashamed of using Macs, they are MUCH easier to work with. Throw in OS X and you've got the dream machine for doing this kind of stuff.
PS: There is a bar code reader that you can use with your handheld. I've never used it but it looks neat. It works with the Sharp Zaurus which you can program yourself in C, Java, Python, Ruby, Perl, etc....
Actually, buidling POS terminals isn't too bad.
For a POS system you really need a cash drawer (Indiana Cash Drawer?), receipt printer, and a barcode scanner. To display barcodes, I recommend a barcode font, or writing a control that can render them for you. It's typically easier to do it with a font.
Cash drawers typically hang off a parallel or serial port, as barcode scanners. Though I'm not sure about for macs, as I've just started doing this for PCs.
Cash drawers really only need a control code to eject. Since you're a small shop, you can just hardcode it in, unless you wanted to create a definition file. Receipt printers are much of the same, requiring control codes to activate.
This probably could be all done within FileMaker, though I'm not sure. It's not terribly difficult to do, you just need to be able to take some time to sit with the specs for the scanner/drawer/printer and then you should be able to cobble it together fairly quickly.
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Unfortunately, they were all custom jobs. The company I worked for strove to build a one product meets all needs but ended up modifying systems constantly to do what you are doing.
;-)
For example, built a great one to monitor long term paper records. All the records were placed in a box and bar-coded. The box was placed on shelf position that was bar-coded as well. Handheld computers scanned the box and the shelf location and the computer knew where it was at all times. When a box was requested the system knew who it was sent to and who was responsible for it and even printed a UPS shipping label. When it returned they just scanned the box and the shelf where they dropped it. It was easy as pie for the users a real no brainer.
Trouble is the whole thing involved multiple computers a large database, 5 handhelds, wireless, modems, and tech support. Ran DOS and Novell along with a Clipper based software system. It was reliable (no Windows) issues. Had Linux been available back then with support it probably would have run that with a MySQL or PostgreSQL backend.
It's entirely possible to find a geek to build something for you. Looks like you already did with FileMaker Pro. It would be possible to find someone to tweak it to make it meet your needs or build something new. But anything sophisticated will of course cost money to build unless you have a geek on staff.
Since you have OSX, it contains all you really need for tools and building blocks. All you need to do is turn on the Apache PHP module running under OSX. Install PostgreSQL and then setup PHP to talk to it. Then find someone who knows PHP and pay them to build you a web based inventory package. You have all the tools you need. Heck, with the Developer CD you have C/C++/ObjC/Java as well. Go to town!
Find some Mac Programmers and get some quotes. Linux programmers or PHP programmers could do it just as well.
Find a local Linux Users Group and the local Mac User Groups. Check with the schools Computer Instructors see if any students would be interested in a side project.
make a big text file with non-standard field delimiters like double tabs or a UTF8 character. Write some perl cgi scripts to insert, delete, and edit fields. Have no file locking, but have the cgi script interface instruct the user to scream "Ok don't nobody do nuthing for a sec !" right before he pushes "submit". Remember to put no comments in any of the code, except for single cryptic one reminding you when your girlfriend's birthday is.
Then quit, leaving the non-profit org and whomever they hire to replace you fucked. Start a dot-com with the code you took with you, make 3 million before getting bought out.
hey, it worked for me.
Posting AC because in this economy someone might actually try to hunt me down and kill me.
Here is an open source ERP/CRM system. They do all this:
* Optimize your Inventory
* Enter Sales Orders
* Receive Orders from the Web
* Create Invoices and record Shipments
* Collect Receipts (cash, credit cards) & match with Bank Statements
* Generate or enter Purchase Orders
* Record Supplier Receipts and Invoices
* Pay your Suppliers
* Enter manual Journals
* Print reports and statements