SchrodingersGat
commented
4 years ago Hi @maholli thanks for starting this discussion - and your contributions elsewhere to the project!
I would be very excited to see pretty much everything you discussed here be implemented. Let's go through the points is some further detail:
The usefulness of an inventory management tool like InvenTree is directly correlated to its ease of use. Too tedious and folks wont use it.
100%
I'm aware of the TOS limitations of the various distributors (as discussed in #541 and #566), but there has got to be a better way. Take the digikey API for example, if the individual registers for a free API account, it appears they could use QR/barcode and Product retrieval API while adhering to the TOS.
I would like to see native integration (e.g. with Digikey) where all the user has to do is supply their API key (could be per-user or per-install).
What I would like to do is use my phone with the InvenTree app to scan bag barcodes.
I have long considered an integrated app to be a key feature for InvenTree - I have started working on this - https://github.com/inventree/inventree-app - but I have little (to no) experience working with Dart and also limited time.
I would love to see the app advanced. One of the key motivating factors would be to use a barcode scanner, with generated QR codes stuck on each inventory item (e.g. tubs / bags / etc).
These activities would take place in a "Parts Cache" tab in InvenTree
I really like this idea, I hadn't thought of having a "temporary working area". It could be quarantined to the current user, so e.g. the person in charge of receiving goods has a list of parts they still have to "deal with".
Part Actions
Everything here sounds really nice. It would probably require some fairly complex "business logic" on the back-end to make the user experience pleasant and simple. But, that's why we're here, right?
I have a fairly streamlined digikey API workflow in python for scanning barcodes, retrieving part/invoice/pricing info, and populating a spreadsheet (android).
Interesting - I think it sounds like there is a lot of functional overlap there!
This would allow laptops, desktops with webcams, and phones to all act as input sources.
Allowing the use of webcams would also assist with - https://github.com/inventree/InvenTree/issues/623 . I currently have no idea how to do this, it would be a super handy feature though!
My Thoughts
Pulling together the thoughts above, there are a few key features I think would be amazing to have:
Webcam Integration
A framework for accepting images from a webcam / connected camera would be great. Useful for uploading part images, or scanning barcodes.
App Integration
The integrated app would bring Inventree usability to everyone's pocket. Even just the ability to quickly check-out parts as you use them.
- Use device's camera for barcode scanning
- The REST API is already there (awaiting this app...)
- Writing in dart (or similar?) for cross-platform support
Accepting Incoming Goods
This is a huge area where usability can be improved. I really like the idea of "scanning in" parts (either via a manufacturer barcode, or some other method) and placing them into a "staging area" - a virtual storage location where the user has to decide what to do with the parts. This "staging area" can be synced between the phone app and desktop interface - the "staged" parts are in a special database table waiting to be sorted and assigned.
The manufacturers barcode (Digikey / Mouser / etc) can be used to automagically work out how each incoming part maps to the database. A generic "manufacturer" framework can be implemented, so a new manufacturer style can be accommodated as needed.
TL;DR
The ideas you enumerated above are really nice, and I'd love to see them integrated!
maholli
rco3
awulf
eeintech
rcludwick
matmair
I wanted to get this discussion started and hopefully avoid myself or anyone else having to reinvent the wheel here.
The usefulness of an inventory management tool like InvenTree is directly correlated to its ease of use. Too tedious and folks wont use it.
Hobbyist and Academic Makerspace Use-cases
I use InvenTree for my home inventory and am starting to integrate it into an academic makerspace. My most common activities with the tool are as follows:
Problem
These two activities (especially 1) are extremely tedious. As far as I can tell, the expected workflow is outlined below.
For adding a part:
I'm aware of the TOS limitations of the various distributors (as discussed in #541 and #566), but there has got to be a better way. Take the digikey API for example, if the individual registers for a free API account, it appears they could use QR/barcode and Product retrieval API while adhering to the TOS.
Envisioned Improvements
What I would like to do is use my phone with the InvenTree app to scan bag barcodes. These activities would take place in a "Parts Cache" tab in InvenTree. The "Parts Cache" would be concurrent between phone/desktop and therefore would allow the user to batch-scan items that can be curated on a desktop, or just scan a single item and act upon it.
Part Actions
Once scanned, the barcode data would be used to retrieve part information from the relevant distributor. The part info is then used to generate a line-item in the "Parts Cache." Next to this line-item would be quick actions that are dependent on whether or not this particular barcode has been entered into InvenTree or not:
Path Forward
I have a fairly streamlined digikey API workflow in python for scanning barcodes, retrieving part/invoice/pricing info, and populating a spreadsheet (android).
I could use help with the barcode scanning into the SQlite db ⭐ Since phone browsers can now easily access hardware like cameras...
Is the best approach is to implement barcode scanning from the browser?
This would allow laptops, desktops with webcams, and phones to all act as input sources.
Interested in hearing everyone's thoughts.