Transform Inventory Management from the Field. An App that Replaces Excel and "Sticks".
Inventory management is prone to mismatches, increased search time, and shortages/excess stock when input delays, manual transcription, and reliance on specific individuals accumulate.
Finite Field designs and develops iOS/Android compatible apps + easy-to-operate admin panels for inventory operations in construction, logistics, and manufacturing.
Field DX (Digital Transformation) often fails if it's just "built". That's why we incorporate "sticking points" like manual-free UI/UX, authority/audit logs, offline support, and multi-language capabilities into the design from the start, creating inventory management that continues to be used.
Common Issues in Inventory Management (Limits of Excel)
What Inventory Apps Can Do
Inventory management apps are most effective when they enable the cycle of In/Out -> Transfer -> Stocktaking -> Discrepancy Handling to be completed via "field input".
Inbound/Outbound (In/Out Management)
Stock Transfer (Between Locations/Sites)
Stocktaking (Stocktaking App)
Visualization of Stock Trends, Discrepancies, History (Admin Panel)
Design Requirements for "Sticky" Inventory Management (Failure Avoidance Checklist)
Even if an inventory app is introduced, it's meaningless if not used on-site. Common failure patterns and avoidance strategies are organized below.
1) Manual-Free UI (Don't Underestimate Education Costs)
If the UI is difficult, the field will eventually return to paper or Excel. We limit buttons, input items, and flows to design a system where frequently used operations can be done without hesitation.
2) Authority Design + Approval Flow + Audit Logs (Inventory Needs "Control")
Without roles or approval flows, risks of input errors and data tampering remain. We design viewing/editing permissions and operation logs for each role, creating a system that management can operate with peace of mind.
3) Offline and Retry Queue (Field Operations Don't Stop)
If input is impossible in weak signal areas, transcription work returns, leading to double management. We design with offline input + auto-send on reconnection (retry queue) as a prerequisite.
4) Multi-Language Support (Reduce Errors and Shorten Training)
Just having language switching reduces input errors and education costs. We incorporate multi-language support as needed.
Scope of Service (App + Admin + Backend in One Stop)
Inventory management doesn't work with "just an app". Master management, authority settings, history checks, aggregation/output, and other management tasks remain. We handle the following in one batch. Development mainly uses Flutter to build iOS/Android with the same code base, suppressing costs, duration, and subsequent management costs.
- iOS/Android App Development
- App Design
- Web Admin Panel Design
- Server/Database Design
Achievements (System Development Including Inventory & Operations)
Inventory management yields results when designed to include operations where stock moves (Orders, Shipping, Billing, History), not just "stock numbers".
Link Mall (EC/Inventory Management & Order-to-Shipment SaaS)
Centralized orders via SNS/Email, completing product registration, ordering, and shipping notifications on a smartphone. Centralized inventory and billing on the admin panel, equipped with authority and audit logs for immediate operation.
Lower hurdles for starting an online shop, enabling operations from 'registration, management, to shipping notification' without a PC.
Centralized orders via SNS/Email, completing operations on a smartphone.
Equipped with authority and audit logs for immediate operation.
Member-Only EC & Order Management System (Stock History & Auto-Deduction)
Designed to complete order-related operations including product/inventory management, estimates, orders, and billing in one system.
Improve inventory accuracy and link with orders.
Built a mechanism to check stock change date/time, amount, and quantity before/after change, and automatically deduct stock upon order receipt.
Visualization of stock changes and automatic deduction.
Car Delivery Field (Example of Business Management App Including Inventory)
Organized inventory management, customer information management, and sales process records into one app, allowing business data to be checked and updated from anywhere via smartphone.
Check and update business data from anywhere.
Centralized management with a smartphone app.
Mobile support.
Development Process (MVP -> Field Intro -> Phased Expansion)
For inventory management, intro with minimum features -> improve while operating is a process less likely to fail than building everything from the start.
1. Free Consultation (Zoom Available)
Sort out current situation (Excel/Paper/Existing System) and issues
2. Requirements Definition
Determine Must/Should/Could, necessity of authority, approval, offline, multi-language
3. Rough Estimate
Present rough cost and duration (Initial guess with AI estimate is also possible)
4. Screen Design (Wireframes)
Create flows that field staff won't get lost in
5. Development & Testing
Build operations including admin panel, logs, and aggregation
6. Release & Maintenance
Improve and expand while monitoring usage retention
Duration & Cost Estimates (Model Case)
Internal Operation / Order System
Duration: 2 months+ / Cost: 2M JPY+ Assumes centralizing inventory, ordering, and approval flows with Web + App, improving efficiency with authority management and audit logs.
AI Auto-Estimate (Screen Unit Price Guide)
Mobile: ¥60,000/screen Web: ¥40,000/screen Guide for getting a rough idea.
Excel Inventory vs Inventory App
Excel is excellent, but for inventory, which requires "field input" and "history/control", costs tend to balloon as operations increase.
| Aspect | Excel Operation | Inventory App Operation |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Batch transcription -> Delays/Omissions occur | Input on spot, suppress omissions with required fields |
| History | Hard to track why it moved | Easy to track with change history/operation logs |
| Control | Ambiguous sharing boundaries | Stable operation with role-based authority/approval |
| Location | Files easily split | Easy centralized management by location/staff |
| Environment | Input stops with weak signal -> Transcription returns | Hard to stop with offline input + retry |
| Aggregation | Time-consuming manual work | Easy auto-aggregation, search, and filtering |