Project Phases

1. 1. Requirements Gathering
• Inventory Tracking: Real-time tracking of inventory levels, including stock in and stock out.
• Order Management: Efficient handling of purchase orders, sales orders, and returns.
• Alerts and Notifications: Automated alerts for low stock levels, reorder points, and expiration dates.
• Reporting and Analytics: Comprehensive reporting and analytics for inventory trends and performance metrics.
• User Roles and Permissions: Define user roles and permissions to ensure secure access to inventory data.
• Integration: Integration with existing ERP and CRM systems for seamless data flow.
• Scalability: Ability to scale operations as Nike grows.
2. 2. System Architecture Design
• Microservices Architecture: Chosen for its scalability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance. This architecture allows different components of the application to be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.
• Cloud-Native Architecture: Utilize cloud services to ensure scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Technology Stack:
• Front End: React.js for UI, Redux for state management, Material-UI for responsive design.
• Back End: Node.js with Express.js for building RESTful APIs, optionally Spring Boot (Java) for enterprise-level applications.
• Database: MongoDB for its scalability and flexibility with unstructured data.
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0 for secure user authentication, JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for stateless session management.
• Payment Integration: Stripe API for processing payments, optionally PayPal for additional payment options.
• Hosting: AWS, including EC2 for compute, S3 for storage, RDS for managed databases, optionally Lambda for serverless functions; alternatively Azure for cloud services.
• Containerization: Docker for containerizing applications, Kubernetes for container orchestration., Kubernetes for container orchestration.
3. 3. Development
• Front End
• Component-Based Architecture: Develop reusable UI components for consistency and maintainability.
• Responsive Design: Ensure the application is mobile-friendly and works across different screen sizes.
• Client-Side Routing: Implement navigation using React Router to provide a seamless user experience.
• Back End
• RESTful Services: Develop RESTful services using Node.js and Express.js to handle user requests.
• Database Integration: Implement MongoDB or PostgreSQL for data storage, ensuring efficient data access and manipulation.
• Authentication: Implemented JWT-based authentication to secure API endpoints and manage user sessions.
• Integration: Integrate with existing ERP and CRM systems to ensure seamless data flow.
4. 4. Testing
• Unit Testing: Test individual components and functions to ensure they work as expected.
• Integration Testing: Verify that different parts of the system work together correctly.
• System Testing: Test the entire application to ensure all components work together seamlessly.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Conduct testing with real users to validate that the system meets their needs.
• Performance Testing: Assess the system’s performance under various loads to ensure it can handle high traffic.
5. 5. Deployment
• CI/CD Pipeline: Implement Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
• Cloud Hosting: Use AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform for scalable and reliable hosting.
• Containerization: Use Docker to containerize the application for consistent deployment across environments.
• Orchestration: Kubernetes for managing containerized applications and ensuring high availability.
• Monitoring: Set up monitoring tools to track system performance and detect any issues.
6. Challenges & Solutions
• Integration with Existing Systems: Ensuring seamless integration of new inventory management technologies with Nike’s existing IT infrastructure.
• Accuracy and Consistency : Maintaining accurate and consistent inventory data across multiple channels and locations.
• Demand Forecasting : Accurately predicting customer demand to optimize inventory levels and reduce stockouts or overstocking.
• Employee Training and Adaptation : Training employees to effectively use new inventory management tools and adapt to new processes.
• Advanced Inventory Management System : Implement a robust inventory management system with real-time tracking and automated updates.
• Demand Forecasting Tools: Use advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to improve demand forecasting accuracy.
• RFID Technology: Implement RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) for precise inventory tracking and reduced manual errors.
• Training Programs: Develop comprehensive training programs for employees to ensure effective use of new systems and adherence to new processes.
• Integration Middleware: Utilize middleware solutions to facilitate seamless integration between new inventory systems and existing IT infrastructure.
7. Outcomes
• Improved Inventory Accuracy: Real-time tracking and accurate inventory levels reduce discrepancies and stockouts.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined order management processes and automated alerts improve operational efficiency.
• Informed Decision Making: Comprehensive reporting and analytics provide insights into inventory trends and performance metrics.
• User Satisfaction: High levels of satisfaction due to a user-friendly interface and reliable performance.
• Scalability: The system can handle an increasing number of users and transactions without performance degradation.
• Positive Feedback: Gather positive feedback from users, indicating the system’s effectiveness in managing inventory.