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Technical Specification for Inventory Management System

PostedNovember 21, 2024
UpdatedNovember 21, 2024
ByKevin McCaffrey

  • State: Draft
  • Work Item Link: [Link to backlog item]
  • Key Cross Links: Functional Specification, Disaster Recovery Plan ([Link])
  • Key Individuals:
    • Business Analyst: Jane Doe
    • Product Owner: John Smith
    • Technical Lead: Alex Johnson

Overview

This technical specification outlines the implementation details for the Inventory Management System described in the functional specification. It includes design decisions, technology stack, APIs, data contracts, and monitoring strategies to ensure alignment with the functional requirements.

Technology Stack

  1. Frontend:
    • ReactJS for the web interface.
    • Authentication via Azure Active Directory (AAD).
  2. Backend:
    • .NET Core for the application layer.
    • Azure Functions for event-driven processes (e.g., stock alert notifications).
  3. Database:
    • Azure SQL Database for transactional data storage.
  4. Integration:
    • Integration with ERP system through RESTful APIs.
  5. Notifications:
    • Azure Notification Hubs for email and SMS alerts.
  6. Monitoring:
    • Azure Application Insights for performance and error tracking.

System Architecture

  1. API Gateway: Azure API Management for securing and managing API calls.
  2. Authentication: Role-based access control integrated with AAD.
  3. Data Flow:
    • User-Initiated Flows: Data submitted via the frontend triggers backend processing and database updates.
    • System-Initiated Flows: Event-driven processes (e.g., stock threshold monitoring) trigger notifications.

Implementation Details

1. User Flow 1: Adding New Inventory

Trigger:
User logs into the system and submits inventory details.

Steps:

  1. The frontend collects inventory data (SKU, quantity, location) and validates inputs.
  2. A POST request is sent to the backend API (/api/inventory/add).
  3. The backend processes the request:
    • Validates SKU against the ERP system via the ERP API (GET /api/erp/sku/validate).
    • Updates the database with the new inventory data.
    • Logs the transaction for auditing.
  4. A success response is sent back to the frontend.

Key Components:

  • Frontend: ReactJS form and validation.
  • Backend: .NET Core API.
  • ERP Integration: REST API.

Database Schema Updates:
Table: InventoryRecords

  • SKU (varchar, primary key)
  • Quantity (int)
  • WarehouseLocation (varchar)
  • LastUpdated (datetime)

Monitoring and Logging:

  • API call success rates and latency tracked via Azure Application Insights.
  • Error logs stored in Azure Log Analytics.

2. System Flow: Stock Alert Notification

Trigger:
Inventory levels fall below a predefined threshold.

Steps:

  1. Scheduled Azure Function queries the inventory database every 5 minutes.
  2. For items below the threshold, the function:
    • Retrieves the Inventory Manager’s contact details from the UserManagement database.
    • Sends notifications via Azure Notification Hubs (email and SMS).
  3. Logs the notification event.

Key Components:

  • Azure Function for periodic database polling.
  • Azure Notification Hubs for sending alerts.

Database Schema Updates:
Table: NotificationsLog

  • NotificationID (int, primary key)
  • SKU (varchar)
  • NotificationType (varchar)
  • Timestamp (datetime)

Monitoring and Error Handling:

  • Retry logic for notification failures (up to 3 attempts).
  • Alerts for failed notifications logged in Application Insights.

API Contracts

1. Add Inventory API

  • Endpoint: /api/inventory/add
  • Method: POST
  • Payload: { "SKU": "string", "Quantity": int, "WarehouseLocation": "string" }
  • Response:
    • 200 OK (Success)
    • 400 Bad Request (Validation Error)
    • 500 Internal Server Error (Unhandled Exception)

2. Validate SKU API (ERP Integration)

  • Endpoint: /api/erp/sku/validate
  • Method: GET
  • Response: { "SKU": "string", "IsValid": true }

Testing Plan

  1. Unit Testing:
    • Coverage: 90% of backend methods.
    • Framework: xUnit for .NET.
  2. Integration Testing:
    • Mock ERP API responses to validate system integration.
  3. Performance Testing:
    • Stress test the notification system with 10,000 simultaneous notifications.
  4. User Acceptance Testing (UAT):
    • Test flows with real-world data in Warehouse A.

Rollout and Rollback Plan

Rollout Phases

  • Phase 1 (Beta):
    Deploy the system to Warehouse A. Monitor feedback and performance for 2 months.
  • Phase 2 (Pilot):
    Expand deployment to all warehouses after addressing beta issues.

Rollback Strategy

  • Rollback deployments using Azure DevOps pipelines if critical failures occur.
  • Restore database to the last stable snapshot via Azure SQL automated backups.

Key Monitoring Signals

  • API latency (target: <200 ms).
  • Inventory update success rate (target: 99.95%).
  • Notification delivery time (target: <60 seconds).

Alternative Designs Considered

  1. Event Grid for Notifications:
    • Chosen Azure Functions and Notification Hubs for simplicity.
  2. MongoDB for Inventory Records:
    • Opted for Azure SQL to leverage existing expertise.

This specification provides a clear roadmap for implementing the Inventory Management System, ensuring alignment with functional requirements while addressing performance, security, and operational needs.

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