Future Development Roadmap ========================== This roadmap outlines planned features and enhancements for the LUStores inventory management system. It provides visibility into upcoming development priorities and helps users understand the system's evolution. .. note:: **Timeline Disclaimer**: Timelines are estimates and subject to change based on resource availability, user feedback, and technical discoveries. Features are listed in priority order within each phase. .. contents:: Table of Contents :local: :depth: 2 Vision and Priorities --------------------- Strategic Goals ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LUStores roadmap focuses on three strategic pillars: 1. **User Empowerment**: Enable departments to manage their own inventories with minimal IT overhead 2. **Workflow Automation**: Reduce manual data entry and streamline procurement processes 3. **Data-Driven Insights**: Provide analytics to optimize inventory levels and reduce costs Development Principles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - **Backward Compatibility**: Existing data and workflows remain supported - **Incremental Delivery**: Features rolled out in usable increments, not big-bang releases - **User Feedback**: Regular user testing and feedback collection guides priorities - **Security First**: All features undergo security review before deployment Near-Term Features (3-6 Months) -------------------------------- SSO Integration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Status**: Planning **Overview**: Integrate with university single sign-on (SSO) systems for seamless authentication without separate passwords. **Key Features**: - **Shibboleth Integration**: Support for Shibboleth-based university SSO - **SAML 2.0 Support**: Standard SAML authentication flow - **OAuth2/OIDC**: Modern OAuth2 and OpenID Connect support - **Automatic User Provisioning**: Create user accounts on first login - **Attribute Mapping**: Map university roles to LUStores permissions - **Fallback Authentication**: Keep local accounts for non-SSO users **Benefits**: - No separate password to remember - Centralized access management - Automatic deprovisioning when users leave - Compliance with university security policies - Reduced help desk burden **Technical Approach**: - passport-saml library for SAML integration - Environment-specific SSO configuration - Graceful fallback to local auth for development - Session management remains PostgreSQL-based **User Impact**: - Users click "Login with University SSO" button - Redirected to university login page - Authenticated and returned to LUStores - First-time users automatically provisioned with default role **Timeline**: Q2 2025 User Self-Service Stores ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Status**: Design Phase **Overview**: Allow departments to manage their own isolated inventory stores without central IT involvement. **Key Features**: - **Multi-Tenant Architecture**: Complete data isolation between stores - **Store Creation Wizard**: Guided setup for new departmental stores - **Delegated Administration**: Department admins manage their own users - **Cross-Store Transfers**: Transfer items between stores with audit trail - **Consolidated Reporting**: University-wide analytics across all stores - **Isolated Charge Codes**: Each store manages its own charge codes - **Custom Branding**: Store-specific logos and naming **Benefits**: - Departments control their own inventory - No central IT bottleneck for adding items - Better visibility into departmental assets - Scalable to 100+ departments - Reduced training burden (each dept trains own users) **Technical Approach**: - ``store_id`` foreign key added to all major tables - Row-level security policies for data isolation - Separate database schemas per store (optional) - Store context in user session - API endpoints scoped to current store **User Workflows**: 1. **Creating a Store**: - System admin approves store request - Store wizard guides setup (name, admin, charge codes) - Initial admin user created automatically - Store appears in global store directory 2. **Switching Stores** (for multi-store users): - Dropdown in top navigation bar - Select desired store - UI refreshes with store-specific data - Session maintains current store context 3. **Managing Store Users**: - Store admin adds/removes users - Assign charge codes specific to this store - Set store-level permissions **Timeline**: Q3 2025 Medium-Term Features (6-12 Months) ----------------------------------- Automated Invoice Generation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Status**: Requirements Gathering **Overview**: Automatically generate PDF invoices from purchase orders and sales transactions for accounting and record-keeping. **Key Features**: - **PDF Invoice Templates**: Professional, customizable templates - **Automatic Generation**: Create invoices on order receipt or sale completion - **Email Dispatch**: Send invoices directly to suppliers/customers - **Invoice Numbering**: Sequential invoice numbers with prefixes - **Multi-Currency Support**: Handle international suppliers - **VAT Calculation**: Automatic VAT computation and display - **Attachment to Records**: PDFs stored with orders/sales - **Batch Export**: Export multiple invoices as ZIP archive **Benefits**: - Eliminate manual invoice creation - Professional, consistent documentation - Faster supplier payments (quicker invoice turnaround) - Improved audit trail - Reduced paperwork errors **Technical Approach**: - puppeteer or pdfkit for PDF generation - Jinja2-style templates for customization - S3-compatible storage for PDF files - Email integration via SendGrid or university mail server - Background jobs for batch generation **Invoice Templates**: - Purchase Order Invoice (to suppliers) - Sales Invoice (to customers/departments) - Credit Note (for returns) - Packing Slip (for order fulfillment) **Timeline**: Q3 2025 Order Scanning and Barcode Support ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Status**: Research Phase **Overview**: Use barcodes and QR codes for faster order receiving, stock taking, and item location. **Key Features**: - **Barcode Generation**: Generate barcodes for all inventory items - **QR Code Support**: QR codes with embedded item URLs - **Mobile Scanning**: Web-based camera scanning (no app required) - **Batch Receiving**: Scan multiple items during order receipt - **Stock Counting**: Barcode-assisted physical inventory counts - **Location Labeling**: QR codes on shelves link to stored items - **Supplier Barcode Mapping**: Map supplier barcodes to internal SKUs **Benefits**: - Faster order receiving (scan instead of type) - Reduced data entry errors - Improved stock count accuracy - Mobile-friendly workflows - Better location tracking **Technical Approach**: - ZXing barcode library (JavaScript) - HTML5 camera API for scanning - PWA (Progressive Web App) for offline scanning - Barcode formats: EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, QR Code - Print-friendly barcode sheets (Avery label templates) **User Workflows**: 1. **Receiving an Order**: - Open order on mobile device - Scan each item's barcode - System marks item as received - Stock automatically updated 2. **Finding an Item**: - Scan item barcode or SKU - System shows location and current stock - Navigate to physical location 3. **Stock Count**: - Start stock count session - Scan items in location - System compares with expected quantities - Generate discrepancy report **Timeline**: Q4 2025 Long-Term Features (12+ Months) -------------------------------- Demand Forecasting and Pattern Prediction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Status**: Concept Exploration **Overview**: Machine learning-powered demand forecasting to predict future inventory needs and optimize stock levels. **Key Features**: - **Seasonal Trend Analysis**: Detect seasonal patterns (e.g., academic calendar) - **Auto-Reorder Suggestions**: Predict when to reorder based on consumption - **Budget Forecasting**: Estimate future spend by category - **Anomaly Detection**: Alert on unusual consumption patterns - **Lead Time Optimization**: Factor in supplier lead times - **What-If Scenarios**: Model impact of policy changes - **Customizable Thresholds**: Set minimum/maximum stock levels per item **Benefits**: - Prevent stockouts of critical items - Reduce excess inventory and waste - Lower carrying costs - Proactive budget planning - Data-driven purchasing decisions - Identify slow-moving items for discontinuation **Technical Approach**: - Time-series forecasting (Prophet or ARIMA models) - Python scikit-learn for ML pipelines - Historical data: 2+ years for accurate predictions - Weekly batch jobs for model training - Dashboard visualizations with Recharts/D3.js - Configurable sensitivity thresholds **Prediction Models**: 1. **Consumption Forecast**: Predict next 3 months usage by item 2. **Stock-Out Risk**: Probability of running out before reorder 3. **Budget Projection**: Estimated spend by department/category 4. **Seasonal Index**: Seasonal multipliers for each item **Data Requirements**: - Minimum 12 months of historical data - At least 10 transactions per item - External factors: academic calendar, special events **User Interface**: - Forecasting Dashboard page - Visual graphs: historical vs predicted consumption - Reorder recommendations with confidence scores - Export forecasts to Excel/CSV - Alert system for high stock-out risk items **Privacy Considerations**: - Aggregate data only (no individual user patterns) - Department-level analysis (not user-level) - Opt-out for sensitive categories **Timeline**: 2026 Additional Features Under Consideration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These features are being evaluated but not yet scheduled: **Advanced Reporting**: - Custom report builder (drag-and-drop interface) - Scheduled email reports - Power BI / Tableau integration - Real-time dashboards with WebSocket updates **Mobile App**: - Native iOS/Android app (React Native) - Offline mode for stock counts - Push notifications for low stock alerts - Camera scanning optimized for mobile **Supplier Portal**: - Self-service portal for suppliers - View purchase order status - Upload invoices directly - Update product catalogs **Asset Management**: - Track high-value assets with serial numbers - Loan/checkout system for equipment - Maintenance scheduling - Asset depreciation tracking **Integration APIs**: - REST API for third-party integrations - Webhooks for event notifications - ERP system connectors (SAP, Oracle) - Accounting software export (QuickBooks, Xero) Contributing to the Roadmap ---------------------------- How to Request Features ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We welcome feature requests from users! Here's how to contribute: **1. Check Existing Requests**: - Review this roadmap to see if your feature is already planned - Check GitHub Issues for similar requests **2. Submit a Feature Request**: - Email: inventory-support@university.edu - GitHub Issues: `LUStores Feature Requests `_ - In-app feedback: Settings > Feedback **3. Provide Details**: - **Problem**: What problem does this solve? - **Use Case**: How would you use this feature? - **Frequency**: How often would you use it? - **Workaround**: How do you currently handle this? - **Priority**: How important is this to your workflow? Beta Testing Program ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Want early access to new features? Join our beta testing program: **Benefits**: - Test new features before general release - Influence feature design with feedback - Direct communication with development team - Recognition in release notes **Commitment**: - Test features within 1 week of release - Provide structured feedback via surveys - Report bugs and usability issues - 2-3 hours per month testing time **Sign Up**: Email inventory-support@university.edu with subject "Beta Tester" Roadmap Updates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This roadmap is updated quarterly (January, April, July, October) based on: - Development progress - User feedback and feature requests - Technical discoveries - Resource availability - Strategic university priorities **Last Updated**: January 2025 **Next Review**: April 2025 Completed Features (Reference) ------------------------------- Recently Delivered (2024-2025) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Three-Tier Permission System** (Completed: December 2024) - Role-based access: User, Manager, System Admin - Charge code assignments for fine-grained access - 45 granular permissions for advanced control **Location and Unit Tracking** (Completed: December 2024) - Physical location field for warehouse management - Measurement unit field (pieces, kg, meters, etc.) - Location shown in picking lists and sale printouts **Draft Quote System** (Completed: December 2024) - Session-based draft quotes (4-hour expiration) - Saved persistent quotes with names - Quote → Sale conversion workflow **Charge Code Validation** (Completed: January 2025) - 6-rule validation system - Validity date checking - On-hold status support - Category restrictions - User authorization **Payment Reconciliation** (Completed: January 2025) - Separate "completed" and "paid" sale states - Mark sales as paid for accounting - Charge code financial reports **Comprehensive Documentation** (Completed: January 2025) - User tutorials for all workflows - Developer guides (database, deployment, code structure) - FAQ and troubleshooting guides - System recovery procedures - Public roadmap (this document) Release History ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **v2.0** (January 2025): Permission system and charge code validation **v1.8** (December 2024): Location/unit tracking and draft quotes **v1.5** (October 2024): Invoice PDF uploads and supplier management **v1.2** (August 2024): Purchase order system **v1.0** (June 2024): Initial release with inventory and sales Contact and Support ------------------- Questions about the roadmap? Get in touch: - **Email**: inventory-support@university.edu - **Documentation**: https://st7ma784.github.io/LUStores/ - **GitHub**: https://github.com/st7ma784/LUStores - **Feature Requests**: Submit via GitHub Issues or email We're committed to building a world-class inventory management system for higher education. Your feedback shapes our roadmap!