Marine Logistics Application
The client wanted the back-end data in SQL Server and the front-end in Microsoft Excel, because these were the tools readily available across the enterprise.
Functional requirements
- Vessel consumables resupply audit: each ship type must be able to record and report back to a port the resupplies it will need for the next trip.
- Warehouse management: processing shipping picklists and managing stock numbers.
- Supplier lists: suppliers for each warehouse, cost per item, and so on.
- Purchasing system: automatic purchase orders when warehouse stock is low.
Construction
- Custom application ribbon menu.
- User logon system with group policies that determine which parts of the system each user can access.
- Snapshots of fact tables from SQL Server that can only be changed through custom forms.
- Custom forms for all viewing, adding and editing of records.
- All data stored in the SQL Server back-end, accessed only through queries in the Excel front-end.
- Truly multi-user, client-server architecture.
- No third-party tools, so deployment had no licensing issues.
Outcome
- Highly successful.
- A simple user interface for each user group.
- Low maintenance costs thanks to high standards in every object and in all code.
- Quick response times and data availability from a central SQL Server database.
- All security requirements met.