Benefits of using OpenBoxes¶

Open Source¶

Free, open source software

OpenBoxes is entirely free to use. This can be a significant advantage in the face of limited operational resources.

Source Code

Comprehensive stock history

Not only does OpenBoxes allow you to view your inventory at a glance, it provides a historical record of inventory transactions. This data is invaluable to accurately understand and forecast demand for future planning periods.
Extensive inventory tracking

Record different movement types from multiple sources and across different levels of your organization.
- Receipts: Supplier Warehouse
- Movements: Warehouse Facility
- Replenishments: Facility Consumer
- Returns: Warehouse Facility
Product traceability

Record lot numbers for items that have an expiry date to help identify stock that has expired or is about to expire. Lot numbers also provide a means to locate stock when a manufacturer recalls a certain item.
Asset tracking and maintenance

Record serial numbers for items that require lifecycle management (including assets such as computers, routers, hospital beds). Upload and manage documents for each product (e.g. data sheets, product manuals, hazardous material handling requirements).
Grant compliance

Certain grants require that inventory be tracked in very specific ways. Using OpenBoxes comprehensively would allow a site to account for the movement of goods bought with grant monies from vendor, to country, to facility — and the consumption of those items at a facility level.

Customizable inventory levels

Set inventory maximum, minimum, and reorder points per product and location. This allows the user to quickly assess if supplies are overstocked, at appropriate stock levels, or in danger of being out of stock if not reordered soon. It can also be used to automate replenishment orders.
Customizable documents

Ability to design and generate different types of documents (Certificates of Donation, Packing Lists, etc) required for shipping with just a few mouse clicks. Documents can also be uploaded to OpenBoxes to allow operational leadership to save all the relevant shipping documents to a particular shipment within the system.

Robust RESTful API

OpenBoxes offers a RESTful API, which allows external applications to interact with its core functionalities.
Configurable Webhooks

Use webhooks to trigger actions in other systems based on events occurring in OpenBoxes.
Integrate with order management (EDI)

Provide a high-level picture of future demand for any particular item, integrating with demand forecasting software will allow those processes to be automated and more accurate.
Integrate with e-commerce systems

Streamline order processing and improve customer satisfaction by integrating your e-commerce system (i.e. Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento)
Integrate with transport management software

Streamline outbound logistics operations and enhance supply chain efficiency by integration with your TMS of choice. OpenBoxes can provide timeline updates on outbound shipment events and can receive updates to capture delays and Proof of Delivery (POD) notifications.
Integrate with forecasting software

While the OpenBoxes stock usage history can provide a high-level picture of future demand for any particular item, integrating with demand forecasting software will allow those processes to be automated and more accurate.

Enable offline cabilities using data replication

While OpenBoxes supports a hierachy of locations, sometimes it's not possible for all locations to access a centralized server due to power and Internet limitations at that site. In this case, you can manage multiple server installations (a central OpenBoxes server for most locations with good Internet) and separate OB server for each location that does not have a reliable connection to the Internet. Using data replication softare like SymmetricDS, you can bi-directionally sync all data changes between each of these servers.