Overview
As a SmartShelf Manager, you are responsible for inventory operations, task assignment, and utilizing analytics to optimize warehouse efficiency. This guide covers your workflows and best practices.Manager Capabilities
According to the permission matrix, managers have the following privileges:| Feature | Access Level |
|---|---|
| Dashboard Overview | ✅ Full Access |
| View Inventory | ✅ Full Access |
| Add/Edit Inventory | ✅ Full Access |
| Delete Inventory | ✅ Full Access |
| User Management | ❌ Admin Only |
| Create Tasks | ✅ Full Access |
| View All Tasks | ✅ Full Access |
| Update Task Status | ✅ Full Access |
| View Analytics | ✅ Full Access |
| FEFO Ordering | ✅ Full Access |
| Demand Forecast | ✅ Full Access |
Dashboard Overview
Your manager dashboard provides comprehensive operational insights:Key Metrics
Total Items
Overall count of inventory items you manage
Low Stock
Items below reorder threshold requiring attention
Expiring Soon
Items expiring within the next 7 days
Active Tasks
Tasks currently pending or in progress
Live Alerts Feed
Your dashboard includes a real-time notification feed showing:- 🔴 Critical alerts: Items expiring in 1-2 days
- 🟠 High priority: Items expiring in 3-7 days or very low stock
- 🟡 Medium priority: Low stock items
- 🔵 Informational: General updates
- Product name and category
- Human-readable message
- Timestamp
Inventory Management
Adding New Inventory
Enter Product Details
Fill in all required fields:
- Product Name: Clear, descriptive name
- Category: Select appropriate category (Dairy, Bakery, Meat, Seafood, etc.)
- SKU: Use consistent format (e.g., DA-001, BK-002)
- Quantity: Initial stock quantity
- Purchase Date: Date item was received
- Expiry Date: Product expiration date
- Supplier: Vendor or supplier name
Updating Inventory
Regularly update inventory quantities as items are sold or consumed to maintain accurate forecasting.
Deleting Inventory Items
Task Creation and Assignment
Creating Tasks for Workers
Enter Task Details
- Description: Clear, actionable task description (e.g., “Inspect expired items in dairy section”)
- Assigned To: Select a worker from the dropdown list
Common Task Types
Expiry Checks
“Inspect items expiring in [category] section”
Stock Replenishment
“Restock [product] - current level: [X] units”
Quality Control
“Check quality of [product] batch [SKU]”
Inventory Audit
“Verify physical count for [category] items”
Monitoring Task Progress
Track tasks through three statuses:- Pending: Task assigned but not started
- In Progress: Worker has begun the task
- Completed: Task finished
FEFO Ordering Management
FEFO (First Expired, First Out) ensures items closest to expiration are prioritized for dispatch.
Understanding FEFO Priority
Items are categorized by urgency based on days until expiry:- Critical (🔴): ≤ 3 days until expiry
- High (🟠): 4-7 days until expiry
- Medium (🟡): 8-14 days until expiry
- Low (🔵): > 14 days until expiry
Using FEFO Dashboard
Your dashboard displays FEFO items in priority order:FEFO Best Practices
Daily Review
Daily Review
Check the FEFO list at the start of each shift to identify critical items.
Worker Communication
Worker Communication
Create tasks for workers to prioritize high-urgency items for customer orders.
Stock Rotation
Stock Rotation
Use FEFO data to inform physical stock rotation in the warehouse.
Supplier Coordination
Supplier Coordination
Share expiry data with suppliers to improve delivery scheduling.
Demand Forecasting
Understanding Forecast Analytics
The demand forecasting system provides 7-day projections based on:- Historical consumption patterns
- Daily usage rates
- Trend analysis (increasing, declining, stable)
Forecast Dashboard Features
Product Selector
Switch between different products to view individual forecasts. Each card shows:
- Product name and category
- Current stock level
- Quick comparison metrics
Key Forecast Metrics
Current Stock Level
Quantity available right now
Daily Consumption Rate
Average units consumed per day
Forecast Accuracy
Confidence score (0-100%) for predictions
Reorder Timeline
Days until stock reaches reorder threshold
Reading the Forecast Graph
The interactive graph displays three projection models:- Ensemble (solid line, blue): Primary forecast combining multiple models
- Linear Regression (dotted line, gray): Trend-based projection
- Moving Average (dashed line, cyan): Smoothed historical pattern
Trend Indicators
- 🟢 Increasing: Demand growing (stock depleting faster)
- 🔴 Declining: Demand dropping (stock depleting slower)
- 🟡 Stable: Consistent consumption rate
Using Forecasts for Reordering
Forecast Model Confidence
The dashboard shows confidence scores for each model:- Ensemble: Combined confidence from all models
- Linear Regression: R² score indicating trend fit quality
- Moving Average: Smoothing accuracy
Top Selling Products
Monitor your fastest-moving inventory:Sales Velocity Metric
Sales Velocity = Units sold per day The “Top Selling Products” section ranks items by velocity, showing:- Product name and SKU
- Current stock quantity
- Estimated units sold
- Sales velocity (units/day)
Using Sales Data
Optimize Stock Levels
Optimize Stock Levels
Maintain higher quantities for top sellers to prevent stockouts.
Plan Promotions
Plan Promotions
Use velocity data to identify products for sales campaigns.
Supplier Negotiations
Supplier Negotiations
Leverage high-volume data when negotiating with suppliers.
Seasonal Trends
Seasonal Trends
Track velocity changes over time to identify seasonal patterns.
Analytics Best Practices
Morning Review
Start each day by reviewing live alerts, FEFO priorities, and critical forecasts.
Weekly Planning
Use demand forecasts to plan weekly purchase orders and stock rotations.
Task Prioritization
Create tasks based on FEFO urgency and low stock alerts.
Data-Driven Decisions
Rely on forecast accuracy scores when making reorder decisions.
Common Manager Workflows
Daily Operations Checklist
Weekly Reordering Workflow
Troubleshooting
Forecast Accuracy Low
Forecast Accuracy Low
Low accuracy (< 60%) may indicate:
- Insufficient historical data (need more consumption records)
- Irregular consumption patterns
- Recent changes in demand
Workers Not Updating Tasks
Workers Not Updating Tasks
If tasks stay in “Pending” status:
- Verify workers can access their dashboard
- Ensure task descriptions are clear and actionable
- Follow up directly with assigned workers
FEFO List Empty
FEFO List Empty
An empty FEFO list means:
- No items are close to expiry (good!)
- Or expiry dates may not be entered correctly
Next Steps
Admin Guide
Learn about administrator capabilities and user management
Worker Guide
Understand how workers interact with assigned tasks