INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Project description and user experience ================================================================================ WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS ================================================================================ Inventory Management is a web application for businesses that need to track stock, sales, purchases, and related data in one place. After logging in, users see a dashboard and a sidebar menu. What each user can see and do depends on the permissions an administrator has given them. Some users may only see a few sections; others (such as admins) can access everything and manage other users. ================================================================================ FEATURES AND WHAT USERS CAN DO ================================================================================   DUMMY LOGIN FOR TEST Username: admin@gmail.com password: password   DASHBOARD ——— When you open the app, the dashboard gives you a quick overview. You see total number of products, a low-stock alert count, total purchases, and total sales. A revenue chart shows the last twelve months. A list of products that are low on stock is shown so you can reorder in time. Shortcuts let you jump to products, categories, warehouses, suppliers, customers, and other sections. Only users with dashboard access see this page. CATALOG ——- Product types You can define product types (for example, CPU, Laptop, Monitor). Each type can have its own set of attributes. This keeps the catalog organised and makes it easy to add products that share the same kind of information. Attributes You can add attributes to product types (for example RAM, Processor, Colour). Attributes can be text, number, select (dropdown), or yes/no. When creating a product of that type, you fill in these attribute values. You can add several attributes at once on the create page. Categories You can create categories (and subcategories) and assign products to a category. This helps with filtering and organising the product list. Products You can add, edit, view, and delete products. For each product you choose a product type and optionally a category, enter name, price, quantity, and an optional image. You can set a minimum stock level; the system will flag the product when stock falls at or below that level. The product list supports filtering by product type and “low stock only,” and you can search and sort. Products can be imported from a CSV file. Only users with product access can see and manage products. OPERATIONS ———- Purchases You can record purchases (orders from suppliers). Each purchase has a supplier, date, and line items (product, quantity, unit price). You can view, create, edit, and print a PDF for a purchase. Stock is updated when purchases are recorded. Only users with purchase access can use this section. Sales You can create sales or invoices. You pick a customer (or leave as walk-in), a warehouse, date, and add one or more products with quantity and sale price. The system shows purchase price, stock quantity, remaining quantity after the sale, and profit in real time as you enter data. When you save the sale, stock is reduced. You can view sales and print an invoice. Only users with sales access can use this section. Stock movements You can see a history of stock changes (from purchases, sales, and manual adjustments). You can create a manual adjustment to add or remove quantity for a product, optionally linked to a warehouse. Only users with stock-movements access can use this section. Returns You can mark products as “returned.” Returned products appear in a dedicated Returns section. An admin can add a product to returns or remove it from returns. Products stay in the returns list until someone removes them. Only users with returns access can use this section. PARTIES ——- Suppliers You can add, edit, and view suppliers (companies or people you buy from). Suppliers are linked to purchases. Only users with supplier access can manage suppliers. Customers You can add, edit, and view customers (companies or people you sell to). Customers are linked to sales. Only users with customer access can manage customers. Warehouses You can add, edit, and view warehouses (storage locations). Warehouses can be used in sales and stock movements. Only users with warehouse access can manage warehouses. REPORTS ——- You can view several reports: sales report (with date range), purchases report (with date range), profit and loss, product profit, customer sales summary, and supplier report. Activity logs show a history of actions in the system. Only users with reports and activity-logs access can see these. ADMIN: USERS AND PERMISSIONS —————————- Users who have “manage users” permission can open the Users and Permissions section. There they can add new users (name, email, password) and choose which sections (tabs) each user is allowed to see. For example, you can create a “staff” user who only sees Products and Sales, and an “admin” who sees everything including Users and Permissions. When a new user logs in, they are taken to the first section they are allowed to access (not always the dashboard). Only users with manage-users permission see this section. PROFILE ——- Every logged-in user can open their profile to change their name, email, and password. They can log out from the sidebar. Registration can be disabled so only an admin creates new users. ================================================================================ WHAT USERS EXPERIENCE ================================================================================ – A single login; after that, the sidebar shows only the sections they are allowed to use. – A clear layout: sidebar on the left, main content on the right, with cards and tables that are easy to read and use. – Real-time feedback where it helps: for example on the sales page, profit and remaining quantity update as you type the sale price and quantity. – Search and filters on key lists (e.g. products by type and low stock) so users can find what they need quickly. – Product images that are stored securely and displayed on product detail and edit pages; the system serves them in a way that works even when the server blocks direct access to storage folders. – When an admin creates a new user and selects permissions, that user only sees and can open the allowed sections; other sections do not appear in the menu and are not accessible. ================================================================================ SUMMARY ================================================================================  Inventory Management lets you manage product types, attributes, categories, and products; record purchases and sales with automatic stock updates; track suppliers, customers, and warehouses; handle returns; and run reports and activity logs. Administrators can create users and control exactly which parts of the system each user can see and use. The application is built for daily use in a business environment, with a focus on clarity, permissions, and reliable behaviour on both local and live hosting.