Custom order fulfilment app for ship suppliers
Appfront builds apps for ship chandlers who need to process orders for vessels, both in the warehouse and on board. The order appears on the phone or handheld according to the ship's arrival and berth, is picked by scanning, and any substitute or shortage is reported straight away. On board, the crew signs for receipt, with photos of the delivery. If the arrival time changes, the warehouse sees it immediately.
What is an order-handling app for ship chandlery?
A ship chandler supplies everything a vessel needs: provisions, beverages, cleaning supplies, technical stores and spare parts. The order often comes from the ship itself or via a shipping agent, and it must be on board before the vessel sails. Arrival times and berths change constantly, and a ship that has already left will not wait for a forgotten box.
In practice, the order sits on paper in the warehouse, and an item that is out of stock is replaced on instinct. The driver doesn't know the ship has been given a different berth. On board, someone signs a delivery note, but it doesn't say exactly what was delivered or what was missing. The invoice follows later, and there is argument over what did and didn't come on board.
We build custom solutions because ship chandlers differ: which goods they handle, which ports they serve, how orders come in, and which systems you use for orders, stock and invoicing. What needs to be arranged for customs and excise on deliveries to ships is something you agree with your adviser; the app records what has been delivered.
Picking to the arrival
Orders in order of arrival, picked by scanning, with the berth always up to date.
Substitutes reported
Any substitute or shortage reported immediately, with approval from the ship or agent where needed.
Signed for on board
Delivery on board confirmed with signature and photos, so the invoice is accurate.
How we build your order-handling app for ship chandlery
We start with your orders: how they come in, how they are picked, how the delivery is loaded on board, and where things go wrong. Often the problem lies in changes to arrival time and berth. We make sure the warehouse and driver have the same information as the office, at the same moment.
Your goods, ports, order flow and systems.
Orders per vessel, scan-based picking, substitutions and checks.
Sign-off with signature and photos.
Integration with orders, stock and invoicing, followed by ongoing management.
What an order management app for ship supply does in practice
The components below come up with almost every ship chandler. Which ones you need depends on your goods.
Orders
Per vessel, with arrival and berth.
Picking
Scanned in the warehouse.
Substitutions
Reported, with approval where needed.
Changes
Arrival and berth visible immediately.
Sign-off
Signature and photos on board.
Overview
What goes to which vessel today.
Who we build an order management app for ship supply for
The app is intended for anyone who supplies ships.
Ship chandlers
Many vessels a day. Changes are the core.
Provisions
Chilled and frozen goods. Picking matters most.
Technical supplies
Parts on board on time. Sign-off is what counts.
Drivers
Delivery on board. The berth is the core.
Test your idea first: a working prototype in 1 day
With OneDayBuild, we turn your idea into something tangible in one day for €1,150, so you can see whether further development is worth the investment. Decide to go ahead with the full build? Then we credit the full cost.
Explore OneDayBuild →Technology and integrations
This page is about orders for ships, from warehouse to on board. For food distribution, see our page on foodservice distribution software; for excise goods, our page on excise administration for a drinks wholesaler; and for ordering, our page on an ordering app. Read about how we work at custom software development.
Why choose Appfront for your order management app for ship supply?
A vessel that sails without its order, or an invoice that is disputed, costs a customer. We build around that: picking aligned with arrival, substitutions reported, and delivery signed off on board.
On board on time
Changes visible immediately.
Complete
Shortages spotted in the warehouse.
Invoice matches
Sign-off with photos.
Security and privacy for an order management app for ship supply
The app holds data on vessels, orders and customers. Access is set up by role, and staff see only the orders they need to handle.
The app also works with poor signal in port, and sends everything as soon as a connection is available. Data is stored in a European data centre, with encrypted storage and daily backups.
Frequently asked questions about an order management app for ship supply
Questions ship chandlers ask before getting started.
It shows orders per vessel with arrival and berth, enables scan-based picking, reports substitutions and shortages, shows changes immediately, has the delivery on board signed off with signature and photos, and passes everything on to stock and invoicing.
A new arrival time or berth, from your order system or from the agent, appears in the app immediately. The warehouse sees which orders need to be ready earlier or later, and the driver goes to the right place.
The picker reports it in the app and chooses a substitute, or leaves it open. Where needed, a request for approval goes to the vessel or agent. That way the customer knows in advance what is coming, and the invoice is correct.
The crew signs on screen to confirm receipt, and the driver takes photos of the delivery. What was delivered and what was missing is recorded against the order, so there is no dispute later.
Deliveries to ships can be subject to special customs and excise rules. Please check with your adviser which rules apply to your deliveries. The app records what was delivered to which vessel, so you can show it when needed.
Yes. In the harbour or on board, signal isn't always reliable. The app keeps working and sends everything as soon as there's a connection.
Check that first. Some ship chandlery systems come with an app, and that may be enough. Custom development makes sense if orders are currently picked from paper, if changes don't reach the warehouse and driver, or if signing off on board leads to disputes.
Every order on time and complete on board?
Tell us which goods you supply, to which ports, and how orders are currently picked and delivered. We'll show you what the app looks like.