Inventory management interfaces for an auto parts marketplace

UX/UI

Emex warehouse stock management interface

Client

Emex is an international wholesale marketplace for auto parts and other automotive products. The company also provides fulfilment services, storing, sorting and shipping parts to more than 40 countries, including destinations across Europe, the Middle East, South America and Australia. Its main sorting centres are in Russia and Dubai.

Challenge

Emex sorting centres hold around 12 000–13 000 different products at any given time. To speed up deliveries, the company decided to keep its most popular items in stock, setting aside dedicated warehouse areas for these fast-moving products.

The idea was first introduced at a few warehouses and later scaled up. But the existing warehouse management system wasn't designed to handle this type of stock. Receiving, putaway, stock movement and order picking worked differently in these areas, and the software couldn't support all the required workflows.

Our task

Design interfaces for a new inventory management tool based on how the warehouses actually operate. Operators needed simple, straightforward workflows for handling goods, while managers needed a way to configure the warehouse layout.

We also had to keep the existing processes familiar, reduce the risk of errors and make sure the system could scale.

Solution

We started by getting to know how the stock areas worked: who did what, how goods moved around and where things could go wrong.

To understand what warehouse staff really needed, we spent time working on the warehouse floor ourselves. We saw how operators scanned products, moved boxes and used handheld terminals in their day-to-day work.

Warehouse operator using a barcode scanner

Based on what we'd learned, we mapped out the user flows and designed separate interfaces for warehouse managers and operators, each built around their specific tasks.

Emex warehouse layout management interface — Warehouse manager interface

Handheld barcode scanner for warehouse operations — Warehouse operator interface

Designed workflows for key warehouse operations

We built on familiar warehouse processes and mapped out three main workflows:

Receiving and putaway. The operator scans an item, and the system shows an existing storage location or recommends a new one.
Stock movement. The operator scans the product and storage locations, checks the quantity and moves the goods to a new location.
Order picking. The system shows where the required item is stored. The operator scans the location, checks the quantity and picks the item for dispatch.

We improved these workflows without completely changing how they worked. By keeping the steps familiar, warehouse staff wouldn't have to learn a whole new way of working.

We then designed a consistent, straightforward interface around these workflows, with everything operators needed and nothing they didn't.

Designed an interface that helps prevent errors

We built step-by-step guidance and error prevention into the interface. For example, operators have to scan the box first, then the storage location. They can't mix up the order because the system won't let them.

At each step, the handheld terminal shows what to do next: which item to scan, where to put it and how many units to check. If something goes wrong, the operator gets an error message straight away.

This makes the process easier to follow, even for new staff, and reduces the risk of mistakes during putaway and order picking.

Added audio cues to reduce screen checks

Clear, loud audio cues let operators carry out key tasks without constantly looking at their screens. One sound confirms a successful action, while another signals an error. The system also reads out the storage location number so operators know where to put the item.

If they miss a notification or don't hear it properly, the same information is always available on screen.

We tested the sounds on the warehouse floor, surrounded by rattling trolleys and the constant noise of daily operations.

We found that even a fraction of a second matters. If a sound lasts slightly longer than necessary, the operator can't move straight on to the next action. And hearing that drawn-out sound dozens of times during a shift quickly becomes annoying.

We also tested the volume. Softer sounds, even at a fairly high volume, got lost in the background noise. So we chose sharper, more distinct signals instead.

This helped us find the right length and tone for each notification: easy to hear in a noisy warehouse without interrupting the workflow. It's a good reminder that even small interface details need testing in real working conditions, not just in design mockups.

Created an interface for warehouse layout configuration

To make the inventory management system adaptable to different Emex warehouses, we designed a flexible interface for configuring the warehouse layout.

Managers can choose where to place the dedicated stock area, add racks and storage locations, assign numbers and divide the space into sections and rows to match the physical layout.

Warehouse storage racks with automotive parts

Emex warehouses vary in size, and so do the products they store, from spark plugs to car tyres. This means racks need different numbers of shelves and storage locations.

We accounted for this in the interface. For a small number of locations, managers can simply click and drag to select the blocks they need. For larger numbers, they can enter the values manually.

Emex warehouses vary in size, and so do the products they store, from spark plugs to car tyres. This means racks need different numbers of shelves and storage locations.

We accounted for this in the interface. For a small number of locations, managers can simply click and drag to select the blocks they need. For larger numbers, they can enter the values manually.

This lets managers configure storage layouts for each warehouse without redesigning the interface. They can see their changes straight away, making it easy to check the layout and adjust it when needed.

The interface also lets managers print labels with storage location numbers. Once the labels are attached to the shelves, operators can easily see where to put an item or where to pick it up.