# How to build a mobile app for Macola > Source: https://netray.co/integrations/macola-mobile-app > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Integrations ## Short answer Put a small API service between the mobile app and Macola's SQL Server so the phone or scanner never touches the database. Read through views, write through a supported interface, and design for patchy Wi-Fi with queued, idempotent transactions. ## System Macola ## Capability mobile-app ## Intro Macola is a desktop-era ERP. Receiving clerks, warehouse staff and field technicians usually work from paper, a PC at the end of the aisle or a separate scanning product. That leads to delayed receipts, wrong locations and counts keyed hours after they were taken. A mobile app closes the gap: scan a PO and receive against it, move stock between bins, do a cycle count, approve a purchase from a phone. The hard part is not the app screen; it is the safe path to Macola. A phone should never hold database credentials, and a transaction should never post twice because someone tapped twice on a weak signal. The architecture below treats the mobile app as a thin client over an API you own, which gives you one place for authentication, validation, logging and the on-prem connection. ## Use Cases ### Receive against PO **Description:** Scan the PO barcode, scan items, enter quantities and confirm; the API stages a receipt for posting. ### Inventory move and bin transfer **Description:** Scan from-location, item and to-location to record a transfer with a reason code. ### Cycle counting **Description:** Download a count list by location, scan and key counts, and submit variances for supervisor approval. ### Pick confirmation **Description:** Show pick lines for an order, confirm scans and flag shortages back to the planner. ### Manager approvals **Description:** Approve POs or expense items from a phone with a clear summary and an audit record. ### Field service and delivery capture **Description:** Capture signatures, photos and notes tied to an order or service call for later attachment. ## System Surface - SQL Server views over item, location, order and PO tables provide fast read access; confirm table names against your version. - Writes for receipts, inventory transactions and approvals should use Macola's supported interfaces, which vary by version and license, rather than direct inserts. - If no real-time write interface is licensed, a staged transaction table plus a Macola-side import routine is a workable pattern with review. - Macola business logic such as costing and allocation lives in the application, so a mobile app must trigger it, not re-implement it. - Barcode schemes depend on your item and location naming; plan label printing from the same data. ## How It Works ### Define the transactions **Detail:** Start with two or three: receiving, bin move and cycle count. Write down the validations each requires. ### Build an API service **Detail:** Run it on your network, authenticate users, and expose narrow endpoints such as get-po, post-receipt and post-count. ### Choose the client **Detail:** Use a progressive web app for light needs, or a native or cross-platform app when you need robust camera scanning, background sync or Bluetooth scanner support. ### Make writes idempotent **Detail:** Every submission carries a client-generated ID so retries after a dropped connection do not duplicate transactions. ### Handle offline **Detail:** Cache reference data on the device, queue transactions locally, and sync with conflict checks against current quantities. ### Expose a secure path **Detail:** Use Wi-Fi only inside the plant, or a VPN or reverse proxy with certificate-based device trust for outside use. ## Example Flows ### Dock receiving **Trigger:** A truck arrives with packing slip and goods. **Steps:** - The receiver scans the PO barcode and the app loads open lines. - Each item scan increments the received quantity with over-receipt warnings. - On submit, the API validates and stages the receipt. - The receipt is posted through the supported interface and a label prints. **Result:** Receipts are recorded at the dock in real time, so purchasing and production see accurate on-order and on-hand quantities. ### Cycle count with variance review **Trigger:** A supervisor releases a count list for one aisle. **Steps:** - The counter downloads the list and counts offline in the aisle. - On reconnect, counts sync and variances above a threshold are flagged. - A supervisor approves or requests a recount before adjustments post. **Result:** Counts are timely and adjustments carry an approval trail. ## On Prem A mobile app can work entirely inside your network. Host the API service and any supporting database on a server in your plant, connect it to Macola with a read-only role and the approved write path, and let devices reach it over plant Wi-Fi or a VPN. This keeps ERP data, item costs and orders off the public internet. If you add voice or natural-language features, run the model locally. For sites with restricted Wi-Fi coverage, rely on offline queueing and sync at docking points, and manage devices through your MDM so you can wipe a lost scanner and enforce screen locks. ## Security - Never put database credentials on devices; authenticate users to the API with short-lived tokens tied to their identity. - Use device management, encrypted storage and remote wipe for scanners and phones. - Enforce authorization server-side per transaction type, location and amount. - Require TLS everywhere, including inside the plant, and validate certificates on devices. - Log each transaction with user, device, time and idempotency ID for reconciliation. ## Options ### Packaged warehouse or shop-floor scanning product **Fit:** Fits shops that want ready-made receiving and counting screens and have a vendor with Macola support. **Effort:** Weeks, plus licensing and device purchase. ### Custom progressive web app or native app in-house **Fit:** Fits teams with web developers and a short list of well-defined transactions. **Effort:** Roughly six to twelve weeks for receiving, moves and counts. ### Partner build with Netray **Fit:** Fits shops wanting a custom app plus AI features such as photo-based receiving on a local model. **Effort:** A pilot with one workflow typically takes a few weeks. ## Pitfalls - Posting transactions directly to inventory tables and corrupting costing or on-hand balances. - No idempotency, so a retry creates a duplicate receipt. - Assuming Wi-Fi covers the whole warehouse and not testing dead zones. - Letting the app allow over-receipts or negative moves that Macola would reject. - Building too many screens at once instead of proving one transaction end to end. ## Faq ### Does Macola have an official mobile app? **Answer:** Do not assume a full shop-floor app is included. Exact and its resellers may offer mobile or scanning add-ons depending on version, so ask. Many shops build a custom app over a small API layer. ### Can a mobile app update inventory in real time? **Answer:** Yes if you have a supported write interface for your version. If not, stage transactions and post them through an approved import on a short schedule. Either way, avoid direct inserts into inventory tables. ### What about offline use? **Answer:** Cache reference lists on the device, queue transactions with unique IDs and sync when connected. On sync, re-validate against current quantities and surface conflicts for review. ### Do we need native apps or is a web app enough? **Answer:** A progressive web app handles many receiving and approval needs, including camera scanning on modern phones. Choose native when you need Bluetooth scanners, heavy offline use or background sync. ### Can the app be hosted fully on-premises? **Answer:** Yes. The API and database can run on your own servers, reached over plant Wi-Fi or VPN, so Macola data never needs to be exposed to the internet. ## Search terms macola mobile app, macola barcode scanning, macola handheld scanner, macola warehouse mobile, macola receiving app, mobile app for macola erp, macola cycle count mobile, macola shop floor app, exact macola mobile, macola 10 mobile --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json