SAP Automated Shop

Inspiration

Our team of four started a project, led by one person who suggested the challenge and how to kick things off. He went home for lunch, said he'd be back in the afternoon, but surprisingly, we never saw him again. Still, thanks to his initial push, we managed to pull through and get our website done. His input was crucial, and even though he disappeared, his influence stuck around.

What it does

The project is a scheduling solution for a tire change shop operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Our program manages service appointments for various vehicle categories and considers time requirements and costs for each service. Although it's not perfect, it does its best to track both actual and potential revenue.

How we built it

We optimized the front end by customizing an existing template to meet our visual and functional needs, ensuring a nice user experience. The backend was developed using node.js and SQL, providing a robust and scalable environment for data storage and retrieval. We then integrated it with external APIs to expand our websites capabilities to enable real-time updates. A document can also be generated to have a pdf file of all the information found on the website.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges we tried to solve was designing a scheduling algorithm that adheres to the specific contraints, such as maintaining one service bay for each vehicle category at all times and implementing the First In First Out policy for overlapping bookings.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We've successfully optimized data filtering processes, enhancing efficiency. Considering our team's limited prior experience, the learning curve was steep, but achieving a functional project stands as a source of pride.

What we learned

Throughout the development of this project, we all gained insights into the complexities of building an automated system from scratch. We learned that managing service schedules and handling appointment requests in real-life scenarios can be quite demanding. That's why it's very important for the implementation of efficient ressource allocation and revenue tracking in service-oriented businesses.

What's next for SAP Challenge ConUHacks '24

Looking ahead, the focus for our project, which was primarily designed for web use, is expansion into the realm of mobile applications. This transition aims to offer a more versatile user experience, introducing additional functionalities and refining algorithms for optimal performance on mobile and web platforms.