Case study · 3PL logistics
A warehouse operations platform built around Extensiv
Since 2023 we’ve built and run a custom application that connects a third-party logistics company’s warehouse floor to Extensiv 3PL Warehouse Manager, from the truck at the dock to the order going out the door.
In production since 2023
Built, run and improved continuously, with thousands of updates shipped.
Two-way Extensiv sync
Real-time webhooks plus scheduled syncing, reading from and writing back to Extensiv.
Validated at the scanner
Serial numbers are checked the moment they’re scanned, before they reach Extensiv.
Power BI built in
Reporting lives inside the same app, with access limited to each user’s customers.
The challenge
Extensiv 3PL Warehouse Manager is the warehouse’s system of record, but the work on the floor needed more than it does on its own. Every customer has its own serial number formats that must be captured and checked. Trucks need to be scheduled and tracked through unloading. Carrier bookings, supplier files and routing rules all have to stay in step with orders. And managers and customers need reporting without copying data from one system to another.
Done by hand, that means re-typing serials and receipts into Extensiv, juggling spreadsheets, and catching mistakes after they’ve already shipped. (The client’s name is withheld.)
What we built
A Laravel application the warehouse team uses every day, with fast scanning screens on the floor and an admin dashboard in the office.
Serial scanning and validation
Rules for each customer and SKU (custom patterns, prefixes, lengths and pack quantities) check every scan. Duplicates and overscans are blocked, and validated serials are written back to the order in Extensiv automatically, with safeguards so nothing overwrites a newer change.
Receiving and dock scheduling
Inbound trucks are scheduled and tracked from arrival through unloading to completion, with a record of who did what and when, and the times are written back to the receiver in Extensiv.
Inbound jobs and receipts
Supplier files (spreadsheets, XML and advance shipping notices) are imported automatically. Staff scan against them, then export the receipt to Extensiv, with audits that flag discrepancies.
Orders and routing
Routing rules are applied the moment Extensiv reports a new order, with an audit trail. Staging and loadout are scan-driven, and tracking numbers are captured as orders ship.
Carrier bookings
Pickups are validated, sent to the carrier automatically on a schedule and confirmed on arrival. Anything with an error is flagged on the dashboard to fix and resend.
Inventory and SKUs
Scan-based cycle counts with automatic summaries, bulk spreadsheet updates to lot, serial and expiration data in Extensiv, and data integrity checks.
Reporting with Microsoft Power BI
Power BI reports are embedded right in the application, so managers and customers see their numbers in the same place they work. Each user only sees the reports for the customers they’re allowed to see. To keep costs down, the Microsoft Fabric capacity behind the reports runs only during working hours and starts on demand if someone needs a report after hours.
The results
- Errors caught at the scanner, not by the end customer.
- No re-typing serials, receipts or dock times into Extensiv.
- Routing and carrier bookings happen on their own, with audit trails and alerts when something needs attention.
- Measurable dock and unload times for every inbound truck.
- Reporting in one place, with each user limited to their own customers.
- A more productive team that spends its time on warehouse work, not data entry.
How it’s built
- Laravel and Livewire, with scanner-friendly screens for handheld and keyboard-wedge scanners
- Laravel Nova admin dashboard with metrics for scans, webhooks and bookings
- Extensiv 3PL Warehouse Manager REST API, with real-time webhooks and scheduled syncing
- Background queues for imports, exports and syncing, so the floor never waits
- Role-based permissions, two-factor sign-in and per-customer access
- Automated tests and continuous updates as the operation grows
Extensiv and 3PL Warehouse Manager are trademarks of Extensiv. Microsoft, Power BI and Microsoft Fabric are trademarks of Microsoft. iHwy is an independent developer and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either company.