181 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
181 lines
7.8 KiB
Markdown
# TallyFlow User's Guide
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**Version:** June 2026
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**Purpose:** This guide provides an overview of TallyFlow’s full product capabilities for operators, administrators, and systems integrators.
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---
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## Overview
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TallyFlow is an asset tracking and management platform designed to reduce time and material waste in operations that rely on physical assets, tools, and tagged items. It combines mobile data capture, web-based core management, on-site printing/encoding, automated capture, and IoT connectivity.
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TallyFlow is particularly well suited for industries requiring reliable identification and traceability, including manufacturing, logistics, rail, and agriculture.
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**Core Value Proposition**
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**TallyFlow Assets (Mobile) Highlights**
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- Geiger-counter-style seek & find for locating one or multiple assets
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- Lightweight inventory with optional zone moves
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- Produce shipping workflows for FSMA 204 compliance
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- Fast asset enrollment and editing
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- Reduce time spent locating and managing assets
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- Minimize material waste through better visibility and accountability
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- Provide practical, affordable RFID, barcode, and IoT solutions for systems integrators
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---
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## Main Components
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### 1. TallyFlow Core (Web Application)
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The central web platform for managing assets, tags, categories, zones, and reporting.
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**Integration Hub:** TallyFlow Assets (Mobile), TallyFlow Print, TallyFlow Capture, and TallyFlow IoT all integrate with TallyFlow Core.
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**Key Capabilities:**
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- Add and manage assets manually
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- View and search tagged items
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- Import assets and tags via Excel
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- Configure categories, zones, and organizational settings
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- Reporting and exception management
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- Zone notifications: configurable Alert Time (minutes) + email recipients for exceptions (e.g. asset in zone too long)
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- Zone delete events for automatic tag recycling
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- Parent/child asset handling (children can be detached while parent asset remains)
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- Core web can display and filter photos with tags (integration with Capture app)
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- Integration points for external systems (ERP via API and webhooks)
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### 2. Mobile App (Enroll)
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Mobile application for field data capture and tag enrollment.
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**Key Capabilities:**
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- Enroll new tags and associate them with assets
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- Scan and update asset information in the field
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- Support for both barcode and RFID workflows
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- Works offline with later synchronization
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**UX Design (Industrial Focus):**
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- Built with Material 3
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- Large, glove-friendly buttons prioritized for use in harsh industrial environments
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### 3. TallyFlow Print
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Desktop and mobile application (Flutter) paired with a Rust backend service for printing and encoding labels.
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**Key Capabilities:**
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- Print and encode RFID + barcode labels with ZPL support on Zebra and compatible printers
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- Strong **GS1-128 / Case Label** support (GTIN-14 treated as case labels, proper AI (21) serial handling)
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- Dedicated **FSMA 204** 300dpi label templates and ZPL configs for food traceability compliance
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- Pre-configured **workflow profiles** for popular use cases including **FSMA**, **SSCC** (Serialized Shipping Container Code), and internal-use barcode/RFID labeling
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- Support for Simple tags, GS1 case tags, parent/child tag structures
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- Category names printed on labels
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- Multiple printer management and connection testing
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- Optional automatic registration of printed items as assets in TallyFlow Core
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- Print job logging and history
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- Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support (enhanced Windows reliability)
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**Backend Services:**
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- Print API (job submission)
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- Print Worker (ZPL delivery to printers)
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- Orchestrator (category/zone proxy + Core registration)
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### 4. TallyFlow Capture
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Automated data capture system for fixed and high-volume scanning environments.
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**Key Capabilities:**
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- Fixed RFID reader integration for continuous asset movement detection
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- Gateway and edge processing for real-time data collection
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- High-throughput receiving and shipping workflows
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- Exception flagging and automated alerts
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- Seamless handoff to TallyFlow Core for record updates
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### 5. TallyFlow IoT
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Connectivity layer for sensors, gateways, and connected devices. Runs as an always-on Windows or Linux service.
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**Key Capabilities:**
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- Real-time location tracking via IoT gateways and beacons
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- Environmental sensor data (temperature, humidity, shock) linked to assets
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- Automated status updates without manual scanning
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- Edge-to-cloud data pipelines feeding TallyFlow Core
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- Support for both short-range (BLE, RFID) and wide-area (LoRa, cellular) IoT networks
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- RFID GPIO support for reader triggers and control
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- Endpoint configuration available for IoT and Mobile readers
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- ERP integration via keyboard wedge, database integration, and spreadsheet output
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- Optional custom receiving or shipping user interface that integrates with an ERP system
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- Compatible with TallyFlow Core deployed in the cloud or on-premises
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---
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## Tag Ingestion Methods
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TallyFlow supports multiple ways to bring tags and asset data into the system:
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1. **Mobile App – Enroll**
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Field operators enroll tags directly via the mobile application.
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2. **TallyFlow Core (Web)**
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Manual asset creation with tag assignment.
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3. **Excel Import**
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Bulk import of assets and tag data via spreadsheet.
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4. **TallyFlow Print**
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On-demand tag printing and encoding with optional automatic Core registration. Supports prefix/serialization logic, parent/child relationships, and category-aware labeling.
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5. **TallyFlow Capture (Automated)**
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Fixed readers and gateways automatically detect and record tag movements.
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6. **IoT Devices**
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Sensors and connected devices push location, condition, or status data directly into the platform.
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---
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## Hardware
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TallyFlow is a **distributor** of Atid handheld RFID readers (such as the AT909) to systems integrators. These devices are commonly used for mobile scanning and enrollment workflows.
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The platform also supports fixed RFID readers, IoT gateways, and sensor devices through the Capture and IoT modules.
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**Note:** TallyFlow does not currently provide native support for AEI (Automatic Equipment Identification) tags used in the rail industry.
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---
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## Typical Workflows
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- **Asset Onboarding:** Print/encode a tag using TallyFlow Print → optionally register in Core.
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- **Field Operations:** Use mobile app to locate assets, update status, or enroll new items.
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- **Automated Receiving/Shipping:** Fixed readers (Capture) detect tagged assets moving through dock doors or checkpoints.
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- **Condition Monitoring:** IoT sensors track environmental data tied to specific assets or shipments.
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- **Bulk Operations:** Import large numbers of assets via Excel.
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- **Compliance & Traceability:** Use category, zone, tag, and IoT data for reporting and audit trails (e.g., FSMA 204 food traceability scenarios).
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---
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## Integrations
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TallyFlow is designed to work alongside existing systems:
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- Existing RFID infrastructure (Impinj, Zebra readers)
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- IoT platforms and sensor networks
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- Custom label formats via configurable templates
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- Intermediary database integrations (e.g. BlueCherry)
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---
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## Current Limitations
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- No native AEI rail tag support
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- TallyFlow Print requires a local print server (Print API + Worker) for production use
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- Some advanced rail-specific compliance features are not yet implemented
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- IoT and Capture modules may require additional gateway hardware and configuration
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---
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## Getting Started
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1. Work with your systems integrator to deploy TallyFlow Core and any required backend services (Print, Capture, IoT gateways).
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2. Configure categories, zones, and org settings in Core.
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3. Install the Mobile App, TallyFlow Print, and/or Capture/IoT components as needed.
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4. Begin enrolling, printing, or automatically capturing tagged assets using the methods that best fit your operation.
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For detailed Print-specific instructions, see the **TallyFlow Print – User Guide**.
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---
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*This document is maintained in the TallyFlow Obsidian vault and should be updated as new capabilities are released.* |