// case study · 2021

Yemen-to-UK coffee supply chain in one ERP

An ERP for a UK-based specialty coffee supplier — tracking the entire chain from local farmers in Yemen through drying, processing, sorting, packaging, shipment, and UK-side sales. Web admin + Android app on the same backend.

Client QIMA Coffee
Sector Operations
Role Backend Lead
Engagement Project · 16 weeks
Team 3 (1 backend lead, 1 frontend, 1 Android)
Stack Laravel · RESTful APIs · Android · Kotlin
Year 2021

The brief

QIMA Coffee buys from smallholders in Yemen, processes and ships through a multi-stage pipeline, and sells in the UK. The supply chain was running on spreadsheets passed between offices on three continents. We built an ERP that captured the entire chain on one timeline, with role-specific views from farm gate to retail sale.

What we built

  • Stage-aware data model — every batch carries its provenance through procurement, drying, processing, sorting, packaging, shipment, and sale. No batch loses its origin.
  • REST API consumed by both the web admin (managers, accountants) and an Android app (field teams, warehouse).
  • Native Android app in Kotlin for the field workers — capturing batch data offline-first, syncing when on network, with photo capture for quality control.
  • Role-based admin with different surfaces for buyers, processors, finance, and the UK retail team.
  • Audit trail at every state change, exportable for compliance and supplier disputes.

Outcome

QIMA replaced a spreadsheet pipeline that was always one Excel-corruption away from disaster with a system that tracks every kilogram from a Yemeni farmer’s hand to the UK shelf — and lets each role on the team see exactly the slice they need.

// next step

Have a project like this?

Tell us about it. We respond within one working day with a written estimate or a calendar link.

Start a project