Sooner or later, every warehouse runs into a process the standard handheld screens do not cover: an extra validation, a prompt for information the business needs, or a task that is unique to your operation. The question is whether the mobile solution can adapt without a large development project.
Three ways to extend Warehouse Insight
Warehouse Insight for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers three layers of extensibility: the Add-On Catalog, overrides in the App Designer, and full applications built with the App Designer.
The Add-On Catalog
The Add-On Catalog is a library of add-ons that plug capabilities into Warehouse Insight without development. Instead of settings and check boxes for features you may never use, you install the capabilities you need with a click and remove them when you are done. Add-ons cover tasks such as voice picking, fact boxes, proof of delivery, fixed asset counting, quality inspections, and invoice posting from the handheld. The add-ons are free, each includes documentation, and the source code is available, so a partner can download an add-on and adapt it.
Third parties are also building add-ons for the catalog, which means other ISVs can make their own functionality available to Warehouse Insight users.
Overrides
When no add-on exists for what you need, overrides let you hook into events within any Warehouse Insight application and change its behavior. For example, the voice picking add-on is built as an override on the standard picking application. After an item barcode is scanned, the override runs its logic and speaks a message to the worker. You can build your own overrides the same way to add validation, prompts, or calls to other Business Central logic.
The App Designer
The App Designer gives you full access to the applications themselves. You can control menus, fields, and screen layouts, and build application logic with drag-and-drop steps, such as prompting for a value when a bin is scanned. The App Designer is separate from the Add-On Catalog: the catalog delivers packaged add-ons, while the App Designer is where you build and modify applications directly.
Scoping a specific integration
If you want handheld workflows that interact with another app in your Business Central environment, such as a rental or industry-specific extension, scope that work with your Business Central partner and Insight Works support. The right approach depends on the specific app and the process you want to support.
Bottom line
When no standard application fits, Warehouse Insight gives you room to adapt. Start with the Add-On Catalog, use overrides when you need to change application behavior, and use the App Designer to build handheld workflows around your own processes.