Multi-location Franchise Internal SaaS Tool

A multi-location franchise operator needed a single system to replace spreadsheets and ad-hoc tools. Each location had different processes; coordination was manual and error-prone. The client needed visibility and consistency without adding headcount.

Budget and timeline were fixed. The solution had to work with existing staff and minimal training. Data had to stay within the client's control (no third-party SaaS for sensitive ops).

Discovery focused on mapping real workflows across three pilot locations. We designed a single-tenant web app with role-based access: location managers see their data; ops sees rollups. Core entities were locations, users, and workflow states; reporting was built on the same data model.

Next.js for the app and API routes to keep one codebase and simple deployment.

Postgres for relational integrity and reporting; no document store.

Auth via a trusted provider with SSO so the client could manage access.

Deployed on Vercel with a managed Postgres instance. Backups and env config followed the client's security expectations. No on-call; we defined runbooks and handed off.

The team retired several spreadsheets and reduced back-and-forth between locations. Ops could see status at a glance. The client extended the engagement for a second phase (reporting and integrations).

Add lightweight audit logging for compliance. Explore read replicas if reporting load grows. Consider a small mobile view for location managers on the floor.