Start with one complete task
Describe a real path from start to finish: for example, receiving a product, checking its identifiers and saving it for another role to use. The inventory project combines product data, fiscal fields and access control because these concerns meet in the same workflow.
Name the roles and boundaries
List who can view, create, edit, approve or export records. Explain what happens when a person changes roles or leaves. Permissions are part of the product behavior, not a final cosmetic setting.
Design for where the work happens
A warehouse floor and an executive desktop have different constraints. The inventory case study includes mobile floor operation; the smaller fitment tool uses a focused intake flow. Choose the interface around the task and device.
Decide what to keep from existing tools
Document current systems, export formats and API access. A thin interface over reliable existing records may be enough. A replacement becomes a larger project when it also inherits historical data, permissions and integrations.
Make acceptance observable
Use statements you can test: an unauthorized role cannot edit a record, a duplicate identifier is flagged, a failed submission can be recovered, and an operator can finish the main task on the intended device.
Agree on ownership after launch
Name who manages hosting, access, backups, dependency updates and user support. Self-hosting provides control but also creates responsibilities. Scope the handover and any ongoing work explicitly.