Multi-User Access for Collaborative Inventory Management

Managing electronic parts often requires multiple people to access the same inventory database. This might include different roles within a company (design engineers, lab technicians, production staff) or collaboration between separate organizations (like a design firm working with a contract manufacturer).

Real-Time Updates for All Users

All commercial PartsBox plans include multi-user access with real-time database synchronization. When any user makes changes to the inventory—adding parts, removing stock, or updating information—these changes appear immediately for all other logged-in users without needing to refresh. This eliminates the need for manual refreshing or reloading, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information at all times.

For example:

• When new components are added to a parts list, they appear automatically for all users viewing that list
• Stock level adjustments show up instantly across all connected devices
• Reports update dynamically as the underlying data changes, providing current inventory status

User Roles and Permissions

Each PartsBox organization (database) in lab/workshop and company plans includes a default admin user. Additional users can be added according to plan limits, and users above the plan limit can be added at extra cost. Any PartsBox account holder can be invited to join an organization with one of these access levels:

• Read-only: Users can view inventory data but cannot make changes
• Read/Write: Users can both view and modify inventory data
• Admin: Users have full control, including the ability to add/remove other users and manage billing information

The Company plan and higher offers Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): a powerful feature that allows you to define roles with specific, granular permissions and then assign these roles to users.

Sharing User Accounts

PartsBox user accounts are strictly personal and cannot be shared between users. A single user account must correspond to a single person. If you need access for more users in your organization than the plan allows, please buy additional user slots.

Common Multi-User Scenarios

PartsBox customers use multi-user access in various ways:

1. Internal Company Collaboration: Engineers, technicians, and production staff share a common parts database, improving coordination and reducing duplicate work
2. Design Firm and Manufacturer Collaboration: Design companies share parts information with contract manufacturers, ensuring everyone works with the latest specifications
3. Contract Manufacturer and Client Collaboration: Manufacturers give clients visibility into parts inventory and production status
4. Hacker/Makerspace Management: Community spaces maintain a shared parts database that all members can access, making it easier to find and use available components

Multi-user access helps organizations improve collaboration, maintain accurate inventory records, and make parts management more efficient across teams and partnerships.