Software Engineering & Digital Products for Global Enterprises since 2006
CMMi Level 3SOC 2ISO 27001
View all services
Staff Augmentation
Embed senior engineers in your team within weeks.
Dedicated Teams
A ring-fenced squad with PM, leads, and engineers.
Build-Operate-Transfer
We hire, run, and transfer the team to you.
Contract-to-Hire
Try the talent. Convert when you're ready.
ForceHQ
Skill testing, interviews and ranking — powered by AI.
RoboRingo
Build, deploy and monitor voice agents without code.
MailGovern
Policy, retention and compliance for enterprise email.
Vishing
Test and train staff against AI-driven voice attacks.
CyberForceHQ
Continuous, adaptive security training for every team.
IDS Load Balancer
Built for Multi Instance InDesign Server, to distribute jobs.
AutoVAPT.ai
AI agent for continuous, automated vulnerability and penetration testing.
Salesforce + InDesign Connector
Bridge Salesforce data into InDesign to design print catalogues at scale.
OttQuiz
Live quiz shows at broadcast scale — up to 1M concurrent participants.
HumanDISC
AI-powered behavioral assessments and DISC profiling for smarter hiring.
View all solutions
Banking, Financial Services & Insurance
Cloud, digital and legacy modernisation across financial entities.
Healthcare
Clinical platforms, patient engagement, and connected medical devices.
Pharma & Life Sciences
Trial systems, regulatory data, and field-force enablement.
Professional Services & Education
Workflow automation, learning platforms, and consulting tooling.
Media & Entertainment
AI video processing, OTT platforms, and content workflows.
Technology & SaaS
Product engineering, integrations, and scale for tech companies.
Retail & eCommerce
Shopify, print catalogues, web-to-print, and order automation.
View all industries
Blog
Engineering notes, opinions, and field reports.
Case Studies
How clients shipped — outcomes, stack, lessons.
White Papers
Deep-dives on AI, talent models, and platforms.
View all resources
About Us
Who we are, our story, and what drives us.
Co-Innovation
How we partner to build new products together.
Careers
Open roles and what it's like to work here.
News
Press, announcements, and industry updates.
Leadership
The people steering MetaDesign.
Locations
Gurugram, Brisbane, Detroit and beyond.
Contact Us
Talk to sales, hiring, or partnerships.
Request TalentStart a Project
Enterprise Application DevelopmentManufacturing

Modernizing a .NET Desktop Inventory System into a Next.js Web and Electron App

Learn how we transformed a legacy, desktop-bound .NET inventory system into a cross-platform Next.js web application wrapped in Electron, backed by a unified PostgreSQL database.

Next.js · Electron · PostgreSQL
Client: Manufacturing Enterprise
Modernizing a .NET Desktop Inventory System to Next.js

Project Overview

The client's operations were bottlenecked by a legacy, desktop-only .NET inventory application. It lacked cloud synchronization, resulting in fragmented data across different warehouses. The reliance on local databases prevented real-time inventory tracking and remote administrative access.

We modernized the entire system by building a unified Next.js web application for administrative and remote access. To maintain the deep OS integration required by warehouse floor hardware, we wrapped the application in Electron for desktop deployments. The fragmented databases were consolidated into a single, highly available PostgreSQL cluster. This seamless hybrid approach allowed warehouse staff to continue using their trusted barcode hardware while management gained global visibility into supply chain metrics.

Hybrid Web and Desktop Architecture

We engineered a modern Next.js React application to serve as the core platform. This provided immediate cloud access for administrators. For warehouse floor operations, we packaged the Next.js app using Electron, allowing seamless integration with local USB barcode scanners and receipt printers while maintaining a single codebase.

Unified PostgreSQL Database

The disparate local databases were migrated and consolidated into a centralized PostgreSQL database hosted in the cloud. We implemented robust offline-sync capabilities in the Electron app to ensure operations could continue during network outages, synchronizing automatically when reconnected.

Have a similar challenge?

Our experts can help you build custom integrations and plugins tailored to your business workflows.

Book a free consultation

Key Challenges

01

Desktop-Bound System

The legacy .NET application was restricted to desktop environments, completely preventing remote access for administrators and managers.

02

Fragmented Data Silos

The lack of cloud synchronization led to heavily fragmented inventory data across different regional warehouses.

03

No Real-time Tracking

Reliance on local, disconnected databases made it impossible to achieve accurate, real-time inventory tracking across the supply chain.

04

Hardware Dependencies

The system needed to maintain native, low-level OS capabilities to support existing warehouse barcode scanners and receipt printers.

100%
Real-time inventory visibility
50%
Reduction in codebase maintenance
Zero
Data silos across warehouses

Results & Outcomes

The modernized platform eliminated data silos, providing leadership with real-time visibility into global inventory levels. The hybrid Next.js and Electron approach reduced codebase maintenance by 50% compared to maintaining separate web and desktop apps. Warehouse operational efficiency increased significantly due to the faster, more reliable software.

Trapped in a Legacy Codebase?

See how MetaDesign uses AI agents to safely migrate decades-old enterprise applications to modern, cloud-native architectures.

Explore Legacy Modernization
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic, answered by our engineering team.

Electron allowed us to reuse the Next.js web application codebase for the desktop environment. This drastically reduced development time and ensures feature parity across web and desktop platforms while still providing access to native hardware APIs.

By leveraging Electron alongside local storage solutions, the desktop app can cache necessary inventory data and synchronize changes once the connection to the central server is restored.

We designed the Next.js frontend to maintain a familiar layout while modernizing interactions. This significantly minimized the learning curve and allowed for rapid adoption.

Absolutely. The centralized PostgreSQL database and Next.js cloud infrastructure are designed to scale horizontally, supporting virtually unlimited new warehouse locations.

We implemented robust Single Sign-On (SSO) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive inventory and administrative data.

No, by utilizing Electron, we ensured the new application remained fully compatible with existing USB barcode scanners and receipt printers, avoiding costly hardware replacements.

Have a similar challenge?

Let's build your success story.

A 30-minute call with a principal engineer. We'll discuss your challenges, propose architecture, and outline a roadmap.

Talk to a strategist
Have a similar project? Let's discuss your requirements.
Book a call
EmailWhatsApp