Round Might Manager: Android App for Handling Delivery Tasks

The "Round Might Manager" web application is an integral part of the "Round Might" software package, a comprehensive solution designed to streamline the daily operations of postal workers. Developed using Microsoft .NET, the package simplifies tasks such as sorting and delivering mail by integrating multiple specialised applications.

The "Round Might" software package consists of the following components:

1. Secured Data Server: A robust server with a relational database that stores all postal data securely. All apps of the package communicate with the server through Web API endpoints.
2. "Builder" App: A web application for adding, editing, and organising postal data in the database (a desription is here).
3. "Manager" App: A mobile application designed to sort and prepare daily mail for specific delivery routes efficiently.
4. "Navigator" App: A mobile navigation app that provides visual guidance, route optimisation, and delivery tracking for postal workers (a desription is here).

This article focuses on the "Round Might Manager" Android app, part of the "Round Might" software package. The app is designed to streamline postal operations, enabling efficient handling of delivery tasks for postal workers.

Technology Stack

The app is built using the Blazor Hybrid .NET 7 framework, combining Bootstrap and MudBlazor for most front-end elements. The Recognition page, however, uses XAML for enhanced functionality.

The interface dynamically adapts its colour scheme based on the app’s mode:

• • Indoor Mode: Red-coloured interface.
• • Outdoor Mode: Blue-coloured interface.

This colour-coded design ensures users can easily distinguish between modes. Switching between modes is seamless, as both are implemented on a single page and share the same data. Users can toggle modes instantly using the top-left button on the navigation bar.

Offline Capability

The app is designed to operate in fully offline mode, ensuring users can work efficiently in areas without internet access. After downloading round data to the device's file system, the app transitions to offline mode, enabling:

• • Offline Workflows: Users can perform all tasks, including marking deliveries, navigating routes, and adding tasks.
• • Persistence Across Sessions: Even after the app (or device) is restarted, all data is loaded directly from the local file system, ensuring seamless offline operation.

This offline-first approach makes the app highly reliable in remote or connectivity-challenged environments.

Core Features and Functionality

The main page displays the structure of postal rounds, including areas, groups, and delivery points. The app offers different interactions depending on the mode:

INDOOR MODE

• • Add or remove postal tasks (delivery/collection) by clicking on a delivery address.
• • Use the "Navigate" button to open Google Navigation for specific delivery points.
• • Expand or collapse area contents, or show/hide unused delivery addresses for better navigation.
• • Indicators for areas with tasks: A colour-coded chip displays the type and number of tasks in each area.

Adding Tasks to the Daily Route

There are five fast and flexible methods for adding tasks, depending on the type of mail and user preference:

1. Tapping an Address: Add a task directly from the main screen.
2. Recognition Module: Tap SCAN, then Scan Address to use OCR on printed or handwritten labels.
3. Manual Entry Module: Tap POSTCODE at the bottom of the screen to manually select a postcode using an intuitive, rapid button-based system.
4. Barcode Scanner: Tap SCAN, then Scan Barcode to decode barcodes from parcels and retrieve address data.
5. Search Module: Tap SEARCH to find addresses by partial street name, postcode, or area using autocomplete.

• Image: Enter address by tapping
• Image: Enter address by postcode
• Image: Scanning 3D barcode
• Video: Barcodes scanning video
• Image: OCR address
• Video: OCR address video
• Image: Address autocomplete
• Video: Address autocomplete video

Recognition Module

• • Uses MAUI Tesseract OCR with an offline-trained dictionary.
• • Captures images using the MAUI Camera NuGet package.
• • Continuously analyzes the camera stream for printed or handwritten addresses.
• • Recognized results are listed, with the top match highlighted. Users can assign tasks to the selected address.

Manual Entry Module

Designed for ultra-fast address selection in four taps:

• • The first three taps narrow down the postcode using an interactive button system.
• • The fourth tap selects the address and opens a task assignment dialog.
• • Non-relevant buttons are hidden dynamically to maximize efficiency.
• • Average address selection time: 0.5-1.0 seconds!

Barcode Scanner

• • Uses MAUI Camera and ZXing Barcode Detection packages.
• • Captures barcodes in real time and decodes address data.
• • Supports several 3D barcode formats used by Royal Mail and others (e.g., EVRI/Hermes), providing postcodes, tracking numbers, and delivery addresses.

Search Module

• • Uses MudBlazor autocomplete to suggest addresses from partial input (e.g., street name, postcode).
• • Displays address matches immediately.
• • Upon selection, a dialog opens to assign tasks.

This is an efficient option for quickly finding addresses using minimal input.

OUTDOOR MODE

• •Click an address to mark parcels as delivered or undelivered, or navigate to the address.
• •Use the "Parcels List View" button to view a detailed list of tasks, sorted by delivery point.

Parcels List View

• • Generates a delivery list sorted by sequence when the Generate button is pressed.
• • Each entry shows a numeric order and alphabetical index for easy identification.
• • Task order can be adjusted: Via up/down arrow buttons under each address or Using drag-and-drop mode by tapping the Order button.
• • Tapping Google Navigation creates a route with all stops matching the app’s alphabetical indexes. Navigation supports up to 24 stops (A–X).
• • Users can save or load sequenced task lists from the server.

Task Summary and Options

• • Expanding the right navbar (button labelled "i") displays task summaries for each type (e.g., total tasks, completed, and not completed).
• • Provides access to the "Round Finder" tool for locating physical frames and bags for rounds.
• • Includes buttons for downloading round data from the server or uploading created tasks for use in the "Round Might NAVI" app.

• Image: Outdoor Round view and Summary
• Image: List view and Gogle Nav
• Image: List sort and drag & drop mode
• Image

Additional Tools

Round Finder

This tool is invaluable for sorters, especially novices. It enables fast identification of physical round locations (frames for letters or bags for parcels) with just three taps:

• Selecting an address displays the round name in a prominent red bar and the area name.
• Shows a schematic layout of round frames with the specific frame for the selected round highlighted in red.
• Toggling the schematic allows users to switch between parcel frames and letter frames.

• Image: Sort of letters / parcels frames
• Image: 2nd tap -> 3rd tap
• Video: Sorting parcels video
• Video: Sorting letters video

Deployment and Testing

The app has been deployed and tested on multiple Android 13 devices in real-world postal environments. Its offline-first design ensures that postal workers remain productive even without network connectivity.

The "Round Might Manager" app demonstrates how thoughtful use of modern technology, combined with robust offline support, can dramatically improve efficiency and reliability in postal operations. It equips workers with all the tools they need to manage daily routes—quickly, intuitively, and effectively.