> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lumberflow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The Kanban Board — Your Command Center

> Master the visual pipeline management system: view modes, filter bar, bulk operations, keyboard shortcuts, and real-time market intelligence

# The Kanban Board — Your Command Center

The Kanban board is where all your active sourcing requests live. Each card represents a unique product combination (dimension-species-grade) moving through your procurement pipeline. Cards advance automatically as you take action and as suppliers respond.

## Understanding the Workflow Columns

### TO SOURCE (Ready for RFQ)

* New sourcing requests awaiting supplier outreach
* **Primary Action**: Send AI-generated RFQs to suppliers
* **Card Information**: Product specifications, target pricing (\$/MBF), total quantity in packs, market sentiment

### QUOTING (Awaiting Quotes)

* RFQs sent, waiting for supplier responses
* **Primary Action**: Review incoming quotes, send counter-offers
* **Card Analytics**: Time since RFQ sent, supplier response rates, lowest quote received

### NEGOTIATING (Active Negotiations)

* Back-and-forth negotiations in progress with suppliers
* **Primary Action**: Continue negotiations, finalize terms
* **Card Analytics**: Negotiation history, latest offer pricing, days in negotiation

### FULFILLED (Completed Orders)

* Purchase orders created and processed
* **View Only**: Final pricing, delivery details, PO number
* **Analytics**: Average fulfilled price in \$/MBF across all POs for this sourcing request

## View Modes: Compact, Standard, Detailed

Use the **view mode toggle** (top-right of the board) to control how much information each card displays:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Compact" icon="layout-grid">
    Maximum cards on screen. Product name, status badge, quote count, and target price only. Best for large pipelines.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Standard (Default)" icon="layout-list">
    Balanced density. Includes sentiment badge, sparkline, lowest quote, and response time.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Detailed" icon="layout-panel">
    Full context. Adds supplier performance badge, Team Insights benchmark inline, and expanded quote details.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Your view mode preference is saved across sessions.

## Card Information At a Glance

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Product Identification" icon="tag">
    **Product Name**: "Douglas Fir 2x8 No.2\&Btr" (using industry abbreviations)

    **Hover Details**: Full product description, grade definition, and volume in MBF on hover
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pricing Information" icon="dollar-sign">
    **Target Price**: Your desired price in \$/MBF (thousand board feet)

    **Current Quotes**: Lowest quote received so far (if any), also in \$/MBF
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quantity Details" icon="calculator">
    **Total Quantity**: Total packs needed across all lengths

    **MBF Volume**: Automatic conversion from packs to MBF shown on hover
  </Card>

  <Card title="Intelligence Widgets" icon="brain">
    **Sentiment Badge**: Species-level AI market assessment (Bullish / Neutral / Bearish)

    **Price Sparkline**: Mini chart showing price trend for this SKU over time
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Market Sentiment Badges

Every card shows an AI-powered market sentiment badge for its species:

* 🟢 **Bullish**: Supply tightening or demand rising — consider moving quickly before prices increase
* ⚪ **Neutral**: No strong signal in either direction
* 🔴 **Bearish**: Buyer-favorable conditions — you may have pricing leverage or conditions may improve

Click **See why** on any badge to read the AI's supporting analysis from lumber news, mill capacity data, and demand indicators. See [AI Features](/user-guide/ai-features) for full details.

## Filter Bar

The **Filter Bar** (below the board header) narrows your view across all columns simultaneously:

* **Species**: Show only SPF, SYP, Douglas Fir, or any other species
* **Grade**: Narrow to specific grade classifications (Stud, Construction, Select Structural, etc.)
* **Dimension**: Focus on 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, or other dimensions

Active filters apply to all four columns at once. Clear all filters to return to the full pipeline view.

## Single Card Operations

### TO SOURCE Card Actions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get Quotes">
    Opens the multi-step RFQ flow: select suppliers, review AI-generated email drafts for each, confirm and send
  </Step>

  <Step title="View Details">
    Edit specifications, adjust quantities by length, review the full line item breakdown
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cancel Request">
    Remove from pipeline — card disappears immediately (optimistic UI), with rollback if the server operation fails
  </Step>
</Steps>

### QUOTING Card Actions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Review Quotes">
    Compare received quotes side-by-side with \$/MBF normalization, pricing analytics, and Team Insights benchmarks
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Purchase Order">
    Generate a PO from an approved quote — opens the individual PO creation workflow with human validation
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send Counter-Offer">
    Opens the counter-offer flow: set target price and instructions, the AI drafts an email using your full thread history, you review and send
  </Step>
</Steps>

### NEGOTIATING Card Actions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Continue Negotiation">
    Send follow-up counter-offers — the AI reads the complete thread to maintain context and continuity
  </Step>

  <Step title="Accept & Create PO">
    When terms are finalized, navigate to the individual quote review page to create the purchase order with full validation
  </Step>

  <Step title="View Negotiation History">
    Review the complete communication timeline with timestamps, offers, and counter-offers
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Bulk Selection & Operations

### Activating Bulk Mode

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Bulk Select (or press B)">
    Find the **Bulk Select** button in the top-right corner, or press `B` on your keyboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Multiple Cards">
    Use checkboxes to select cards — you can select across different columns
  </Step>

  <Step title="Smart Actions Appear">
    A bulk actions bar appears at the bottom of the screen with context-aware options based on your selection
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Context-Aware Bulk Actions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="TO SOURCE Selection — Bulk RFQs">
    **Send Bulk RFQs**: Generate AI-drafted RFQs for multiple products simultaneously

    * Communications are grouped by supplier (one email per supplier, covering all relevant products)
    * Each product's individual specifications are maintained as line items
    * All drafts are shown for review before sending
    * Deduplication prevents double-sending if you click twice
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="QUOTING Selection — Bulk Counter-Offers">
    **Send Counter Offers**: Initiate negotiations with suppliers who have submitted quotes

    * Only cards that have received actual quotes with pricing are eligible
    * Each counter-offer draft references that specific supplier's email thread
    * Target price and custom instructions can be set per batch before drafting
    * Review all drafts before sending
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="NEGOTIATING Selection — Continue Negotiations">
    **Continue Negotiations**: Follow-up communications for cards in active negotiation

    * Preserves individual negotiation context per supplier (no cross-contamination)
    * Maintains professional email thread continuity
    * Individual review is required before accepting final terms
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Warning>
  **No Bulk Purchase Orders**: The system does not support bulk PO creation. Each purchase order requires individual review and validation to ensure accurate MBF-based pricing calculations and correct terms. This is intentional — lumber purchase commitments are too significant for bulk approval.
</Warning>

<Info>
  **Email Thread Intelligence**: Bulk operations automatically group communications by supplier email thread. Each supplier receives an independent, properly threaded email — bulk sends never break conversation continuity or reveal competitive information.
</Info>

## Advanced Card Analytics

### Expandable Quote Details

Click the chevron on any card to reveal:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quote Performance" icon="chart-bar">
    * Number of quotes received
    * Lowest vs. highest quote received (\$/MBF)
    * Average response time across suppliers
    * Price variance vs. your target
  </Card>

  <Card title="Team Insights Benchmark" icon="users">
    * Your team's historical median price for this SKU
    * In-flight (open quote) median
    * Grade comparison filter
    * Supplier contribution breakdown
  </Card>

  <Card title="Timeline Tracking" icon="clock">
    * Days since RFQ sent
    * Last supplier communication timestamp
    * Number of negotiation rounds
    * Deal velocity metrics
  </Card>

  <Card title="Supplier Performance" icon="award">
    * Response rate badge per quote
    * Speed indicator vs. your supplier average
    * Pricing position badge (competitive / above / below market)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action                              |
| -------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `B`      | Toggle bulk select mode             |
| `Escape` | Exit bulk select mode               |
| `Enter`  | Open card details / quote review    |
| `Space`  | Select / deselect card in bulk mode |

## Optimistic UI: Instant Feedback

LumberFlow uses **optimistic UI updates** throughout the Kanban board:

* When you **send an RFQ**, the card moves from TO SOURCE → QUOTING immediately, before the server confirms
* When you **cancel a request**, the card disappears from the board immediately
* If the server operation fails (network error, etc.), the card **rolls back** with an error notification — your pipeline stays accurate

This makes the board feel as fast as your decisions, without sacrificing data integrity.

## Pipeline View: Kanban vs. Timeline

Use the **View Switcher** to toggle between Kanban and Timeline:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Kanban View (Default)" icon="columns">
    Status-based columns. Best for managing what needs action right now.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Timeline View" icon="calendar">
    Gantt-style timeline across all sourcing requests. Best for planning procurement timing and spotting stalled requests.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Mobile Responsiveness

The Kanban board is fully responsive:

* **Desktop**: Full card details, all view modes, expanded analytics
* **Tablet**: Condensed view with essential information and touch-friendly card interactions
* **Mobile**: Card stack view with swipe navigation

Your command center works wherever you do business.

<Card title="Learn about RFQ automation" icon="paper-plane" href="https://lumberflow.com/solutions/rfq-automation">
  See the full AI-powered RFQ workflow that drives your Kanban board.
</Card>