- About the Project
- Project Motivation
- Problem Statement
- Objectives
- Technologies Used
- System Architecture & Methodology
- Experimental Setup
- Evaluation Metrics
- Results & Discussion
- Conclusion & Future Scope
- References
ElectroLedger is a web-based Smart Expense Tracker developed as a part of the Minor Project-II for the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science & Engineering. The project offers an intelligent and intuitive financial management solution tailored for individuals and small businesses, especially electronics shop owners, to simplify tracking of daily income and expenses, streamline financial record-keeping, and enhance decision-making through insights and reports.
The application automates transaction recording, categorization, budgeting, and report generation using a structured and cost-effective architecture. With user-friendly features and responsive design, ElectroLedger eliminates the need for complex tools or professional accountants for small-scale users.
In today’s digital economy, financial transactions are spread across various platforms — bank accounts, wallets, cards, and online payments. Managing finances manually through notebooks or spreadsheets leads to:
- Inefficiency
- Human error
- Time wastage
- Poor financial planning
For small business owners like those running electronics stores, the inability to hire professional accountants further complicates financial tracking.
ElectroLedger was conceptualized to empower such users with a smart, easy-to-use, automated platform that enhances financial transparency, budgeting, and goal-setting.
The current scenario for many small electronics store owners involves:
- Manual tracking of transactions
- Unorganized records
- Budget constraints preventing hiring of accountants
- Absence of real-time insights for better financial decisions
ElectroLedger addresses these pain points by offering a web-based solution that:
- Automatically tracks income and expenses
- Organizes data into useful categories and reports
- Offers data visualization
- Provides budget planning and goal tracking
The key objectives of ElectroLedger include:
- Automate Daily Expense Tracking: Eliminate the need for manual record-keeping.
- Improve Accuracy and Transparency: Ensure correct and accessible financial records.
- Organize Financial Data: Centralize all records into a secure, structured database.
- Support Budget-Conscious Users: Provide a low-cost tool without requiring professional accounting services.
- Deliver Real-Time Insights: Enable timely decisions through up-to-date dashboards and summaries.
- Enable Financial Planning: Allow setting of budgets and monitoring progress.
- Design User-Friendly Interface: Ensure ease of use even for non-technical users.
- Build for Scalability: Accommodate additional features as the business grows.
Frontend:
- HTML5 & CSS3: For layout and design.
- Bootstrap 5: Responsive UI/UX framework.
- JavaScript: Dynamic interaction on client-side.
- jQuery: Simplifies scripting, animations, and AJAX.
Backend:
- PHP: Server-side logic and session handling.
- MySQL: Structured storage for user data, transactions, and reports.
Plugins & Libraries:
- Font Awesome: Icons for visual enhancements.
- Datepicker.js: Simplified date input.
Development Tools:
- VS Code: Code editor.
- XAMPP: Local server for PHP and MySQL.
Development Model: The project follows the Waterfall Model of SDLC:
- Identified user needs like income tracking, categorization, budget planning.
- Database schema design using MySQL.
- UI wireframes for layout and navigation planning.
- UI developed using HTML/CSS/Bootstrap.
- Backend functionality built using PHP and integrated with MySQL.
- Unit testing for each feature.
- Database testing for data integrity.
- UI testing for responsiveness.
- Hosted on a local XAMPP server.
- Optimized code and queries for performance.
- Secure Login/Logout system
- Transaction entry (income/expense)
- Category-based classification
- Financial reports with visual graphs
- Date-based filtering
- Responsive layout for all screen sizes
To simulate a realistic electronics business environment, the following setup was used:
- Local Hosting: Windows 11 with XAMPP.
- Frontend: HTML5, Bootstrap 5.
- Backend: PHP scripts with MySQL database.
- Test Data: Over 500 mock transactions in categories like Rent, Utilities, Inventory, etc.
- Test Scenarios: Multiple shopkeeper profiles and monthly cash flow simulations.
To evaluate the performance, robustness, and user satisfaction of ElectroLedger, the following metrics were used:
- Transaction Categorization Accuracy: ~96.8%
- System Response Time: Avg. < 1.2s (Chrome DevTools benchmark)
- User Satisfaction Index (USI): 85/100 (Based on SUS survey)
- Data Integrity: 100% in all insertion/deletion operations
- Mobile Compatibility Score: 100%
- Error Tracking: Minimal bugs recorded in PHP logs
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Time-Saving: Users reported ~70% time saved over manual tracking.
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Ease of Use: Visual reports and simplified forms enabled quick financial insight.
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Reliability: No data breaches or session failures observed.
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User Feedback:
- Positive: Graphs, simplicity, and categorization.
- Suggested Improvements: CSV upload, drag-and-drop calendar, bank sync.
ElectroLedger significantly improves financial management by automating and organizing processes previously handled manually. It successfully bridges the identified gaps in affordability, accuracy, and usability for small business owners.
ElectroLedger is a complete solution that meets its goals of simplifying financial tracking and enhancing financial clarity for users. It has the potential to replace complex accounting tools with a streamlined, intuitive alternative.
- Cloud Hosting (e.g., Firebase, AWS) for 24/7 availability and backups.
- AI-Powered Predictive Budgeting using historical data.
- Bank Integration for real-time transaction sync.
- CSV Import/Export for bulk data entry or audits.
- Multi-Currency Support for regional use.
- Mobile App / PWA for enhanced accessibility and offline use.
- Accounting Made Simple – Mike Piper
- Profit First – Mike Michalowicz
- QuickBooks All-in-One For Dummies – Stephen L. Nelson