Transforming SME operations with real-time mobile POS and Firebase integration
Farel Naufal Azhari & Sutarman
Abstract
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often struggle to efficiently manage sales transactions and inventory due to a lack of affordable, real-time technological solutions. Existing systems typically fail to offer seamless synchronization and proactive inventory management, which are crucial for resource-constrained businesses. This study addresses these challenges by developing a Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) application integrated with Firebase, aimed at improving operational performance, reducing data inconsistencies, and supporting decision-making through real-time synchronization. The application was developed using a descriptive research approach, React Native for cross-platform compatibility, and Firebase for its real-time database features. Notable innovations include an automated low-stock notification system and an intuitive user interface for both staff and administrators, designed to streamline inventory management. Comprehensive testing and validation confirmed the system’s reliability, usability, and data consistency. However, the study was limited by its small-scale implementation and the absence of real-world retail trials. Future research should focus on its scalability, integration with advanced analytics, and application in larger retail settings.
Keywords
digital retail systems, inventory optimization, low-stock notification, real-time backend solutions, SME efficiency, user interface design
Author information & Contribution
Farel Naufal Azhari. Corresponding author. University of Technology Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Email: farelnazhari.22@gmail.com
Sutarman. University of Technology Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. E-mail: sutarman@uty.ac.id
“All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data and Materials Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
AI Declaration
Notes
Acknowledgement
References
Afifi, H., Karl, H., Gburrek, T., & Schmalenstroeer, J. (2022). Data-driven time synchronization in wireless multimedia networks. 2022 International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (IWCMC). https://doi.org/10.1109/IWCMC55113.2022.9824980
Ahmed, M. (2022). Backend as a service cloud computing integrated with cross-platform mobile development framework to create an e-learning application that works in mobile and web with a single codebase. 4th International Conference on Communication Engineering and Computer Science (CIC-COCOS’2022), 50–57. https://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.511
Alhazmi, R. M. (2020). System architecture of point-of-sale debt system using mobile technology. 2020 International Conference on Computing and Information Technology (ICCIT-1441), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCIT-144147971.2020.9213723
Ashita, Bahl, V., Goel, A., & Sengar, N. (2020). Android based instant messaging tool using firebase as backend. International Journal for Modern Trends in Science and Technology, 6(12), 198–201. https://doi.org/10.46501/IJMTST061238
Chopdar, P. K., & Balakrishnan, J. (2020). Consumers response towards mobile commerce applications: S-O-R approach. International Journal of Information Management, 53, 102106. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102106
Chowdhury, D. D. (2021). Synchronization for Smart Grid Infrastructure. In NextGen Network Synchronization (pp. 181–207). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71179-5_10
Dantu, V. V. R., Sai Dasaradha, V. V. S., & Sasikumar, P. (2021). Unified automotive location tracking using android things (IoT). Wireless Personal Communications, 120(1), 63–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-021-08434-y
Demissie, B. F., & Ranise, S. (2021). Assessing the effectiveness of the shared responsibility model for cloud databases: The case of Google’s Firebase. 2021 IEEE International Conference on Smart Data Services (SMDS), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1109/SMDS53860.2021.00026
Haidukevych, Y. O., & Doroshenko, А. Yu. (2022). Automated inventory management system on Android using barcodes and QR-codes. Problems in Programming, 1, 013–022. https://doi.org/10.15407/pp2022.01.013
Hasan, M. K., Ahmed, M. M., Hashim, A. H. A., Razzaque, A., Islam, S., & Pandey, B. (2020). A Novel Artificial Intelligence Based Timing Synchronization Scheme for Smart Grid Applications. Wireless Personal Communications, 114(2), 1067–1084. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-020-07408-w
Intal, G. L., Miranda, L. M. P., Sitoy, J. I., & Matoza, R. (2022). iBiz: An android mobile application with business intelligence for retail micro and small enterprises (MSEs). Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on E-Commerce, E-Business and E-Government, 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1145/3537693.3537755
Joshi, J., Bhirud, D., Shinde, G., Avhale, V., Vispute, S. R., & Rajeswari, K. (2022). Inventory and attendance management system for construction firm with voice assistant. 2022 6th International Conference On Computing, Communication, Control and Automation (ICCUBEA, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCUBEA54992.2022.10010844
Kimm, H., & Flynn, D. (2022). Android application for tracking pedestrian movements in realtime with firebase. 2022 IEEE Cloud Summit, 91–96. https://doi.org/10.1109/CloudSummit54781.2022.00020
Lewis, E. C., Harper, K. M., Poirier, L. K., & Gittelsohn, J. (2022). Feasibility of using mobile point-of-sale technology in Baltimore City corner stores for tracking sales: A brief report. Journal of Public Health Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.2607
Margate, A. M. N., Ravina, Ma. C. F., Pido, J. J. G., & Young, M. N. (2020). Seiton: A mobile inventory management system application for micro, small and medium-sized enterprise. 2020 IEEE 7th International Conference on Engineering Technologies and Applied Sciences (ICETAS), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICETAS51660.2020.9484183
Melvin, M., Wiratama, J., Sutomo, R., & Sanjaya, S. A. (2023). A web-based point of sales for automotive component industry using rapid application development model. JOINS (Journal of Information System), 8(2), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.33633/joins.v8i2.9383
Naik, G. R. (2023). AI based inventory management system using Odoo. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, 07(08). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsrem25510
Pandit, V. K. S., Yogeshwar, S. K., Priya, R., Ramesh, T., & Ranjitha, P. (2023). Real-time database synchronization techniques in firebase for mobile app development. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM), 7(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.55041/IJSREM22021
Reddy Lakkireddy, S. N., Thomas, A. A., Shree, T. S., & Mamatha, T. (2022). Web-based application for real-time chatting using firebase. 2022 International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Communication Systems (ICKES), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICKECS56523.2022.10060845
Ruiz, A. P., Rivas, M. A., & Harbour, M. G. (2020). Non-blocking synchronization between real-time and non-real-time applications. IEEE Access, 8, 147618–147634. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3015385
Tandel, T., Wagal, S., Singh, N., Chaudhari, R., & Badgujar, V. (2020). Case study on an android app for inventory management system with sales prediction for local shopkeepers in India. 2020 6th International Conference on Advanced Computing and Communication Systems (ICACCS), 931–934. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICACCS48705.2020.9074234
Tsai, W. L. (2021). An intelligent point-of-sale system for mobile retailors. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1927(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1927/1/012015
Udayaprakash, U., & Sujatha, S. (2020). Mobile Application Integrated with on SAP Business one Software based on Sales and Collection Management System. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology, 9(9), 400-402. https://doi.org/10.17577/IJERTV9IS090289
Vaz, D., Matos, D., Pardal, M., & Correia, M. (2021). MIRES: Recovering mobile applications based on backend-as-a-service from cyber attacks. MobiQuitous 2020 – 17th EAI International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Computing, Networking and Services, 262–272. https://doi.org/10.1145/3448891.3448932
Wiesner, A., & Kovácsházy, T. (2023). Methods of peripheral synchronization in real-time cyber-physical systems. 2023 24th International Carpathian Control Conference (ICCC), 465–470. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCC57093.2023.10178979
Cite this article:
Azhari, F.N. & Sutarman (2024). Transforming SME operations with real-time mobile POS and Firebase integration. International Journal of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, 4(4), 108-135. https://doi.org/10.53378/ijstem.353134
License:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
Find this article in:
Most read articles in this journal
- Analysis of the inventory management system towards enhanced university service delivery
- Street food’s microbiological load and vendors’ food hygiene and safety practices compliance in the schools of Cebu City
- Assessing students’ mastery and misconceptions in the fundamental operations on integers
- Leafina: Potency of Kakawate leaves, fishbone meal and saba banana peel compost soil amendment to the water holding capacity of loam soil
- Problem-based learning strategies and critical thinking skills among pre-service teachers
- Eating habits, nutrition literacy, and mathematics performance of junior high school students
- Effectiveness of project COUNTS in improving students’ numeracy skills
- Exploring students’ procedural fluency and written adaptive reasoning skills in solving open-ended problems
- Compressive strength and cost analysis of concrete hollow blocks with upcycled plastics as replacement for choker aggregates
- Transforming SME operations with real-time mobile POS and Firebase integration