Digital marketplace in the Philipines

• Main Author: Tan, Rodmond Le Meng
• Other Authors: Yeo Chai Kiat
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Computer and Information Science; App; Application; Marketplace
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175171
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The aim of this Final Year Project is the development of a digital marketplace designed to connect farmers directly with buyers in rural parts of the Philippines. This project addresses the prevalent challenges faced by farmers, such as lack of market information, dependency on intermediaries, and inefficient supply chain processes. Adopting a user-centric design approach, the platform aims to cater for users with low digital literacy and varying access to internet connectivity. The project process involved a comprehensive ground reconnaissance to understand the users' needs, iterative design and development phases, and meticulous stakeholder engagement for prototype validation. Utilizing the MERN stack, the application ensures a balance between simplicity in design and robustness in functionality. Features such as offline item placement, order requests, and order acceptance and rejection are integrated to empower users and promote self- sufficiency. Results from initial testing indicate that the application has the potential to enhance market transparency and increase economic opportunities for farmers. Future enhancements for the project include integrating social media authentication, introducing item bidding systems and in-app chat features, facilitating secure monetary transactions with penalties for non-fulfilment, and providing educational content on market dynamics. The project's conclusion underscores the digital marketplace's significant role in the agricultural sector's modernization and highlights the capabilities of digital innovation in enhancing livelihoods in rural communities. The work presented herein lays a foundation for a scalable, user-friendly platform with the potential to make a significant impact on local economies.