Real-Time Spare Parts Availability and Price Comparison System for Local Shops and Customers

This research focuses on the design and implementation of a digital platform created to reduce the communication and information gap between customers and local spare parts retailers. In many local markets, most small spare parts shops still depend on manual inventory methods such as handwritten registers or memory-based tracking. These traditional practices often lead to incorrect stock information, which creates frequent problems for both shopkeepers and customers. Customers, in particular, face inconvenience as they are forced to visit multiple shops just to check whether a required spare part is available and affordable. This process wastes time, effort, and money, making the overall purchasing experience inefficient and frustrating. To solve this issue, the study proposes and develops a real-time, web-based system for spare parts availability and price comparison. The platform provides shopkeepers with a simple digital dashboard where they can update stock details, manage product information, and change prices instantly. At the same time, customers can use a single, easy-to-use interface to search for required spare parts, check real-time availability across nearby stores, and compare prices from different sellers without physically visiting each shop. The system is built using modern web technologies, including React.js with Next.js for the frontend, Node.js with Express.js for backend operations, and MySQL for database management. This technology stack ensures secure data handling, real-time updates, and scalability. Pilot testing of the system with selected local vendors showed noticeable improvements in daily operations. Shopkeepers experienced better inventory accuracy and fewer missed sales due to incorrect stock information. Customers reported a smoother and faster buying process, highlighting time savings and price transparency as major advantages. Additionally, the platform encouraged digital adoption among small business owners who previously had limited exposure to technology. Overall, the study concludes that the proposed digital platform improves efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction in the local spare parts market. Future enhancements may include secure online payment options, delivery and logistics support, and advanced analytics for predicting demand, further strengthening the system’s impact on the retail ecosystem.