Project Synopsis
Project Title:
Smart Inventory and Billing System for Small Retail Shops using Python and SQL
Objective:
To design and develop a user-friendly application that assists small retail businesses in managing
inventory,
generating GST-compliant invoices, and keeping transaction records. The project will use Python for
file handling,
GUI creation, and SQL for database management. The aim is to automate and simplify routine
business tasks, especially
for those with little to no technical background.
Team Members:
- Student 1
- Student 2
- Student 3
Motivation / Problem Statement:
Local shopkeepers and small business owners often struggle with:
- Manual tracking of inventory and stock levels.
- Creating GST-compliant invoices.
- Recording sales transactions systematically.
- Managing customer data and product listings efficiently.
This project aims to solve these problems with a lightweight software solution built using Python and
SQL, tailored for non-technical users.
Key Features:
1. User Dashboard
- GUI-based interface using Tkinter/PyQt.
- Separate modules for sales, inventory, reports, and settings.
2. Inventory Management Module
- Add, update, or delete items.
- Track quantity and stock alerts.
- Import/export inventory data via .csv or .txt using Python file handling.
3. Sales and Billing Module
- Input sales data through a form.
- Automatic GST calculation (based on item categories).
- Print and export bills in PDF or text format.
4. SQL Database Integration
- Create a Products table (item name, price, GST rate, stock).
- Sales table (date, items sold, quantity, total, customer).
- Implement SQL operations: ALTER, UPDATE, DELETE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY, etc.
5. Reports
- Monthly/weekly summary (min, max, average sales).
- Low stock alerts.
- Exportable as PDF or CSV.
Technology Stack:
- Frontend: Tkinter or PyQt5
- Backend: Python 3.x
- Database: SQLite3 or MySQL
- Libraries Used: pandas, sqlite3, reportlab, datetime
Learning Outcomes:
- Real-world application of Python and SQL.
- Deep understanding of database connectivity and file handling.
- Design thinking by interacting with end-users (shop owners).
- Ethical practices in software development.
Timeline:
Start: August | Deadline: February
| Month | Task |
|------------|------------------------------------------|
| August | Requirement gathering from local shops |
| September | Design UI and Database schema |
| October | Develop modules: Inventory + Sales |
| November | Integrate modules and test |
| December | Create Reports & Export features |
| January | Final testing + Documentation |
| February | Submission and Presentation |
Ethical Considerations:
- No use of copyrighted material/code.
- All data (if collected from real businesses) will be anonymized.
- Proper citations and open-source licenses will be acknowledged.
