Carsist Mobile Application

Project Title

Carsist Mobile Application

Project Area of Specialization Software EngineeringProject Summary

The idea we are presenting is a mobile application named carsist.What is the problem, prompting us to suggest this solution? The automotive industry has rapidly grown in Pakistan. We see more vehicle owners and that brings us to consider the maintenance of those vehicles. Maintaining a vehicle and retaining its good condition is currently not very simple. There are several causes for that such as missing the right timing for repair work or service. Vehicle service is often neglected until it beccomes critical. And when that happends it degrades the performance and financial value of the vehicle. Another issue is not finding a mechanic near our location. Even if we do find some shops, we are unsure about the level of their work expertise. Vehicle breakdown mid-travel is extremely inconvenient. Human ease can include security, better communication, shortening distances virtually and more. Carsist seeks the same by automating a part of the automotive industry that is, vehicle owner and mechanic interaction. It also brings to a single platform above mentioned concerns and all other vehicle related needs of any vehicle owner and provides a simple solution to those concerns.

Project Objectives

Short-term objectives (For FYP):

1. Provide the following functionality categorised according to the two types of users:
   1. Common User Functionality:
      1. User will be able to maintain the history of car issues and service expenses: time and cost (petrol expenses, repair etc). Mileage gauge, distance per refill, AC, brake conditions etc shown for the user's car, average for fuel effectiveness.
      2. Set reminders and generate the alert for events (like repairing of car).
      3. If the car breaks down somewhere the user can insert location (or may use GPS) and the app will suggest nearby mechanic shops. Google Map API used.
      4. A tab can be added where user will upload car related documents which can be stored securely.
      5. Show costing of fuel etc according to prices in Pakistan.
      6. Add mechanics shops (name and their locations-map) around the city which the user can browse and search.
      7. A page which shows general driving tips and traffic rules.
      8. Book appointment: Send repair form (request) to mechanic.
      9. Pay the mechanic through app or by CoD.
      10. Give rating to the shop/service.
   2. Mechanics functionality:
      1. Edit their shop profile information, including contacts, name, and location.
      2. Respond to the user request.
      3. Generate receipt.
      4. Confirm payment.
      5. Receive and view ratings for their services.
      6. Maintain history of services given to users.
2. Scalability: The app will initially allow registration of 100 users.
3. Provide a web interface for app admin for the verification, authentication, and acceptance of the registering mechanics.

Long-term objectives(As a startup):

1. Monetisation
   1. Mechanics will be registered, and their customer base will increase. The developers will take a small percentage of token money (not too costly) to keep the app running smoothly and for further improvements. This can be done monthly for being on the app and for every time a client requests a service.
   2. As the app grows more popular introduce a special listing of recommended mechanic/service shops in a separate section that is more visible to the app users. These shops will in turn pay for this advertisement.
2. Deals and concessions for vehicle owners from the mechanics for reaching out to them through our app platform.
3. Car taxation online payment with stronger security.
4. Online car registration.
5. Chatbot for common car or app related issues for user to interact with.
6. Statistics and comparison for mechanics on different metrics.
7. User analytics for the app admin with proper visualisation.
8. Scale up the app for a bigger user base.
9. Community Tab like a forum for users to interact and discuss car related issues.
10. Further privacy settings for users pertaining to the above-mentioned point.

Project Implementation Method

• The software involves all the activities of software engineering including planning, requirements gathering, architecture, design, wireframing, development, testing and deployment. Communication with team members is focal to identify a problem and then design and develop its solution using modern tool and platforms. Research is involved in choosing the right platform and for the information on automotive industry in Pakistan.
• This is a mobile application which is available for both platforms i.e. iOS and Android due to the use of react native(hybrid framework). However, the final deliverable will be more catered for android due to the specification of iOS testing requiring a Mac or iphone which is unavailable to us at the moment.

Benefits of the Project

First and foremost, this app is catered to Pakistani users, so the shops, profiles, services, prices and other related metrics will be specific to our region.

Benefits for a vehicle owner:

1. Convenience using mobile app.
2. Finding malfunctions in a car before they become critical.
3. One app for all vehicle related services accessible anytime.
4. Retain of a car’s good condition, and financial value.
5. Reasonable prices and eventual reduction of a car’s maintenance costs.
6. Discovering new information about vehicle’s functions and repair.
7. Automated orders and integrated payment. Generation of receipts and customers history faster and more efficient.

Benefits for a mechanic:

1. New clients, especially those who you wouldn’t find through other channels.
2. Efficiency –app makes orders and other processes automated.
3. Digital marketing opportunities and customer statistics.
4. Sending notifications to car owners, providing them with necessary information.
5. Improve user experience and introduce new services/schemes.
6. Gain customer trust.
7. Having a history of sales and customers with complete details will allows mechanics to analyse the market and use it for improvement.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

• We are using React Native for our frontend development and interface flow along with configuration with the database.
• The web interface is made using firebase and React.js
• Firebase will be used for database.
• Google Map API for map markers, location and directions.
• GPS provided by smartphones.
• Stripe payment module.
• We have used github for version control, collaboration and integrating of the app between different team members

Our final Deliverable would include:

1. Track and Remind. Car components service/condition.

2. Mechanic profile and set of services they provide.

3. Map integration.

4. Mechanic recommendation according to location and sorting with other criteria.

5. Request form generated in app for services/repairs and sent to the mechanic.

6. Integrated online payment module or CoD (with confirmation).

7. Breakdown Aid with GPS.

8. History of Car Expenses

9. Mechanic Ratings.

10. Fuel tracker

11. Statistics and graphs

12. Secure Documents

Final Deliverable of the Project Software SystemCore Industry TransportationOther IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	79980
8GB RAM	Equipment	1	9000	9000
Smart device	Equipment	1	35000	35000
Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	1	10000	10000
Sensors	Equipment	3	5000	15000
Google Map API credits	Equipment	61	180	10980