User-Centric Grocery Store Management System

Abstract

This thesis presents the design and implementation of "FreshCart," a comprehensive e-commerce application developed using the MERN stack to modernize the grocery retail experience. The platform offers a seamless user journey, including a dynamic product catalog, real-time cart management, and a secure checkout process protected by JSON Web Tokens. Beyond core e-commerce functions, the project incorporates advanced features such as a heuristic-based chatbot for automated support and an Admin Dashboard with data visualization for business intelligence. The system follows a client-server architecture with a NoSQL database structure that manages five distinct entities to ensure data integrity. To guarantee reliability, the author implemented a multi-layered testing strategy involving automated unit testing with Jest and integration testing with Supertest. Overall, the project demonstrates a professional application of full-stack engineering principles, resulting in a scalable and user-friendly digital solution.