JuakaliSmart Mobile API

JuakaliSmart is a digital business management system built to streamline operations for artisans and workshop-based businesses in the informal sector—commonly referred to as the “Jua Kali” sector in Kenya. The platform empowers carpenters, welders, tailors, upholsterers, and other skilled workers to run their businesses more professionally through structured recordkeeping, task management, procurement tracking, and sales processing. The system allows artisans to log customer orders, track jobs in progress, generate invoices and receipts, and monitor payments—including partial or installment-based transactions. With many workshop clients unable to pay upfront, JuakaliSmart’s in-built "Lipa Mdogo Mdogo" (pay in small portions) functionality is key to improving cash flow while maintaining accountability. Payments can be tracked digitally through a wallet system that supports M-Pesa integration or recorded manually to reflect cash transactions. A major innovation is its Resource Center, which connects users to verified hardware suppliers, helping artisans discover hard-to-find tools, materials, and discounted items. The platform also features a marketplace where users can post and sell used workshop equipment, promoting circular use of resources. JuakaliSmart’s HR and labor module enables workshop owners to assign tasks to fundis (craftsmen), monitor progress, and compute payments based on work completed. This makes it easier to manage casual or project-based labor and avoid under- or over-payment issues. The system also includes a digital product album, allowing users to upload and showcase images of finished work. This helps attract new customers through online visibility and provides a professional portfolio that can be shared digitally. The platform is mobile-friendly and includes an Android app that offers all core features, ensuring artisans without laptops or internet cafes can still access the system from their smartphones. Future enhancements include point-of-sale (POS) integration and card payments through Android-based devices, further bridging the digital divide for these users. From a technical standpoint, JuakaliSmart was developed as a full-stack web and mobile system using PHP (Laravel or Slim assumed), MySQL for the database, and JavaScript for interactivity. It leverages RESTful APIs to power the mobile app, supports SMS notifications, and incorporates secure authentication to protect sensitive business data. Overall, JuakaliSmart is a practical and impactful solution that brings structure, professionalism, and growth opportunities to an often-overlooked segment of the economy. By digitizing informal businesses, it helps artisans build credit history, improve customer service, manage finances, and grow sustainably.

Technologies: Laravel, Lumen, Firebase

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