DESPENSA: A COMPUTATIONAL SOLUTION FOR OPTIMIZING PURCHASES AND PRICE TRANSPARENCY IN RETAIL

Abstract

This article sought to discuss the challenges faced by contemporary families who, due to an intense routine of commitments, frequently make unplanned purchases at supermarkets, which compromises financial control and the efficiency of domestic consumption. Furthermore, consumer distrust is highlighted regarding the correspondence between the prices displayed on the shelves and the values charged at the checkout, which can lead to losses for the consumer. Faced with this issue, the DESPENSA application was developed, with the objective of assisting users in organizing their purchases, monitoring necessary items, and checking prices in a practical and reliable manner. The adopted methodology was qualitative and descriptive, allowing for an understanding of consumer behavior and the evaluation of the proposed solution's effectiveness. A total of 120 interviews were conducted with families composed, on average, of four people. The data revealed that 64% of the interviewees do not use shopping lists and do not compare prices, which reinforces the relevance of the application. The system was developed using React Native for the front-end and Firebase as the database. It is concluded that the DESPENSA application contributes significantly to conscious consumption, financial planning, and transparency in the prices practiced by supermarkets.