RFID and QR Code-Based Smart Shopping Cart System

This paper presents the design and implementation of a comprehensive smart shopping cart system that integrates Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and Quick Response (QR) code technologies to revolutionize the retail shopping experience. Built around the powerful ESP32 microcontroller, the system automates the entire shopping process from product scanning to payment processing and inventory management. Customers can seamlessly scan product QR codes to add items to their virtual cart, with payment authorization handled automatically through pre-registered RFID cards. The system features a sophisticated web dashboard that provides real-time monitoring of transactions, inventory levels, and user balances for both customers and store administrators. Additionally, GSM functionality enables instant transactional SMS alerts. This innovative solution effectively addresses critical challenges in modern retail environments, including reducing checkout queues, minimizing human error, enhancing operational efficiency, and providing valuable data analytics for business intelligence. The system represents a significant advancement in IoT-based retail automation, offering scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved customer satisfaction.