Project Proposal

Title – Silocloud Amazon & Flipkart Price Tracker

 Rationale :

A price tracker for Amazon and Flipkart on Silocloud could serve several strategic
purposes. First, it appeals to price-sensitive consumers who frequently search for
deals and discounts on these popular e-commerce platforms. With such a tracker,
users could easily monitor price trends and receive alerts on specific products,
aligning with their behavior of researching and comparing prices to find the best
value.

The price tracker could also function as a valuable tool for boosting user engagement
and retention. By providing a convenient, centralized place to track prices, users are
likely to return to Silocloud regularly, creating habitual usage and building loyalty as
they come to rely on the platform for shopping insights.

From a data perspective, a price tracker would allow Silocloud to gather useful
information on pricing patterns, sales cycles, and seasonal discounting on Amazon
and Flipkart. This data can be leveraged to refine Silocloud’s offerings, provide
internal insights, or even be used for third-party analytics or competitive intelligence.

Additionally, a price tracker opens up revenue-generating possibilities. By directing

users to make purchases on Amazon or Flipkart, Silocloud can earn affiliate
commissions, and it could further monetize through sponsored deals or ads integrated
into the tool.

The addition of a price tracker could differentiate Silocloud in the market, offering
shoppers a unique value by simplifying their deal-hunting process across multiple
platforms. The technology needed to build such a tool is feasible and can be scaled to
include more retailers, enhancing its long-term growth potential.
1. Maximizing Savings for Consumers

Price Drops & Discounts: Online retailers often adjust prices dynamically, offering
discounts or flash sales. A tracker notifies users when prices drop, helping them make
purchases at the best possible time.

Comparison Across Platforms: With data from both Amazon and Flipkart, users can
quickly see where a product is cheaper. This helps consumers avoid paying more by
making informed decisions across platforms.

2. Helping Businesses with Market Research

Competitive Pricing Analysis: A price tracker provides businesses with valuable

insights into competitors' pricing strategies. Businesses can use this to adjust their
own prices to remain competitive.

Demand Prediction: By monitoring pricing trends and fluctuations, businesses can

predict demand patterns. For example, frequent price drops might signal inventory
clearances or lower demand, while price hikes can indicate limited stock or high
demand.

3. Saving Time for Consumers

Automating Price Checks: Manually checking prices frequently can be time-

consuming. A tracker automates this process by sending alerts when a desired price is
reached, saving users time and effort.

Historical Price Data: Many price trackers also provide historical price charts. This
data helps users recognize whether a current deal is actually a good one based on past
trends.

4. Enhanced Purchase Decisions

Informed Buying: With access to price trends and historical data, consumers are better
equipped to understand the true value of a product. They can assess if a deal is
genuine or if they should wait for a better offer.

Customized Alerts: Trackers often allow users to set target prices for specific items,
so they only receive alerts that match their budget and interest.

5. Boosting Affiliate Revenue for Creators

Affiliate Marketing Opportunities: Websites and influencers can integrate price

trackers to generate affiliate revenue by driving traffic through affiliate links. They
earn commissions when users make purchases through links in tracker notifications.
 Introduction :
An Amazon and Flipkart
price tracker is a web application built to assist users in tracking and monitoring the
prices of products on these leading e-commerce websites. This tool is particularly
useful for budget-conscious shoppers who want to optimize their purchasing decisions
and save money by buying items at the best possible prices.

The price tracker works by continuously checking the prices of selected products on
Amazon and Flipkart at regular intervals, logging price changes, and analyzing trends
over time. Users can choose specific products they’re interested in, and the tracker
will alert them when a price drop or discount occurs. This way, users don’t need to
constantly visit each product page or manually compare prices, saving both time and
effort.

Beyond simple price alerts, many trackers also offer features such as historical price
graphs, allowing users to see how a product’s price has fluctuated over days, weeks,
or even months. This data can help users make more informed decisions by
understanding seasonal price trends or identifying patterns in price drops.
Additionally, users can set price thresholds for specific products, meaning they only
receive alerts when the price reaches a desired level.

Overall, an Amazon and Flipkart price tracker is an invaluable tool that combines
convenience, efficiency, and savings for online shoppers, providing a seamless
experience in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape.
 Literature Survey :
A literature survey for an Amazon and Flipkart price tracker project involves
reviewing and analyzing existing research, studies, and technologies related to e-
commerce price tracking, price comparison tools, and customer behavior in online
shopping. This helps identify the gaps in current solutions and provides insight into
the best practices for building a reliable price tracker.

1. Existing Price Tracking Solutions: Many price tracking tools and applications,
such as Honey, Keepa, and Pricehistory.in, already monitor Amazon, Flipkart, and
other online retailers. These tools offer a variety of features like price history charts,
price alerts, and trend analyses. Reviewing these solutions provides a baseline of
features and highlights opportunities for innovation, such as improving data accuracy
or offering more user-friendly notifications.

2. Web Scraping and Data Collection Techniques: Price tracking tools rely heavily
on web scraping techniques to extract price data from e-commerce websites.
Researching methods like HTML parsing, API integration, and handling anti-bot
mechanisms are essential for ensuring the tracker’s effectiveness and legality. Studies
also highlight the importance of minimizing server load and avoiding website bans,
which are critical in long-term web scraping projects.

3. Notification Systems and User Alerts: Effective notification systems are vital for
price trackers. Studies on user engagement and alert effectiveness can help determine
the best methods for notifying users about price drops (e.g., via email, SMS, or app
notifications). Some research suggests that personalized alerts, where users set their
own price thresholds, improve engagement and user satisfaction.

4. Data Visualization Techniques: Price tracking tools often include features for
visualizing price trends over time, helping users to see how prices fluctuate. Research
on data visualization shows that using simple and intuitive graphs, such as line charts
and bar graphs, enhances user experience. Studies on user interaction with data
visualization highlight the benefits of adding filters, zoom features, and comparisons
to make price history charts more informative.
5. User Behavior in Online Shopping: Understanding how users interact with online
price tracking tools can guide feature design. Research shows that users tend to use
these tools primarily for high-value items and are influenced by psychological factors,
like fear of missing out on discounts. This information can help determine which
features are most valuable to users, like frequent updates or enhanced comparison
functions.

6. Challenges and Limitations in Price Tracking: The literature also outlines

challenges in maintaining price trackers, including issues related to website changes,
anti-scraping measures, and data accuracy. Research emphasizes the need for regular
updates and error handling in scraping algorithms to ensure consistent and accurate
data collection. Legal considerations, such as compliance with e-commerce terms of
service, are also important to avoid service interruptions.technologies, and systems
that contribute to the development of a virtual assistant for library management.
 Problem Definition :
E-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart often change product prices due to sales,
promotions, and demand. Shoppers who want to buy at the best price face the tedious
task of constantly checking prices, and they may miss discounts or end up paying
more. Currently, there isn’t an easy way for users to monitor these price changes
automatically or see past price trends.

This constant fluctuation creates a challenge for users who wish to secure the best
deals, as they must manually check for price drops, often multiple times a day, across
both platforms. The lack of an automated system to monitor prices means that users
can easily miss out on discounts and sales, which can lead to purchasing items at
higher prices or losing out on savings opportunities altogether.

 Several key challenges exist in the current library management system:

1. Dynamic Pricing Models:

E-commerce platforms frequently change prices based on various factors, including

demand, inventory levels, and promotional events. Developing a robust system that
can adapt to these dynamic pricing models poses a significant challenge, as the tracker
must accurately reflect real-time prices.

2. Web Scraping and Data Extraction:

Extracting data from websites through web scraping can be technically challenging,
especially considering the potential for anti-scraping measures employed by e-
commerce sites. Implementing effective scraping techniques that comply with the
terms of service and avoiding IP bans requires careful planning and execution.

3. Data Accuracy and Reliability:

Ensuring that the price data collected is accurate and up-to-date is critical for
maintaining user trust. Inaccurate data can lead to missed savings or customer
dissatisfaction. Implementing methods for validating and cross-referencing data is
essential to address this issue.

4. Notification System Efficiency:

Developing an efficient notification system that promptly alerts users about price
drops is crucial. The challenge lies in determining the optimal frequency and method
of notifications (e.g., email, SMS, push notifications) while minimizing notification
fatigue for users.

5. Historical Data Analysis:

Providing users with meaningful insights into historical price trends requires
sophisticated data analysis and visualization techniques. Collecting and storing
historical data in a way that is easily accessible and understandable can be complex.

 Proposed Methodology of solving Identified problem :

1. Requirement Analysis:

Identify User Needs: Conduct surveys or interviews to gather requirements from

potential users about features they would find most valuable (e.g., price alerts,
historical data). Define Functional Specifications: Create a detailed list of
functionalities such as product selection, alert settings, historical price graphs, and
user accounts.

2. System Design:

Architecture Design: Develop a high-level architecture that includes components like

the web scraping module, database, backend API, and frontend interface. Database
Schema Design: Define the database structure to store product data, user information,
and price history efficiently. User Interface (UI) Design: Create wireframes and
prototypes to visualize the application layout and user experience, ensuring ease of
navigation and accessibility.
 3. Development:

Frontend Development: Use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or frameworks like
React/Vue) to create a responsive and user-friendly interface for the application.
Backend Development: Implement the server-side logic using a suitable programming
language (e.g., Python with Flask or Django) to handle user requests, manage data,
and serve APIs. Web Scraping Implementation: Develop the web scraping module to
extract price data from Amazon and Flipkart using libraries like Beautiful Soup or
Scrapy, ensuring compliance with the sites' terms of service. Data Handling and
Storage:

4. Database Implementation:

Set up the chosen database system (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) to store and manage
the collected data efficiently. Data Validation and Cleaning: Implement processes to
validate and clean the scraped data to ensure accuracy and reliability.

5. Notification System Development:

Alert Mechanism: Create a system for notifying users of price changes through email
or SMS using services like SendGrid or Twilio. User Customization: Allow users to
set their own price thresholds for receiving alerts, enhancing personalization.

6. Testing:

Unit Testing: Conduct unit tests for individual components of the application to
ensure they function correctly. Integration Testing: Test the interaction between
different modules (e.g., frontend and backend) to verify that the entire system works
as intended. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Involve actual users in testing the
application to gather feedback on functionality and usability, making adjustments as
necessary.

7. Deployment:

Web Hosting: Deploy the application on a reliable cloud hosting service (e.g., AWS,
Google Cloud) to ensure accessibility and scalability. Domain Configuration: Set up a
domain name for the application to provide a user-friendly URL for access.
Monitoring and

8. Maintenance:

Performance Monitoring: Implement tools to monitor application performance and

user engagement, enabling proactive identification of issues.

Regular Updates: Schedule regular updates for the web scraping module to adapt to
any changes in the Amazon and Flipkart websites, ensuring continuous data accuracy.

User Support: Establish a support channel for users to report issues, provide feedback,
and request assistance.

9. Documentation:

User Documentation: Create comprehensive user manuals and FAQs to guide users
on how to use the price tracker effectively. Technical Documentation: Document the
codebase, architecture, and database schema for future reference and maintenance.
 Resources and consumables required :

1. Development Tools and Technologies:

Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript, or Ruby for backend

development.HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or frameworks like React/Vue) for
frontend development. Frameworks and Libraries: Flask or Django for Python-
based web applications. Node.js for JavaScript-based backend development.
Beautiful Soup or Scrapy for web scraping. Charting libraries (e.g., Chart.js,
D3.js) for data visualization.

2. Web Hosting and Domain:

Web Hosting Services: Cloud service providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or
DigitalOcean to host the application. Domain Registration: A domain name for
the price tracker website. Database Management:

3. Database Systems:

MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB for storing product data, user information,

and historical price records. Data Backup Solutions: Backup services or strategies
to ensure data integrity and recovery. User Interface and Experience Design:
Design Tools: Tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch for designing the user
interface and creating prototypes.

4. User Testing Resources:

Access to user testing platforms to gather feedback on UI/UX design.

5. Notification Services:

Email/SMS Services: Third-party services like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Twilio for

sending notifications to users about price changes.
6. Development and Collaboration Tools:

Version Control System: GitHub or GitLab for source code management and
collaboration among team members. Project Management Tools: Tools like Trello,
Jira, or Asana for tracking project progress and task assignments. Communication
Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for team communication and meetings.

7. Hardware Requirements:

Development Machines: Laptops or desktops with adequate processing power and

memory for development tasks. Testing Devices: Various devices (smartphones,
tablets, desktops) for testing the application’s responsiveness and usability across
platforms.

8. Legal and Compliance Resources:

Legal Consultation: Access to legal advice regarding data privacy, compliance with
scraping laws, and terms of service for Amazon and Flipkart.

9. Miscellaneous Supplies:

Documentation Tools: Tools like Confluence or Notion for documenting project

specifications, user manuals, and API documentation. Office Supplies: Basic office
supplies for team members if working in a physical office space (notebooks, pens,
etc.).
  Action Plan :

Phase 1: Project Initiation (Weeks 1-2)

Define Project Scope: Identify key features and functionalities based on user
requirements. Set project goals and deliverables. Assemble Project Team: Assign
roles and responsibilities (e.g., project manager, developers, UI/UX designer, QA
testers). Conduct Market Research: Analyze existing price tracking solutions to
identify gaps and opportunities.

Phase 2: Requirement Gathering and Analysis (Weeks 3-4)

User Interviews and Surveys: Collect feedback from potential users regarding
desired features and functionalities. Document Requirements: Create a detailed
requirements specification document outlining functional and non-functional
requirements.

Phase 3: System Design (Weeks 5-6)

Architecture Design: Design the overall system architecture, including the

frontend, backend, and database components. UI/UX Design: Develop
wireframes and prototypes for the application interface. Database Schema
Design: Define the database structure to manage product data, user accounts,
and price history.

Phase 4: Development (Weeks 7-12)

Frontend Development (Weeks 7-9): Build the user interface using HTML, CSS,
and JavaScript (or frameworks like React/Vue). Backend Development (Weeks
10-11): Implement server-side logic using a chosen programming language (e.g.,
Python with Flask/Django). Develop the API for data communication between
the frontend and backend. Web Scraping Development (Week 12): Implement
web scraping scripts to extract price data from Amazon and Flipkart.

Phase 5: Testing (Weeks 13-14)

Unit Testing: Conduct unit tests for individual components to ensure they
function correctly. Integration Testing: Test the integration of different modules
to verify overall system functionality. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Engage
real users to test the application and gather feedback for final adjustments.

Phase 6: Deployment (Week 15)

Web Hosting: Deploy the application on a cloud hosting service (e.g., AWS,
Google Cloud). Domain Setup: Configure a domain name for easy access to the
application.

Phase 7: Monitoring and Maintenance (Ongoing after Deployment)

Performance Monitoring: Implement monitoring tools to track application

performance and user engagement. Regular Updates: Schedule updates for the
scraping module to adapt to any changes on Amazon and Flipkart. User
Support: Provide ongoing support for users to address issues, gather feedback,
and improve the application.

Phase 8: Documentation (Weeks 15-16)

User Documentation: Create user manuals and FAQs to assist users in

navigating the application. Technical Documentation: Document the codebase,
architecture, and database schema for future reference.
 Summary Timeline :

Activity Estimated Completion

Define Project Scope, Assemble team conduct Week 2

market and reserch
User interviews, surveys, document requirements Week 4

Design architecture, UI/UX and database schema Week 6

Frontend Development, backend development, Week 12

web scraping
Unit Testing, Integration testing, User acceptance Week 14
testing
We hosting, domain setuap Week 15

Performance monitoring, regular updates, user Ongoing

support (ongoing)