Development of a cloud-based platform for service station financial management

Abstract

This research addresses the critical gap in financial management software designed for service stations. The study develops CloudFinServ, a cloud-based platform that integrates point-of-sale operations, inventory management, and accounting functions while supporting offline capabilities essential for diverse operational environments. The research identifies and implements key functionalities through comprehensive stakeholder analysis and iterative development, including real-time inventory reconciliation, automated compliance reporting, and secure transaction processing. Pilot implementations demonstrated significant improvements in accounting efficiency and inventory accuracy. The research contributes a practical solution for service station operations and a framework for developing specialised financial software in retail environments with complex operational requirements.