BAYLO: An Online Barter Trading Mobile Application

Using Android

A THESIS
Presented to the Faculty of
Institute of Computer Studies
Western Mindanao State University

In Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirements for the Degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Developers:
RANDY L. CAÑETE
JINEDA A. VERALLO
SARAH JANE S. BONGA

CHRISTIAN FRIX J. DECHAVEZ

Thesis Adviser

October 2019
 CHAPTER 1

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

In the past years, online shopping has been a growing craze in the country. A study

conducted last 2015 shows that out of 10 Filipinos 9 of them preferred online shopping.

In the same study, it has been found out that cheaper prices, special deals and

convenience were the leading reasons why there are a lot of people choose online

shopping over physical shopping.

According to Eshopworld.com, the e-commerce users in the country from 2016 to

2018 reaches at least 37.7 million and is expected to rise up to 53.8 million by the year

2022. Another article on e-commerce outlook from Statics meanwhile estimates that

there currently at least 47.3 million e-commerce users in the Philippines in November

2018 that yields a revenue of at least 840 million dollars. Hence, online trading is the

next trend everyone must pay attention to.

The researchers foreseen the future of online trading in and outside of the country.

Despite the advantages cause by this current online craze, disadvantages also arise on

different household. Thus, a lot of thing were stack unused on their homes where in

fact, those unused items may be useful for others.

With the given problem, the researchers cited possible answers to address the

aforementioned problem. As they say, every problem has in it the seeds of its own

solution. A problem created by an online craze must given the solution of itself that

made the researchers came up into the idea of online barter.

 Barter is said to be an ancient way of trading. It was originated and introduced by

the Mesopotamia tribe’s way back 6000 B.C.

But with the proposed system, exchanging of goods will be done online without a

medium of exchange or money involvement. The system proposed entitled BAYLO:

An Online Barter Trading Mobile Application is said to become the solution of the

problem cause by an online shopping. This application still more likely an online

shopping the only difference is that, this done through exchanging of good without the

involvement of money. This mobile application will help its user trade its unused goods

inside the household into something they need coming from another user who needs

the item they are trading.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Due to rapid growth of technology, business organization have switched over from

the traditional way of shopping into an electronic method of acquiring and selling a

certain goods. Along with this growing e-commerce industry, problems also arise.

Online shopping comes with a lot of responsibilities. Because of its very convenient

way of shopping, it causes the users to spend to much of what is needed and required.

In this generation of e-commerce popularity, people are spending money

impulsively on things they seen on the online shop that leads to owning things that are

a bit useless and leave the house unorganized due to the stack of unused goods. Listed

below are the following questionnaires guide that may be used for further research.

It sought answers to the following questions.

 What could be the possible solution that can eliminate the innate effects

of e-commerce?
  What certain innovation that can addressed the need of getting rid the

stack of unused goods in a household?

1.3 Objectives

This section contains the General and Specific Objectives of this research.

1.3.1 General Objectives

The main objective of this research is to eliminate the effects cause by online

shopping craze and to create a mobile application that is able to addressed the needs of

the user in introducing the goods in exchange for a good that is needed.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

In particular, this research aims to:

 To design and develop a mobile application for e-commerce users who

seek to acquire something they need in exchange for their unused item.

 To develop a barter trading app by the use of an appropriate device.

 To conduct an actual testing of the effectiveness of the system.

 To analyse the performance of the system in addressing the problem.

1.4 Scope and Limitation

1.4.1 Scope

This study focuses on giving satisfaction to e-commerce users. The scope of this

system includes the following:

 The user can post his/her good online.

 Allow the user to purchased a good without the use of a medium which

is money.
  It has a private messaging feature that allows the users to communicate

privately about their deals in exchanging goods and services.

1.4.2 Limitation

 In case of shipping methods, it is in the user to find a courier to carry

their goods.

 The researcher hasn’t tap courier companies to do the shipment but is

open for future development

 The system is based online and is not available offline.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This system is deemed beneficial to the online shoppers and e-commerce users.

Shoppers and E-commerce Users. This will help shoppers acquiring a good that is

totally free in exchange of the good they do not need. It allows them to control on

spending to much in online shopping.

The Researchers. This allows the researchers to enhance their knowledge and skills

on addressing the problem of the community through a new technology and innovative

research application.

Other Researchers. This research is intended to help other researchers who also

seeks to help the community through an innovative research. This study could be a

reference on something that is way better than this study.

 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature and Study

2.1 Related Literature

For further understanding of the study, the researchers made use of different reading

materials related to the online system. These materials such as books, magazines,

newspapers, thesis and other web articles are essential in broadening the knowledge of

the researchers. These will also guide the researchers to achieved their target objectives

by getting ideas on other related studies and make improvements as possible.

The information gathered by the researchers focuses on the development of e-

commerce or online marketing and its advantages to the economy, consumers and

businesses. Security measurement information in terms of payment and customer’s

privacy to be considered in developing an online system are also obtained.

The researchers also some up the different techniques on how to gain web visitors

and eventually convince them to purchase the products based on some surveys gathered

by the past studies.

This review consists of books, articles, documents that focus on the same subject

matter or other concepts of the study.

2.1.1 Foreign Literature

The web has become an opportunity for the marketers to add value to the

product and services. The phenomenal growth and rising of the popularity of the

internet and the world wide web have become a key to attract more consumers and

businesses to engage the benefits of Electronic Commerce (E-commerce). This E-

commerce is sited as any form of business transaction in which the parties interact
electronically rather than physical exchanges or direct physical contact (Aldrin,

Brehmer & Johansson, 2004). This has transformed the traditional commerce and

enhanced sales arid exchanges of merchandise and information. It is not just considered

as single entity of technology but a combination of technologies where applications,

processes, business strategies are necessary to do business electronically. The

availability of goods and services with the click of a mouse is changing the global

setting.

Consideration of the websites design and operations are dependent upon the

nature of business activities and target consumers. According to Burleson (2005), a

website must be simple and focused site to succeed. One that is easy to build,

maintenance-free, low cost, trustworthy, and a powerful traffic-builder and customer-

converter. Having the right tool and the right product alone doesn’t ensure the success

of the website. To be effective, the website must be designed with the target audience

as foremost consideration. Website designers must balance design considerations and

capabilities with client objectives and the consumer’s level of understanding in the

modern technology. (Geissler, 2001).

It is critical for companies to know how do they attract customers to their

website, engage them to turn into playing customers to their website, engage them to

turn into paying costumers also retain them in returning to your website. Online

communications techniques used to achieve goals of brand awareness, familiarity and

favourability and to influence purchase intent by encouraging users of digital media to

visit a web site to engage with the brand or product and ultimately to purchased online

or offline through traditional media channels such as by phone or in store (Chaffey,

2009)(https://www.academia.edu/30710329/Chapter_2_REVIEW_OF_RELATED_L

ITERATURE_AND_STUDIES).
2.1.2 Local Literature

In the Philippines, e-commerce is mostly being implemented by major retailers

and multinational corporations for bank-to-bank exchange. A number of Business-to-

Consumer transactions have emerged through the years such as auctions, online

shopping, and online banking (Lacson, Pasadilla, 2006). This just shows that Filipino

businesses welcome this new opportunity in selling goods since 16% of the population

is using the internet. This new marketing strategy will not only benefit those big

companies but also the small businesses who cannot afford to advertise their products.

Just by creating a website in a very affordable cost would make the business grow in

terms of sales and enhance the company image as well.

Philippine firms have yet to fully tap the potentials of e-commerce that will help

them to compete in domestic and global markets. In the process of preparing themselves

to conduct e-commerce, these firms will be changing the way they do business. These

changes are expected to have an impact on the welfare of Philippine workers. Most

efforts to measure the economic effects of e-commerce – including those on workers’

welfare – have focused on the U.S. and Europe, who are considered to be the leaders in

e-commerce. (Roberto, 2002) In general, it discusses the changes in the nature of work

from the front to back office is likely within the sectors performing services

Employment demand for these industries, they may be focused away from agents and

blue collared workers, toward higher management and executive staff.

As Filipino’s entered the 21st century, local e-commerce transaction reach Php

1 billion. It shows that there’s at least one billion transaction sales growth annually. If

this trend continues, figures can reach up to Php 20 Billion as more businesses conduct
online transactions. If significant economic growth takes place in the next 10 years,

these estimates may even double or triple (Toral, 2004).

2.1.3 Related Works

Figure 2.1 Trade Made - A Trade and Barter App for Items and Services, with a
Social and Environmental Cause.

TradeMade is an easy, fun & mindful trade and barter app, where users can

trade items & services, in any combination.

This app is revolutionary. If you think about it, there’s really only four modes

of consumption. You can either consume conspicuously (i.e., ‘business as usual’),

consume consciously, buy second hand, or be an essentialist (i.e., only consume what

is essential for basic living). Now, there’s a ton of second-hand marketplaces out there

— and we mean a ton — but there’s very few that do it well. TradeMade does it well.

Instead of limiting you to only buying, TradeMade offers a user-friendly interface to

trade and barter. You can trade items and services, in any combination, all while not

spending a dollar in the process. We all have stuff, and people tend to want stuff, for

other stuff…that’s basically how trade and barter works. Oh, and this app also tracks

your carbon savings in real-time from buying second hand, as opposed to new. In other

words, when you buy something new, you increase your carbon footprint by the amount
of that item…but when you get it second hand it’s still part of circular economy and

doesn’t count as new consumption. In essence, you save by preventing new carbon from

entering the atmosphere.

2.1.4 Related Studies

2.1.4.1 Foreign Studies

Freecycle – A Popular Site for Trading, Swapping, Bartering and Giving

Away Free Stuff. The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 5,300 groups with

9,109,615 members around the world. You start by inputting your location and then

pick a group of people closest to you to trade, barter and swap with. It’s also helpful to

note that it’s grassroots and entirely non-profit movement of people who are giving

(and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and neighbourhoods. It’s all about reduce,

reuse and recycle — and most importantly keeping good stuff out of landfills. To give

you some more details about the site: each local group is moderated by local volunteers,

the membership is free, and finding what you’re looking for is super easy with their in-

site chat feature.

2.1.4.2 Local Studies

Since there is no record found on the books and internet about the online barter

trading in the Philippines, the researchers presume that this study is first in the locality.

Hence, the basis of this research will be the foreign studies and literature only.
 CHAPTER 3

Research Methodology

This research presents the methodology and the process applied in the study.

This involves the discussion of the research method, research environment,

components, projects, architecture, design and functions, and testing and evaluation

procedure.

3.1 Research Method

The researchers utilized the developmental research method, a systematic study

of designing, developing, and evaluating computer programs, processes, and products

that must meet criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness. Developmental

research is particularly important in the field of information technology. This research

involves situation in which the product-development process is analysed and described,

and the final product is evaluated. There were 15 respondents utilized and evaluate the

functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency maintainability and portability of the

software.

3.2 Research Environment

The goal of research is to search for knowledge in the particular field of study.

Research is done to produce new knowledge and increase one’s knowledge and

understanding of the field and topic or matter in the particular area of one’s research.

Research can also be defined as a scientific and systematic approach to uncover hidden

information on a topic of research. In their book Redman and Mory define research as

“systemized effort to acquire knowledge’. Research can be described as an art form for
investigating the problem scientifically. Humans as a species are inquisitive about

various events and affairs. It is this inquisitive nature can be termed as research.

Research in general can comprise of many natural processes. It can include

activities such as problem definition, formulation of hypothesis, data aggregation and

information organization, deducting facts based on data, reasoning out the facts and

examining the conclusion against the earlier formulated hypothesis. Thus, we can say

that research is the contribution of an individual with existing knowledge that extends

its boundaries. The research is done through systematic method of generalizing

problems and then formulating theory based on the problem. This systematic approach

is known a research methodology.

A taxonomic approach is required for identifying the problem, formulating the

hypothesis, collecting the data through different methods, analysing the data and finally

arriving at a conclusion.

3.3 Components

An Online Barter Trading Mobile Application Using Android is a system designed

to be used during a person wants to trade a product without using of money, product-

to-product cases.

3.4 Software Development Methods

The Waterfall Model was the first Process Model to be introduced. It is very

simple to understand and use. In a Waterfall model, each phase must be completed

before the next phase can begin and there is no overlapping in the phases. Waterfall

model is the earliest SDLC approach that was used for software development.
 In “The Waterfall” approach, the whole process of software development is

divided into separate phases. The outcome of one phase acts as the input for the next

phase sequentially. This means that any phase in the development process begins only

if the previous phase is complete. The waterfall model is a sequential design process in

which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards (like a waterfall) through the

phases of Conception, Initiation, Analysis, Design, Construction, Testing,

Production/Implementation and Maintenance.

As the Waterfall Model illustrates the software development process in a linear

sequential flow; hence it is also referred to as a Linear-Sequential Life Cycle Model.

Figure 3.4 Waterfall Model

3.4.1 Requirements

The first phase involves understanding what needs to design and what is its

function, purpose, etc. Here, the specifications of the input and output or the final

product are studied and marked.

3.4.2 System Design

The requirement specifications from the first phase are studied in this phase and

system design is prepared. System Design helps in specifying hardware and system

requirements and also helps in defining overall system architecture. The software code

to be written in the next stage is created now.

3.4.3 Implementation

With inputs from system design, the system is first developed in small programs

called units, which are integrated into the next phase. Each unit is developed and tested

for its functionality which is referred to as Unit Testing.

3.4.4 Integration and Testing

All the units developed in the implementation phase are integrated into a system

after testing of each unit. The software designed, needs to go through constant software

testing to find out if there are any flaw or errors. Testing is done so that the client does

not face any problem during the installation of the software.

3.4.5 Maintenance

This step occurs after installation, and involves making modifications to the

system or an individual component to alter attributes or improve performance. These

modifications arise either due to change requests initiated by the customer, or defects

uncovered during live use of the system. The client is provided with regular

maintenance and support for the developed software.

3.5 Testing Operation and Procedures

Before its operation, there was a demonstration, proper testing and evaluation

of the software system. The task of software developer was to ensure high-quality
software assurance with emphasis along its functionality, reliability, usability,

efficiency, maintainability and portability. These software characteristics can only be

met by means of a thorough testing.

Testing is a demonstration which purpose is to find faults. Fault is a standard

terminology in information technology for what is popularly called a bug, whereas a

failure is the observed incorrect behaviour of “An Online Barter Trading Mobile

Application Using Android” as consequences of faults in which the errors are the

mistakes made by the programmer/researcher. This testing procedure is called an

“Execution-Based Testing”. Execution-Based Testing is a process of inferring certain

behavioural properties of software based, in part, on the results of executing the

software in a known environment with the selected inputs.