Design And Implementation Of Online Parcel Delivery Messaging System

Project and Seminar Material for Computer Science and Computer Engineering

Abstract

The online parcel delivery system is the need of the hour because of the recent changes in the industry and the increasing use of the internet. A Real-time online parcel delivery messaging system for the customer is our proposed system. The traditional queuing system drawbacks and disadvantages are overcome by our system application. Items can be ordered online in a hassle-free manner through this system. The item order taking methods from customer are improved by our system application. A Menu is set up online and as per their wish customers can simply place their order through the proposed system. Also, customers can effortlessly track the orders with a item menu. Users can rate the items over the feedback system provided by the system. Also, sales services are recommended to the new customers based on the user ratings through the system and for the improvements with the quality, the staff will be informed. For the initial implementation of the system application messaging-on-delivery payment system is used. Separate accounts are maintained for each user for more secured ordering by providing an ID and a password. The methodology used in this work is Object-oriented analysis and design methodology (OOADM). In addition, Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) language was used for the back- end of the software, HTML was used for the front- end of the software while the database was designed using MySQL.

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

The online parcel delivery service is a local sales cooperative website or application for customers to provide more interactive menu so that the ordering and delivery process could be carried out. Delivering parcel online is designed for its more flexibility and performance, some website or application make sure that the system has enough navigation function through the picture information or significant logo to guide customers follow the steps to finish the delivering parcel process, apart from that it has been constructed to dealing with large number of orders simultaneously to prevent the items overload. Basically, this online delivery messaging project illustrates how to supervise for good performance and better services.

All over the world wide, the parcel delivery already account for the £83 million, the one percent is form total market and including the 4 percent online sales, in many mature countries, this number of growth rate will continually to increase at 3.5percent in the next five years, by far, the traditional categories that are waiting for the sales establishment to bring the item to the customer has stands 90 percent, (Hirschberg et al., 2016). However, all current ordering applications have more or less problems that cause different groups of people to encounter some problems when using these applications.

1.1 Background of the Study

The online parcel delivery messaging system is one of the latest services most fastsales platform in the western world are adopting. With this method, item is ordered online and delivered to the customer. This is made possible through the use of electronic payment system. Customers pay with their credit cards, although credit card customers can be served even before they make payment either through cash or cheque. So, the system designed in this project will enable customers go online and place order for their item.

Due to the great increase in the awareness of internet and the technologies associated with it, several opportunities are coming up on the web. So many businesses and companies now venture into their business with ease because of the internet. One of such business that the internet introduced is an online electronic ordering system. In today’s age of electronic and take out, many sales establishments have chosen to focus on quick preparation and speedy delivery of orders rather than offering a rich dining experience. Until recently, most of this delivery orders were placed over the phone, but there are many disadvantages to this system.

It is possible for anybody to order any goods via the internet and have the goods delivered at his/her doorsteps. But while trying to discuss the transfer method of the goods and services, attention is focused on the payment mode. In other words, how possible is it to pay for goods and services via the internet? This then leads to the discussion of the economic consequences of digital cash. What are the implementations from the view point of economic? Since the world is fast becoming a global village, the necessary tool for this process is communication of which telecommunication is a key player. A major breakthrough is the wireless telephone system which comes in either fixed wireless telephone lines or the Global System of Mobile communication (GSM).

The system also greatly lightens the load on the sales end, as the entire process of taking orders is automated. Once an order is placed on the webpage that will be designed, it is placed into the database and then retrieved, in pretty much real-time, by a desktop application on the sales end and then customer receive a message for delivery.
Within this system, all items in the order are displayed, along with their corresponding options and delivery details, in a concise and easy to read manner. This allows the sales employees to quickly go through the orders as they are placed and produce the necessary items with minimal delay and confusion. The greatest advantage of this system is its flexibility.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

As industries are fast expanding, people are seeking for more ways to purchase products with much ease and still maintain cost effectiveness. The vendors need to purchase the products in order to sell to end users. The manual method of going to their local items sales outlets to purchase items is becoming obsolete and more tasking.
Item can be ordered through the internet and payment made without going to the market place or the vendor. So there is need for a wide range of publicity and enabling direct order, processing and delivering of parcel through online system. For this system, there will be a system administrator who will have the right to enter the menu with current prevailing prices.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to lay out a framework for a new system to be developed and brought to the market for maximum use and to create an avenue through the web where users can log on to our server and make a selection of whatever goods they like and subsequently pay via the internet. The following are the objectives this would bring:

To provide an avenue where customers will be able to gather more and reliable information about your delivery service.
To ensure that the products and services offered would provide the customers with all the different categories of available products that they can choose and select from.
To provide a user friendly environment between the customer and employee thus increasing the efficiency of the parcel delivery system.
To enhance an online purchase form with which valued customers will be using to get in touch with any of their request whenever the need arises.
To help for easy retrieval of orders made by the customers.

1.4 Significance of the Study

In view of the rapid development of computer technology in almost all the fields of operation and its use in relation to information management, it has become imperative to look into the development of online delivery system for firms to meet up with demands of the customers. Therefore, the parcel delivery system will help customers and management to:

Advertise available product in their company
Reduce the workload in the present system
Reduce time wasted in data processing
Create a platform for online purchase and delivery of parcel
Keep accurate record on purchased order and delivery.

1.5 Scope of the Study

In this project, online parcel delivery system is designed to enable customers order for items and get it delivered accordingly and also to reduce the long queues of customers at the counter ordering for item and to reduce the work lord on the employees.

The following things are among other things that are discussed and what the software would handle:

The parcel delivery services offered there
Online purchase
Type of product available for delivery.

1.6 Organization of the research

The research work is arranged in the following chapters;

Chapter 1: The introductory chapter, which focused on the preliminaries theory.
Chapter 2: The overview of the research work.
Chapter 3: The system design and methodology.
Chapter 4: The system implementation and documentation.
Chapter 5: Finally, summary of the research work.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Credit Card:

A credit card is a payment card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows the cardholder to pay for goods and services based on the holder’s promise to pay for them.

Ordering System:

This is referred to as a set of detailed methods that is being used in handling the ordering process.

Customer:

Sometimes known as a client, buyer, or purchaser) is the recipient of goods, services, products or idea obtained from a seller, vendor, or supplier for a monetary or other valuable consideration.

Technology:

It is the study of techniques or process of mobilizing resources (such as information) for accomplishing objectives that benefit man and his environment.

Messaging:

Messaging is the sending of written or spoken messages using a computer or another electronic device such as a mobile phone.

Courier:

A courier is a person or company employed to deliver messages, packages and mail.

Database:

A systematically arranged collection of computer data, structured so that it can be automatically retrieved or manipulated. It is also called databank.

File Transfer:

Any kind of computer file can be sent via the Internet from one Internet user to another. Table of accounts on spreadsheets, design by a graphic artists, music sound files etc, can all be exchanged in this way.

Chapter Six

Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion

6.1 Summary

Online parcel delivery messaging system is a major improvement on the ordering and delivery services as it delivers better services in a very convenient manner and eliminates the time wasted in standing in long queues waiting to buy stamps and other products. This system enables a registered user to buy products online and have them sent to him without having to visit the office. In other word, it enables him to buy goods online and have them delivered to his residence address via courier service. This makes the prospect of using this service more appealing as it saves time and money, plus it is a very fast way of purchasing goods online.

6.2 Problems Encountered

Some problems were encountered in linking the various pages and creating a control panel level embedded in the normal home page login level. Also, creating and arranging the database tables effectively was tedious and bulky.

6.3 Recommendation

It is recommended that:

The management of sales enterprises should adopt the automated method rather than continuing with their manual system.
The staff of staff of the case study should be given training on how to use this system and other related computer application.

6.4 Conclusion

The project work has exposed a lot of information relating to online parcel delivery messaging system and the courier service information management. Also it has been observed that with the trend in technology, most businesses are computerized and with the computerization of the process for parcel delivery record, the courier service company can easily track purchases and online product ordering records.