Finance Management Platform

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction and Background

3. Project Objectives and Motivation

4. Literature Review and Market Analysis

5. System Requirements Specification

o Functional Requirements

o Non-Functional Requirements

6. System Design and Architecture

o High-Level Architecture

o Frontend Design

o Backend Design

o Database Schema

7. Development Methodology

o SDLC Model

o Agile Practices

8. Implementation Details

o Frontend Development

o Backend Development

o API Integrations (Gemini AI, Email Service)

9. Key Features and Functional Modules

o User Authentication & Authorization

o Dashboard & User Interface

o Transaction Management

o Monthly Financial Reports (Generation & Email Dispatch)

 o AI Insights & Gemini API Integration

o Notifications & Alerts

o Data Visualization & Analytics

10. UI/UX Design Principles

11. Tools and Technologies Used

12. Challenges Faced & Solutions

13. Testing & Quality Assurance

14. Results & Performance Evaluation

15. Limitations & Future Work

16. Security Aspects

17. Deployment & Hosting

18. Summary & Conclusion

19. References

20. Appendices
Finance Management Platform: Full Stack Development with Next.js, Tailwind, Gemini AI, Prisma,
and Shadcn UI

1. Executive Summary

This project presents the development of an advanced AI-powered financial management platform
designed to streamline and optimize personal and small business finance operations. Leveraging
modern web technologies such as Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Prisma ORM, and the Shadcn UI component
library, the platform offers a seamless and responsive user experience.

Key features include secure user authentication, dynamic dashboards, automated transaction
management, and monthly financial report generation. The platform uniquely incorporates AI
insights through the Gemini API, providing users with actionable tips and intelligent analytics.
Automated email notifications keep users informed of their financial health, while data visualization
tools help in understanding financial trends and patterns.

This project aims to address gaps in current financial tools by integrating AI-driven insights,
automating routine tasks, and delivering a user-centric design. The scalable architecture and robust
backend ensure the platform's capacity to grow and adapt to future enhancements, including
predictive analytics and expanded AI functionalities.

2. Introduction and Background

In recent years, the financial technology (fintech) industry has seen exponential growth fueled by the
proliferation of cloud computing, AI capabilities, and mobile access. Individuals and small businesses
increasingly seek intelligent, easy-to-use tools that not only manage transactions but also provide
meaningful insights to make smarter financial decisions.

Traditional financial management applications, while robust, often lack real-time analytics, AI-driven
suggestions, and automation features that can significantly enhance financial planning and reporting.
Moreover, the demand for integrated, cloud-based platforms that combine modern UI/UX principles
with powerful back-end logic has never been higher.

This project was conceived to fill this gap by creating an AI-enabled financial platform that offers real-
time dashboards, automated report compilation, and intelligent insights to users. The system's core
is built around state-of-the-art web development frameworks and APIs, ensuring that it aligns with
current industry standards for performance, security, and scalability.

By harnessing technologies such as Next.js for server-side rendering and React-based components,
Tailwind CSS for responsive design, Prisma ORM for database interactions, and Gemini AI for insights,
the platform aims to revolutionize how users interact with their financial data.
3. System Requirements Specification

3.1 Functional Requirements

User Registration and Authentication

 The system shall allow new users to register with email and password.

 Registered users shall be able to log in, log out, and recover passwords.

 Authentication shall be secure, utilizing JWT or OAuth tokens.

User Dashboard

 Users shall have access to a personalized dashboard displaying an overview of their financial
data.

 The dashboard shall include recent transactions, account summaries, and AI insights.

Transaction Management

 Users shall be able to create, edit, and delete financial transactions.

 Transactions should be categorized (e.g., income, expense) and tagged accordingly.

 Transactions can be filtered/searchable by date, category, or amount.

Monthly Financial Reports

 The system shall automatically generate a detailed monthly financial report based on user
transactions.

 Reports shall include summaries, charts, and key metrics.

 Users shall receive a notification email containing their current month’s report.

AI Insights and Tips

 The platform shall fetch AI-driven insights via Gemini API to analyze user data.

 Insights may include spending patterns, saving suggestions, and forecasts.

 Users shall be able to view AI tips on the dashboard.

Notifications & Alerts

 Email notifications shall be dispatched for report availability, budget alerts, or unusual
activity.

 Users can opt-in or opt-out of specific notifications.

Data Visualization

 The system shall provide visual representations like bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs for
expenses, income, and category breakdowns.
  Charts shall be interactive and updated in real-time.

Account Settings

 Users shall be able to update their profile details, password, and notification preferences.

3.2 Non-Functional Requirements

Performance

 The platform shall load the dashboard within 3 seconds under normal network conditions.

 API calls to Gemini AI shall have a maximum response time of 1 second.

Scalability

 The system shall handle at least 10,000 concurrent users without degradation.

 The architecture shall support easy expansion of features and database scaling.

Security

 User data shall be securely stored with encrypted passwords.

 All API communication shall utilize HTTPS.

 User sessions shall be secured with JWT tokens and cookies.

Usability

 The user interface shall be intuitive, accessible, and responsive across devices.

 The platform shall adhere to WCAG accessibility standards where possible.

Availability

 The platform shall aim for 99.9% uptime, with scheduled maintenance communicated in
advance.

Maintainability

 Code shall be modular, documented, and structured for easy updates and bug fixes.

 The backend shall include logging for debugging and monitoring.

4. System Design and Architecture

4.1 High-Level Architecture

The platform's architecture utilizes a modern, scalable, and modular design, integrating multiple
technologies to deliver a seamless user experience. The core components include:
  Frontend: Built with Next.js and React, providing server-side rendering for SEO and
performance optimization.

 UI Components: Designed with Tailwind CSS and Shadcn UI for responsiveness and
consistency.

 Backend: API routes created within Next.js handle business logic, security, and interactions
with external APIs.

 Database: Prisma ORM manages data models and communicates with a relational database
(PostgreSQL).

 AI Integration: Gemini AI API provides insights, predictions, and tips based on user financial
data.

 Email Service: Implementation of an email notification system (using SendGrid or similar).

Diagram:

4.2 Frontend Design

 Framework & Libraries: Next.js 13+ for server-side rendering, React for UI components.

 UI Components: Shadcn UI provides customizable, accessible components.

 Styling: Tailwind CSS offers utility-first styling with responsiveness.

  Features:

o Dynamic dashboards displaying summaries, charts, and insights.

o Transaction forms for CRUD operations.

o Account settings and user profile management.

o Loading indicators, error states, and notifications for improved UX.

4.3 Backend Design

 API Routes: Custom routes in Next.js handle CRUD operations for transactions, reports, user
management, and AI insights.

 Business Logic: Encapsulated within API endpoints, ensuring maintainability.

 Security: Authentication middleware ensures protected routes and data privacy.

 AI API Calls: Asynchronous functions to fetch insights from Gemini API.

 Email Dispatch: Server functions trigger email sending via external services.

4.4 Database Schema

The database schema is managed via Prisma ORM, with the following core models:

 User

o id (UUID)

o name

o email (unique)

o passwordHash

o createdAt

o updatedAt

o notification preferences

 Transaction

o id (UUID)

o userId (ForeignKey)
1

o amount
 o category

o description

o type (income/expense)

o date

o createdAt

o updatedAt

 MonthlyReport

o id (UUID)

o userId (ForeignKey)

o month

o year

o reportData (JSON or serialized data)

o generatedAt

 AIInsight

o id (UUID)

o userId (ForeignKey)

o insightText

o insightType

o createdAt

This schema supports efficient data retrieval and future extension to additional features like
category-specific analytics, budgeting, and more.

5. Development Methodology

5.1 Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Model

The project followed an Agile SDLC approach, emphasizing iterative development, flexibility, and
stakeholder engagement. The key phases include:

 Requirement Gathering & Analysis: Understanding user needs, defining system features,
and establishing technical specifications.

 Design: Creating system architecture, UI mockups, and database schemas.

  Implementation: Modular coding of frontend, backend, and integration of third-party APIs.

 Testing: Conducting unit, integration, and end-to-end testing to ensure quality.

 Deployment: Rolling out the platform on cloud hosting services with continuous
integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD).

 Maintenance: Regular updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements based on user
feedback.

5.2 Agile Practices

The development process integrated key Agile principles:

 Sprint Planning: Short, bi-weekly sprints focused on delivering specific modules such as
authentication, transaction management, or AI insights.

 Daily Stand-ups: Brief meetings to review progress, discuss blockers, and plan tasks.

 Backlog Grooming: Prioritizing features and tasks using tools like Jira or Trello.

 Code Reviews: Peer reviews to ensure code quality and adherence to best practices.

 Continuous Integration: Automated builds and testing triggered on code commits.

 Demo & Feedback: Regular demonstrations of completed features to gather stakeholder

feedback and refine requirements.

5.3 Version Control & Collaboration

 The project was managed with Git, hosted on platforms like GitHub.

 Branching strategies such as feature branches and pull requests were employed to facilitate
collaborative development.

 Issue tracking enabled transparent management of bugs, feature requests, and tasks.

5.4 Testing Strategies

 Unit Testing: Focused on individual components and functions, especially in React

components and backend API endpoints.

 Integration Testing: Ensured smooth interaction between frontend, backend, and external
APIs.

 UI Testing: Conducted manual testing for responsiveness, accessibility, and usability.

 Performance Testing: Load testing to verify platform robustness under concurrency.

6. Implementation Details

6.1 Frontend Development

The frontend was developed with the latest features of Next.js and React to ensure a fast,
responsive, and user-friendly interface:

 Framework & Libraries:

o Next.js 13+ for server-side rendering and static site generation.

o React hooks for state management and functional components.

 UI Components:

o Shadcn UI components provided accessible, customizable UI elements such as

modals, buttons, forms, and navigation menus.

o Tailwind CSS classes were used extensively for styling, ensuring responsiveness
across devices.

 Dashboard & User Interface:

o The dashboard was designed with multiple sections: Summary view, recent
transactions, AI insights, and visual analytics.

o Interactive charts (using Chart.js or similar) displayed income, expenses, and

categories.

o Forms for adding/editing transactions incorporated validation and real-time

feedback.

 Navigation & Routing:

o Next.js dynamic routing organized pages such

as /dashboard, /transactions, /settings.

o Protected routes ensured only authenticated users could access sensitive data.

6.2 Backend Development

The backend comprised API routes within Next.js for handling business logic:

 REST API Endpoints:

o api/auth: Manage user registration, login, logout, password reset.

o api/transactions: Create, read, update, delete transactions.

o api/reports: Generate and retrieve monthly reports.

o api/insights: Fetch AI-generated insights.

  Business Logic & Data Handling:

o API routes invoked Prisma ORM functions to perform CRUD operations on

PostgreSQL database.

o Proper input validation and error handling were implemented to ensure data
consistency.

 Authentication & Security:

o Authentication handled via JWT or NextAuth.js, with tokens stored in secure cookies.

o Middleware protected routes from unauthorized access.

 AI Integration:

o Asynchronous functions called Gemini AI API to retrieve insights based on user data.

o Responses cached temporarily to diminish latency and API costs.

 Email Dispatch System:

o Report summaries and notifications triggered server-side using an email service like
SendGrid or Mailgun.

o Templates customized with user-specific data.

6.3 External API Integrations

 Gemini AI API:

o Facilitated data analysis and generated actionable insights.

o REST API calls included authentication headers, with response handling for errors
and retries.

 Email Notification Service:

o Used SMTP or third-party services for reliable delivery.

o Automated triggers for report summaries and alerts.

6.4 Key Code Snippets (Sample)

Transaction API Endpoint Example:

Fetching AI Insights Example:
6.5 Addendum: ArcJet and Ingest Components

Overview

In the context of the AI-driven finance platform, ArcJet and Ingest play critical roles in automating
data processing, workflows, and AI integration. While not explicitly detailed, their functions can be
inferred from the overall system architecture and the video summary.

Ingest

Function:
Ingest is a background job management and automation tool responsible for handling scheduled
tasks such as data ingestion, financial alerts, receipt processing, and report updates.

Key Roles:

 Managing periodic background operations (e.g., budget alerts, expense monitoring).

 Automating data processing workflows, such as image recognition of receipts via Gemini AI.

 Ensuring timely notifications and report generation through scheduled jobs.

Implementation Context:

 Uses tools like Inest to create scheduled or event-driven background jobs.

 Facilitates seamless automation without disrupting the core user experience.

 Enhances system scalability by offloading repetitive tasks to background processes.

ArcJet

Function (Inferred):
ArcJet appears to be a processing or transformation engine working behind the scenes to support
data workflows, AI insights, or transactions.

Potential Roles:

 Serving as middleware to process, validate, or transform transaction data.

 Supporting AI features such as receipt scanning, expense analysis, or insights generation.

 Assisting in complex report creation by aggregating and formatting financial data.

Implementation Context:

 Likely integrated with AI services like Gemini or report modules.

 Acts as a backbone for data integrity, AI-powered insights, industry-specific workflows, and
advanced analytics.
Summary

Together, Ingest and ArcJet enable robust automation, AI integration, and data processing within the
platform. They offload routine tasks, facilitate real-time insights, and ensure users receive timely
alerts and reports, all while maintaining system scalability and performance.

7. Key Features and Functional Modules

7.1 User Authentication & Authorization

 Implemented using NextAuth.js for secure, flexible authentication.

 Supports OAuth providers and email/password login.

 Sessions managed with secure cookies, ensuring persistent login states.

 Middleware protects sensitive routes, verifying user identity before access.

7.2 Dashboard & User Interface

 Central hub displaying an overview of entire financial activity.

 Components include:

o Summary cards with key metrics (total income, expenses, balances).

o Interactive charts for visual data analysis.

o Recent transactions list with options to edit or delete entries.

o AI insights panel that dynamically fetches and displays tips.

7.3 Transaction Management

 CRUD operations enabled through dedicated API endpoints:

o Adding new transactions with forms validated via React Hook Form.

o Inline editing of transactions for quick adjustments.

o Filtering and sorting options to analyze data over a selected period.

 Transactions stored with details:

o Category (e.g., Food, Rent, Utilities)

o Type (Income or Expense)

o Amount

o Date and description

 Data validation ensures accuracy and completeness.

7.4 Monthly Financial Reports

 Automated report generation triggered at month’s end or on user request.

  Reports contain:

o Summary tables.

o Visualizations (pie charts of expense categories, bar charts for income vs expenses).

o AI insights embedded for smarter reporting.

 Reports stored in the database, retrievable anytime.

 Email system automatically dispatches reports using customized templates.

7.5 AI Insights & Gemini API Integration

 Data from user transactions sent to Gemini API for analysis.

 Insights include:

o Spending patterns.

o Budget recommendations.

o Future expense predictions.

 Implemented with asynchronous API calls to minimize latency.

 Insights displayed prominently on the dashboard for easy user access.

7.6 Notifications & Alerts

 Email notifications sent for:

o Monthly report availability.

o Budget thresholds exceeded.

o Unusual transaction activity.

 User preferences managed through account settings.

 Implemented with server-side scheduled jobs and webhook triggers.

7.7 Data Visualization & Analytics

 Charts rendered with Chart.js or similar libraries.

 Interactive visualization:

o Clicking on segments for detail breakdowns.

o Hover effects showing precise values.

 Data updates dynamically with real-time transaction changes.

7.8 Account Settings & Profile Management

 Users can update personal info, email, password.

  Notification preferences toggled here.

 Password change form with validation and encryption.

8. UI/UX Design Principles

8.1 User-Centered Design

The development process prioritized end-user needs and behaviors:

 Conducted user research to identify key workflows.

 Designed intuitive navigation with minimal steps.

 Streamlined transaction input forms with clear labels and validation.

8.2 Responsiveness and Accessibility

 Utilized Tailwind CSS's utility classes to create a mobile-first, responsive layout.

 Ensured main pages adapt seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

 Implemented accessible components using ARIA labels, keyboard navigation, and sufficient
color contrast to meet WCAG standards.

8.3 Visual Clarity and Minimalism

 Adopted a clean, consistent color palette with contrasting text for readability.

 Used whitespace effectively to reduce clutter.

 Highlighted important information through visual hierarchy—using larger fonts and accent
colors for key metrics.

8.4 Visual Data Representation

 Employed charts and graphs for visual analytics (e.g., pie charts for expense categories, line
charts for income trends).

 Used smooth animations for chart transitions to improve user engagement.

 Included tooltips and data labels to facilitate comprehension.

8.5 Feedback and Interactivity

 Provided real-time feedback on user actions, such as form validation errors.

 Used loading spinners to indicate progress during data fetches.

 Implemented toast notifications for success or error messages.

8.6 Consistency and Branding

  Maintained consistent use of fonts, button styles, and color schemes across all pages.

 Incorporated branding elements (logo, color themes) to reinforce identity.

 Designed UI components to be reusable, ensuring uniformity.

8.7 Usability Testing and Iteration

 Conducted usability testing sessions to gather feedback.

 Sped up onboarding via tooltips and onboarding modals.

 Continuously refined design based on user input and analytics.

9. Tools and Technologies Used

9.1 Frontend Technologies

 Next.js: A React framework that supports server-side rendering and static site generation,
ensuring fast load times and SEO benefits.

 React: Core library for building component-based user interfaces.

 Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework for rapid and consistent styling.

 Shadcn UI: Modular, accessible React UI components built with Tailwind CSS, ensuring a
cohesive look and feel.

 Chart.js / Recharts: Libraries for creating dynamic, interactive visualizations of financial data.

9.2 Backend & Data Management

 Next.js API Routes: Built-in serverless functions handling backend logic within the Next.js
framework.

 Prisma ORM: Modern ORM for managing data schemas and interactions with PostgreSQL.

 PostgreSQL: Robust relational database for storing user data, transactions, reports, and
insights.

9.3 Authentication & Security

 NextAuth.js: Library for flexible authentication flow supporting various providers.

 JWT (JSON Web Tokens): Used for session management and securing API endpoints.

 bcrypt: For secure password hashing and user credential storage.

9.4 External API & Service Integrations

 Gemini AI API: Provides AI-powered insights based on user data.

 SendGrid / Mailgun: Email delivery services for notifications, report dispatches, and alerts.
  Axios: Promise-based HTTP client used for making API calls to Gemini and email services.

9.5 Development & Deployment Tools

 Git and GitHub: Version control and collaborative development platform.

 VS Code: Main IDE with extensions for JavaScript, Prisma, Tailwind, and more.

 Docker: Containerization for consistent development and deployment environments.

 Vercel / Netlify: Cloud platforms for deploying Next.js applications with CI/CD pipelines.

 ESLint & Prettier: Code quality and formatting tools ensuring maintainable code.

9.6 Testing & Monitoring

 Jest & React Testing Library: Unit and integration testing frameworks for React components.

 Postman: API testing and documentation.

 Sentry / LogRocket: Monitoring user interactions and error tracking in production.

10. Future Enhancements & Roadmap

10.1 Enhanced AI Capabilities

 Integration of advanced machine learning models for personalized financial advice.

 Automatic trend detection and predictive modeling for future expenses.

 Voice-activated insights and reporting via smart assistants.

10.2 Additional Financial Features

 Budget planning and goal setting interfaces.

 Automated savings algorithms based on user cash flow.

 Investment tracking and portfolio management.

10.3 Improved Data Visualization

 Custom dashboards with draggable widgets.

 Interactive financial heatmaps and timeline analyses.

 Export options for charts and reports in various formats (PDF, Excel).

10.4 Multi-Account & Multi-Currency Support

 Support for multiple bank accounts and credit cards.

 Currency conversion features for international users.

 Multi-language interface for global accessibility.

10.5 Security & Privacy Enhancements

  Two-factor authentication (2FA).

 Data encryption at rest and in transit.

 Regular security audits and compliance with data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA).

10.6 User Engagement & Community Features

 In-app tutorials and onboarding guides.

 User forums, tips, and shared financial advice.

 Notifications for financial milestones and challenges.

10.7 Integration with Financial Institutions

 Direct API integrations with bank APIs for real-time synchronization.

 Automated transaction fetching and reconciliation.

Summary of System Design Document

This platform is a modern, user-centric financial management system built using cutting-edge
technologies to deliver a secure, responsive, and insightful user experience. It features a React and
Next.js-based frontend styled with Tailwind CSS and Shadcn UI components, ensuring aesthetic
consistency and accessibility. The backend leverages Next.js API routes combined with Prisma ORM
and PostgreSQL for robust data handling.

Key functionalities include secure user authentication via NextAuth.js, dynamic dashboards with
visual analytics, CRUD operations for transactions, AI-powered insights through Gemini API,
automated report generation, and email notifications via SendGrid. The architecture emphasizes
scalability, security, and maintainability, with continuous integration practices.

The development adopted an Agile methodology, facilitating iterative improvements aligned with
user feedback. Future enhancements aim to incorporate advanced AI capabilities, multi-account
support, enhanced security measures, and deeper integrations with financial institutions, positioning
the platform for broad adoption and growth.

This comprehensive approach ensures a user-friendly, secure, and feature-rich financial tool capable
of evolving with user needs and technological advancements.
11. System Design and Architecture

11.1 Overview

This chapter details the architectural design and overall system workflow for the proposed
application. The architecture follows a modular, service-oriented approach, ensuring high scalability,
maintainability, and seamless integration of various services. The system is designed to efficiently
handle user interactions, secure authentication, API-based data transactions, AI-powered processing,
background task management, and notification services, ensuring a smooth, reliable, and intelligent
user experience.

11.2 System Architecture Diagram

Figure 11.1: System Architecture Workflow Diagram

11.3 Components Description

11.3.1 User Interface (React/Next.js)

The application interface is built using React and Next.js, providing a dynamic, responsive, and user-
friendly frontend. It serves as the primary touchpoint for end-users, allowing them to interact with
the system through various actions such as logging in, submitting data, and viewing processed
results.

11.3.2 Authentication Service (Clerk)

To ensure secure user access and identity management, the system integrates with Clerk, a third-
party authentication service. It manages functionalities such as user registration, login, password
management, and session handling, providing a secure authentication mechanism without additional
server-side complexities.
11.3.3 API Layer / Backend (Node.js/Next.js API Routes)

The backend logic is developed using Node.js and Next.js API routes, which handle all incoming API
calls triggered by user actions from the frontend. It acts as the core control layer responsible for:

 Processing user requests.

 Communicating with the database.

 Managing background jobs.

 Integrating external services such as AI modules and email services.

 Coordinating system workflows.

This modular approach ensures clean separation of concerns and improves scalability.

11.3.4 Database (PostgreSQL with Prisma ORM)

The system employs PostgreSQL as its primary relational database, chosen for its robustness,
scalability, and strong ACID compliance. Prisma ORM is used to interact with the database, offering
type-safe and efficient database queries and schema management, significantly simplifying backend
data operations.

11.3.5 Background Jobs and Scheduled Tasks

A dedicated Background Jobs module manages asynchronous and scheduled tasks such as data
ingestion, periodic cleanup, and notification dispatching. This ensures that time-consuming or
resource-heavy operations are decoupled from user-facing processes, maintaining high system
responsiveness and performance.

11.3.6 AI Service Integration (Gemini AI)

An essential feature of the system is its integration with Gemini AI services, utilized for automated
receipt scanning and intelligent data extraction. The API layer communicates with this AI service,
sending raw receipt data and receiving processed, structured information, which is subsequently
handled by the backend or stored in the database as required.

11.3.7 Email Notification Service (Resend API)

The system integrates with Resend API to manage the delivery of automated emails and user
notifications. It ensures timely communication with users by sending updates, confirmations, alerts,
and system notifications, contributing to an enhanced user experience.

11.4 Workflow Description

The system workflow proceeds as follows:

1. The user interacts with the React/Next.js frontend.

2. The user authenticates via Clerk Authentication Service.

3. Upon successful authentication, API calls are triggered to the Backend API Layer.

4. The backend processes these calls, either querying or updating the PostgreSQL database via
Prisma ORM or handling background jobs.

5. For receipt-related tasks, the backend integrates with Gemini AI services for receipt scanning
and data extraction.

6. The backend schedules or performs background jobs as necessary, handling data ingestion
and periodic automated tasks.

7. Notifications and system messages are dispatched via the Resend Email Notification Service.

8. Processed data and responses are sent back to the frontend for display to the user.

This end-to-end workflow ensures efficient, reliable, and intelligent service delivery within the
application ecosystem.

11.5 Conclusion

The proposed system architecture emphasizes modularity, scalability, and seamless third-party
service integration. By utilizing modern frameworks and services such as React, Next.js, Node.js,
Prisma ORM, Gemini AI, and Resend API, the system achieves high performance, secure user
authentication, intelligent data processing, and real-time notifications. This design lays a solid
foundation for future expansion and additional feature integrations.

12. Transaction Data Flow

12.1 Overview

This chapter presents the data flow mechanism for handling transaction-related data within the
application. It specifically outlines the journey of a receipt or transaction image, from user
submission through AI processing, database storage, background analysis, and final reporting. This
process ensures that transaction data is processed accurately, securely stored, and utilized effectively
for generating timely reports and alerts.
12.2 Transaction Data Flow Diagram

Figure 12.1: Transaction Data Flow Diagram

12.3 Process Description

The transaction data flow consists of a sequential series of operations that handle user-submitted
receipts or transaction images, process them via AI services, and analyze the resulting data. The key
stages of this flow are described below:

12.3.1 User Submission

The process initiates when a user submits a receipt or transaction image via the application’s
frontend interface. This image serves as the raw input data for the subsequent transaction
processing workflow.

12.3.2 Frontend API Call

Once the image is submitted, the frontend sends the image data to the backend API for processing.
This operation ensures that data is securely transmitted from the client side to the server-side
infrastructure.

12.3.3 AI Processing

The backend API forwards the received image to the integrated Gemini AI service. The AI model
processes the image, extracting essential transaction details such as the transaction date, amount,
vendor information, and other relevant metadata.

12.3.4 AI Response Handling

After processing, the Gemini AI service returns the extracted transaction information to the
backend API. This structured data is then ready for storage and further analysis within the system.

12.3.5 Database Storage

The extracted transaction data is stored or updated in the application's PostgreSQL database. This
storage operation ensures data persistence and availability for reporting, analysis, and retrieval
operations.

12.3.6 Background Data Analysis

Dedicated background jobs are executed to analyze the stored transaction data. These jobs may
generate alerts based on pre-configured conditions (e.g., suspicious transactions, expenditure limits)
or prepare the data for periodic reporting.

12.3.7 Report Generation and Notification

At the end of each analysis cycle, monthly transaction reports are generated by the system. These
reports summarize key transaction metrics and insights and are emailed to the respective user using
the Resend Email Notification Service, ensuring that users are consistently informed about their
transaction activity.

12.4 Conclusion

The transaction data flow design ensures a streamlined, automated, and intelligent system for
handling transaction data from user-submitted images. By leveraging AI services for data extraction
and background processes for reporting and analysis, the system enhances operational efficiency and
improves the user experience. This automated workflow also reduces the risk of manual errors and
ensures timely reporting, laying the foundation for advanced financial data management capabilities
in future iterations of the application.

13: Dashboard Component Interaction

13.1 Overview

This chapter focuses on detailing the interaction flow within the Dashboard Component of the
application. The dashboard serves as the primary interface for displaying transaction data and visual
analytics, including expense breakdown charts and transaction tables. It also handles real-time
updates and alerts based on user-submitted data and background analyses. The flowchart illustrates
how user interactions trigger backend processes, database updates, AI-powered data extraction, and
threshold-based alert mechanisms to ensure an intelligent and responsive financial monitoring
system.
13.2 Dashboard Interaction Flowchart

Figure 13.1: Dashboard Component Interaction Flowchart

13.3 Process Description

The dashboard interaction flow consists of a sequence of processes that respond to user inputs,
update transaction records, and manage real-time alerts and visualizations. The following stages
describe the step-by-step workflow:

13.3.1 User Interaction

The process begins when a user interacts with the transaction form embedded within the
dashboard interface. This form allows users to submit transaction-related information, including
uploading receipts for AI-powered data extraction.

13.3.2 Form Submission

Upon form submission, the frontend sends the input data to the backend API. This includes
transaction details and any receipt images to be processed.

13.3.3 Database Update

The API processes the form data and updates the PostgreSQL database accordingly. This ensures
that the most recent transaction information is immediately stored and made available for further
actions.

13.3.4 AI Receipt Scanning

In parallel, the AI service asynchronously scans submitted receipts to extract relevant transaction
details. This operation runs independently of the database update to ensure responsiveness and
scalability.

13.3.5 Threshold Evaluation

After updating the database and processing the receipt data, the system checks if any financial
thresholds have been exceeded (e.g., daily or monthly spending limits).

 If thresholds are exceeded, alerts are generated.

 If thresholds are within limits, no alerts are produced, and the workflow proceeds normally.

13.3.6 Alert Generation

When necessary, alerts are generated via background jobs. These jobs analyze the latest transaction
data and notify users of any significant events, such as overspending or suspicious activity.

13.3.7 Dashboard Update

The dashboard continuously fetches the latest data from the database, ensuring that the
transaction table and expense breakdown chart reflect the most up-to-date information. This
provides users with real-time insights into their financial activity.

13.4 Conclusion

The dashboard interaction workflow is designed to offer a responsive, intelligent, and user-centric
experience. By integrating form-based inputs, AI-powered data extraction, real-time database
updates, and proactive alert mechanisms, the system delivers immediate feedback and actionable
insights to users. The seamless coordination between frontend components, backend services, and
background processes ensures both operational efficiency and an engaging user experience.

14: Deployment Architecture

14.1 Overview

This chapter elaborates on the deployment architecture designed for the application, outlining how
different system components interact in a production environment. The deployment strategy ensures
high availability, scalability, and efficient data processing by integrating modern cloud-hosted
services, serverless APIs, and external third-party tools. The diagram illustrates the interaction flow
from the client-side interface to backend services, background processes, AI integrations, and cloud-
hosted databases.
14.2 Deployment Architecture Flowchart

Figure 14.1: Deployment Architecture Flowchart

14.3 Architecture Components and Workflow

The deployment architecture involves several interconnected components that work collaboratively
to provide a seamless and performant user experience. Below is a detailed description of each
component and its role in the deployment process:

14.3.1 Client (Browser)

The system initiates when a user interacts with the application through a browser-based client. This
client serves as the interface for submitting data and viewing dashboard analytics.

14.3.2 CDN/Hosting (Vercel, Netlify)

Frontend assets are hosted on Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) such as Vercel or Netlify, ensuring
fast, reliable content delivery across different geographies. These hosting platforms also manage the
routing of API calls and serverless function executions.

14.3.3 Backend API

The backend API handles business logic and data processing requests. This component can either
run on a dedicated server or leverage serverless functions (like AWS Lambda, Vercel Functions, or
Netlify Functions) for scalability and reduced operational overhead.

14.3.4 Dedicated Server

For tasks requiring persistent connections, complex data processing, or custom hosting
requirements, a dedicated server is employed. It integrates with the database, external AI services,
and email systems, acting as the core processing hub for the application.
14.3.5 Database (Cloud-hosted PostgreSQL)

The application’s transactional and analytical data is stored in a cloud-hosted PostgreSQL database,
providing scalability, security, and high availability. The database serves as a centralized data store for
user transactions, AI-extracted data, and processed reports.

14.3.6 AI Service (External API)

An external AI service (such as Gemini AI) is integrated to process uploaded receipt images,
extracting transaction details which are then returned to the backend for storage and reporting.

14.3.7 Email Service (Resend API)

The application uses Resend API as its email service provider to send transactional and scheduled
email notifications, including monthly financial reports and alert notifications.

14.3.8 Background Job Scheduler

To manage periodic data ingestion, analysis, and report generation, a background job scheduler
(Ingest/Invest Jobs) runs scheduled tasks asynchronously. This system ensures that alerts and
monthly reports are generated without affecting the real-time responsiveness of the frontend.

14.4 Conclusion

The deployment architecture provides a robust, scalable, and efficient environment for the
application’s operations. By leveraging modern serverless and cloud-hosted technologies alongside
third-party integrations for AI processing and email notifications, the system achieves seamless user
experiences, reduced operational costs, and reliable data management. The architecture is designed
for easy future scaling and adaptability, making it suitable for both current requirements and
anticipated future growth.