E-Commerce Project Documentation

1. Introduction

This document outlines the features, functionalities, and architecture of the E-Commerce
system. The system allows users to browse, search, and purchase products, while
providing an interface for administrators to manage products, orders, and users.

1.1. Purpose
The purpose of this e-commerce platform is to provide a seamless online shopping
experience for customers and an easy-to-manage backend for administrators.

1.2. Scope
This documentation covers:
1.2.1. Key Features of the System
1.2.2. User Roles and Permissions
1.2.3. High-Level Architecture
1.2.4. Module Overview
1.2.5. Database Structure

2. Module Overview

2.1. Product Module

2.1.1. Manages product listings, including attributes, categories, and pricing.

2.2. Order Module

2.2.1. Processes orders from checkout to delivery, including payment integration
and order tracking.

2.3. User Module

2.3.1. Manages user authentication, profiles, and customer dashboards.
 2.4. Payment Module
2.4.1. Handles payment gateway integration and payment status.

2.5. Inventory Module

2.5.1. Tracks stock levels and inventory alerts.

2.6. Reporting Module

2.6.1. Generates analytics on sales, users, inventory, and product performance.

3. Key Features

3.1. User Authentication and Roles

3.1.1. Customer Accounts:
3.1.1.1. Registration and login with email or social media (Google,
Facebook).
3.1.1.2. Email verification.
3.1.1.3. Password reset functionality.
3.1.2. Admin Accounts:
3.1.2.1. Admin and sub-admin roles for managing different sections.
3.1.2.2. Role-based access control (RBAC) for managing different
administrative rights.

3.2. Product Management

3.2.1. Product Catalog:
3.2.1.1. Add, edit, delete products.
3.2.1.2. Bulk product upload via CSV/Excel import.
3.2.1.3. Product categories, subcategories, and tags.
3.2.1.4. Product attributes (size, color, etc.).
3.2.1.5. Support for physical and digital products
3.2.1.6. Product image gallery.
3.2.2. Product Pricing:
3.2.2.1. Pricing with discounts and special offers (percentage or fixed
amount).
 3.2.2.2. Tiered pricing for different customer groups (e.g., retail,
wholesale).
3.2.2.3. Tax management based on region or product type.

3.3. Product Search and Filtering

3.3.1. Search
3.3.1.1. Full-text product search with autocomplete suggestions.
3.3.2. Filtering
3.3.2.1. Filter by categories, price range, brand, ratings, and product
attributes.
3.3.2.2. Sorting by relevance, popularity, price, and latest products.

3.4. Shopping Cart

3.4.1. Cart Functionality
3.4.2. Add to cart, remove from cart, and adjust quantity.
3.4.3. Display total cost with taxes and shipping fees.
3.4.4. Save cart for later functionality (guest and registered users).

3.5. Checkout and Payment

3.5.1. Checkout Process
3.5.1.1. Single-page or multi-step checkout process.
3.5.1.2. Guest checkout option.
3.5.2. Payment Gateways:
3.5.2.1.1. Integration with Stripe payment gateways
3.5.2.1.2. Option for Cash on Delivery (COD).
3.5.2.1.3. Payment history and refund management.0

3.6. Order Management

3.6.1. Order Processing
3.6.1.1. Order status updates (processing, shipped, delivered).
3.6.1.2. Automated email notifications (order confirmation, shipping
details).
3.6.2. Order Tracking:
3.6.2.1. Customers can track the status of their orders.
 3.6.2.2. Order Cancellation/Return
3.6.2.3. Customers can request order cancellation or product returns.

3.7. Wishlist and Favorites

3.7.1. Customers can add products to their wishlist for future purchase
3.7.2. Share wishlists via social media or email.

3.8. Reviews and Ratings

3.8.1. Product Reviews:
3.8.1.1. Customers can leave reviews and rate products.
3.8.1.2. Star ratings and review summaries.

3.9. Promotions and Coupons

3.9.1. Discounts and Coupons:
3.9.1.1. Admin can create promotional codes and discounts.
3.9.1.2. Apply coupons at checkout for a percentage or fixed discount.
3.9.1.3. Limit by usage, expiration date, or customer group.
3.9.2. Sales and Special Offers:
3.9.3. Flash sales, Buy One Get One (BOGO), and other special deals
.
3.10. User Dashboard
3.10.1. Customer Dashboard:
3.10.1.1. View order history and track current orders.
3.10.1.2. Manage personal information, addresses, and payment methods.
3.10.1.3. Wishlist management.
3.10.2. Admin Dashboard:
3.10.2.1. Overview of sales, order statistics, and inventory levels.
3.10.2.2. Product management, order management, and user management.

3.11. Analytics and Reports

3.11.1. Sales Reports
3.11.1.1. Detailed reports on sales by product, category, and time range
3.11.1.2. Track revenue, profit, and tax calculations
3.11.2. Inventory Reports:
 3.11.2.1. Low stock alerts and out-of-stock product management.

3.12. Inventory Management

3.12.1. Stock Management:
3.12.1.1. Track product inventory and set stock thresholds.
3.12.1.2. Backorder support and notifications for out-of-stock products.

3.13. Shipping and Delivery

3.13.1. Shipping Methods:
3.13.1.1. Flat-rate shipping, free shipping for certain orders, and
weight-based shipping. default is $10.00

4. User Roles and Permissions

4.1. Customers
4.1.1. Can register, browse products, add items to cart, checkout, and track
orders.
4.1.2. Can leave product reviews and manage their account settings.

4.2. Administrators
4.2.1. Full access to manage users, products, orders, and reports.
4.2.2. Can create and manage coupons, promotions, and
handle customer service.

5. High-Level Architecture

5.1. Technology Stack

5.1.1. Backend: NodeJs
5.1.2. Frontend: React Js
5.1.3. Database: MySQL
5.1.4. Cache: Redis for session and query caching.
5.1.5. Search: MySQL Full-Text search.
 5.1.6. Queue: Bull queues with Redis for handling emails, notifications..
5.1.7. File Storage: AWS S3
5.1.8. API: REST ReactJs or mobile applications.

6. Database Structure (Sample)

6.1. Tables Overview

6.1.1. `users`: Stores customer and admin data.
6.1.2. `products`: Stores product information like name, price, description, and
category.
6.1.3. `orders`: Tracks customer orders, including status and total amount.
6.1.4. `order_items`: Contains details of each product in an order.
6.1.5. `coupons`: Stores discount codes and usage limits.
6.1.6. `reviews`: Stores customer reviews and ratings.

7. Additional Considerations

7.1. Performance Optimization: Caching, indexing for product search, and queue
management for asynchronous tasks (like sending emails).
7.2. Security: Protection against SQL Injection, CSRF, XSS attacks