An Intelligent Shopping Eco System with Automated Trolley Checkout

Abstract

The Smart RFID-Based Automated Billing System is an intelligent retail automation solution designed to enhance the shopping experience by reducing billing time and eliminating long checkout queues. The proposed system integrates Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology with an ESP32 microcontroller, an EM-18 RFID reader, an I2C LCD display, and a graphical user interface (GUI) to automate product identification and bill generation processes. Each product is attached with a unique RFID tag containing identification information. When a customer places a tagged product into the shopping cart, the system automatically detects the item, retrieves its details, updates the shopping cart, and calculates the total bill in real time. To improve flexibility and user convenience, the system incorporates a product removal feature that allows customers to modify their purchases during shopping. Real-time billing information is displayed on both the LCD screen and the GUI, providing continuous updates regarding selected products and total expenditure. The system minimizes manual intervention, reduces billing errors, and significantly decreases waiting time at checkout counters. Furthermore, visual and audible feedback mechanisms enhance user interaction and operational reliability. The developed solution is cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for deployment in supermarkets, retail stores, and smart shopping environments. Experimental results demonstrate improved billing efficiency and customer convenience compared to conventional barcode-based billing systems. The proposed system also provides a strong foundation for future enhancements, including cloud connectivity, inventory management, mobile application integration, and digital payment support.