In India, over 10 million street vendors form the backbone of the informal economy, despite contributing significantly to the urban economy, street vendors often operate under extreme financial pressure, with minimal access to stable electricity, cold storage, or digital tools. Many face frequent spoilage of goods, high operational costs, and income insecurity, making it difficult to sustain their livelihoods or invest in long-term improvements. This research proposes SmartCart—a cost-effective, solar-powered, and IoT-enabled street vending model designed to enhance the sustainability, profitability, and operational intelligence of small vendors. The proposed system integrates a solar photovoltaic panel system and IoT-based sensors for realtime monitoring of temperature, battery health, and solar performance. This solution is specifically designed to empower lowincome street vendors by improving their operational efficiency, reducing daily costs, and increasing overall profitability. A comparative cost analysis between traditional vendor setups and the SmartCart solution indicates a significant reduction in recurring energy expenses and spoilage losses, offering an estimated Return on Investment (ROI) within 18–24 months. Additionally, the modular IoT layer enables vendors to make data-driven decisions and optimize operations without increasing complexity. This paper presents the design, budgeting, power system sizing, and ROI projections of SmartCart, supported by field-based data, existing literature, and simulations. By addressing both energy inefficiency and digital exclusion, SmartCart aims to uplift marginalized street entrepreneurs through sustainable technology.
Vaibhav Sharma (Thu,) studied this question.
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