🎯 Project Overview

PRABRIDDHI, a Local Economic Development (LED) project jointly implemented by the Governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland, partnered with ARITS Limited to support the digitization of the Bhairab footwear sector—one of the country's most promising manufacturing clusters.With nearly 13,000 footwear-related enterprises and over 60,000 people dependent on the industry for their livelihoods, Bhairab represents a significant opportunity for economic and digital transformation.This initiative aims to modernize the sector through the development of a B2B e-marketplace, enhancing market access, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth.

🚀 Objective

To design, develop, and operationalize a comprehensive B2B e-marketplace that connects footwear manufacturers, wholesalers, and buyers nationwide—supported by a viable business model and stakeholder capacity-building.

🛠️ Key Solution Components

1. Digital Platform DevelopmentResponsive web and mobile platform for buying and selling Bhairab-made footwear products.Integration with the existing footwear e-directory to ensure faster onboarding and business continuity.Secure payment gateway and advanced product search and filtering features.

2. Business Model StrategyCreation of a sustainable revenue model through ads, premium seller features, commissions, and more.ROI analysis to determine long-term commercial viability.

3. Capacity Building & TrainingWorkshops and digital literacy support for sellers to manage profiles, listings, and customers.Technical support via a dedicated helpdesk.

4. Promotions & Market LinkagesStrategic marketing campaigns to onboard B2B buyers.National-level business linkages to expand the footwear supply chain.

🧩 Our Approach

The project was jointly executed by ARITS Limited and Exemplary Consulting, bringing together technical prowess and domain expertise.ARITS led the tech implementation (marketplace development, UX/UI design, integrations).Exemplary Consulting conducted stakeholder interviews and crafted the business strategy.The plan followed an agile delivery model over a 24-week timeline.

🌟 Expected OutcomesCreation of a centralized digital marketplace for Bhairab footwear productsIncreased visibility and sales opportunities for local manufacturersReduced dependency on intermediariesStrengthened digital skills among local entrepreneursSustainable revenue channel for industry stakeholders

🛠️ Tech Stack Highlights

Mobile Application: Flutter (Android & iOS)Frontend: Next.js, TailwindCSSBackend: Node.jsDatabase: PostgreSQLSearch & Cache: ElasticSearch, RedisServer & Cloud Hosting: Debian OS, Nginx, AWS/GCP/Azure/DigitalOcean recommended

👥 Key Contributors

Team Leader: Mohammed Nurul AzamSoftware Architect: Fahim HossainUI/UX Lead: Maher KhanSenior Developers: Soumya Rauth, Arifur RahmanSQA Engineer: Abu Raihan Md. SaifullahField & Research Lead: Mostaq Ahmed