Online Funeral Services System Capstone Project Document

Introduction

This era is living in a modern generation where technology has become part of people’s lifestyle and industry’s tool. The computer has helped in advancing worlds and work has aided get things done that were difficult manual process technology has shortened the period of time of accomplishing jobs. In fact, thus, computers have changed man’s lifestyle and how he does his everyday work.

The generation has coped especially with technologies as it introduced web and networking, paving the transfer of information and transactions efficiently. Most of the systems that have been proposed helped is to finish things fast and hasty. Examples of this are the Sales Inventory System, Library System, Online Enrollment System and many more. With the help of systems that automated services, more and more jobs are completed less personal, but more satisfying.

Based on this research, modern technology indeed has positively impacted industries in terms of trading. As a result, trading of goods because systematic in manageable. It, therefore, necessitates that companies must in system automation web-linked capability, and online marketing.

Many firms remain stacked on the ground. These firms are said detached and are not able to recognize the potentials of being connected to a large market mass. One of these businesses is funeral companies such as that Villacrusis Funeral. It is proponents’ belief that getting its service on web and online would energize its operations.

Background of the Study

Online Funeral Services System uses a manual process for their entire transactions which limits them to only cater to walk-in customers. The firm cannot process transactions outside Bacolod City so that customers have difficulties inquiring their service packages and cannot promote their services to a large market.

The proponents believe that developing online funeral services for the company can make their transactions effortless and distinctive. With the system that is able to add, edit, delete, and update records and accept transactions online would cause service efficiency, and further boost its sales.

Statement of the Objective

The manual transaction of Online Funeral Services System can be tedious and inefficient.

This study aims to develop a system that integrates:

Online transaction and marketing for Online Funeral Services System.

Specifically, the study aims to develop a website that allows one to:

  • View products and services.
  • Check the payments of every customer.
  • Generates monthly and yearly reports of sales.
  • View if the products are available or not.
  • Provide customers from far-flung areas to access its’ services.

Conceptual Framework

This study aims to replace the manual processing their transaction of Online Funeral Services System. The Online Funeral Services System is an online, web-based application that can be accessed anywhere. This system can monitor, record, and highlight their product and services.

Conceptual Framework

Conceptual Framework Villacrusis Online Funeral Services

Scope and Delimitation

This system is designed as a web-based application for Online Funeral Services System.

The proponents’ web-based system has the following capabilities and limitations:

Scope

The proposed system is focused on the World Wide Web advertising, ordering and marketing of the services of Online Funeral Services System. The system allows customers to select the caskets type or the packages that the customer desires. The system also allows a customer to view details of products through walk-in and online. The system will handle the online transaction of ordering and marketing of the products. The system also allows a customer to check and print account balances. The system can add and update the products and account administration. Only the administrator is given the total access to the system.

Delimitation

The proposed system has limitations. The system only allows the registered customer to check and view their accounts using given ID or username and password. The payment mode is only available for online payment. The delivery or shipment of the product is available when a client has paid 50% of the account.

Significance of the study

Online Funeral Services System does not have an automated system for their business transactions. They cannot reach customers outside Bacolod City, reason that the proponents decided to propose an online system. Further, another objective of the proposed system is to speed up the transactions of the company and provide its customers with the satisfaction of its products and services.

The target users viewed to benefit in the deployment of the system are the company benefiting the customers, the employees, and the future researchers.

The Company, itself will benefit from the use of a system as it may optimize its business via online exposure. The employees or personnel’s can be work easier, faster, and become accessible to its prospective clients. Through the system, inquiries and special needs of the clients can be served, Thereby increase its customers and improve its marketing and sales. Moreover, with the system being in place. This system will also include updating, maintenance and generation reports of the company can be efficient.

The Customers can benefit from the use of an online system, more so those outside the city. Their inquiries and choice of funeral service packages can be easily accommodated.

The Employee, the system can help employees to perform their work accurately easier and faster.

The Proponents, through the study, and they have meaningfully learned to translate their knowledge and programming skills to the development of systems.

The Future Researcher, This study will serve as a reference for a study of a similar nature.

Definition of Terms

To provide an adequate understanding of the various concepts use the terms below are defined conceptually and operationally.

Browse – Conceptually, to look through (a book, articles for sale in a shop, etc.) in a casual leisurely manner. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, to look for information on the Internet.

Browser – Conceptually, it is a program that accesses and displays files and other data available on the internet and other networks. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, it is a piece of software that allows a user to move around and look at pages on the internet.

Client – Conceptually, it refers to a person or organization using the services of a professional person or company. (“Merriam-Webster Dictionary”,n.d)

Operationally, it refers to individuals interested to buy products and services of a company.

E-commerce – Conceptually, is a company trading its products or services using computer networks, such as the Internet. (“Merriam-Webster dictionary,” n.d)

Inventory – Conceptually, it is a detailed, itemized list, report, or record of things in one’s possession, especially a periodic survey of all goods and materials in stock. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, it refers to the automated system to develop for the Villacrusis Funeral Services.

Online – Conceptually, connected to a central computer or to a computer network. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, directly connected to and controlled by, an electronic computer.

Online shopping– Conceptually, it is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser.(“Merriam-Webster Dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, it is a site where a particular person can find and buy some interesting things using the internet and a credit card.

Sales – Conceptually, the exchange of goods or services for an amount of money or its equivalent. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, the activity of selling; exchange or transfer of property, money or its equivalent.

System – Conceptually, a network of related computer software, hardware, and data transmission devices. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, an organized and coordinated method; a procedure.

Technology– Conceptually, the application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, theoretical knowledge of an industry and industrial arts.

Transaction– Conceptually, it is an agreement between a buyer and a seller to exchange an asset for payment. (“InvestorWords”,n.d).

Operationally, it is a time when a buyer and a seller decided on purchasing goods or products.

User-Friendly – Conceptually, easily operated and understood by means of a straightforward guide in jargon-free language. (“The free dictionary,”n.d)

Operationally, easy to understand and operate.

Review of Related Literature

This chapter includes a compilation of related topics and studies that are relevant to online reservation systems.

LOCAL RELATED STUDIES

658 Apartelle Online Reservation System.

The 658 Apartelle Online Reservation Management System is not only a database for a guest list but also an online reservation system, where potential guest can have an online reservation which will automatically be sent to the database of the 658 Apartelle. Problems related to time-consuming log-in among guests to the log book; difficulties in making reservations; and difficulties in retrieving information of the previous guests were found.

Bituin Abi, (August 2010),

Bacolod Online Showroom

Bacolod Showroom was utilizing a traditional and manual process. Since its operation, it had encountered a lot of problems when it comes to reaching out to more customers, especially for those out of town. Customers have no access to their products since there was no website where they can visit or browse. Bacolod Showroom found difficulty in updating their sales reports, and there was no system for monitoring the incoming and outgoing of products.

Ronel Pacite, March 2014

Foreign Studies

Online Business Advantages

“Advantages of going online: Powerful, fast and efficient marketing and communication tool and medium, telecommuting reduces the number of cars and car miles, Very inexpensive way to reach new markets and interact with them, Office & transportation cost savings, Unlimited possibilities for automation of your business, you can automate your order and payment processes, your customer support tasks and more, Global presence 24/7.” retrieved Oct. 21, 2012, by Zhenya Beck at centauria.com.

Advertising and Marketing

On the Internet, a small, one-man operation can look as good or better than a large, multinational corporation. But whether it’s an individual working out of a virtual office, or a CEO sitting in an expensive downtown office building, they’re going online for one purpose—to sell. And they’re leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to make it safe and easy for their customers to buy. ” retrieved Oct. 21, 2012, at referenceforbusiness.com. Paul J. Dowling, Jr.

Related Systems Summary Table

Table 1.0: System Comparison Table

Related Study

System comparison table Villacrusis Online Funeral Services

This table shows the features of our system in the first column compared to the related systems on the succeeding columns.

Synthesis

The systems that were presented in the related studies, both foreign and local, were selected and audited on online reservation systems. The system review highlighted the benefits and features of the online automation system designed for the companies. Through this review, proponents were guided which of the attributes from the system would be adopted for the design and functionality decisions. The encountered difficulties of the users through the review, for the better understanding of the more appropriate consideration in the design phase.

Methodology

The purpose of this chapter is to present system flows and techniques applied in this study.

The proponents followed the standard software development life cycle (SDLC), to show and present the solutions to the problems identified, using incremental waterfall model

The development process is the series of activities the guides the development software. A software development process model is broken down into different activities. Basic activities of software engineering processes are as follows: Planning, Analysis, Design, Development, Testing, Implementation, and Maintenance phases.

Planning Phase

The purpose of the planning phase is to identify the problem create solutions and translate it to system functionality requirements. In this phase, the researchers are involved in creating a set of plans to that guides the development of the system.

The project started with the identification of the companies which may accept the groups offer for a systematic study of the development. After that, the group initially conducted interviews and surveys of the identified companies here in and outside Bacolod. Their automation needs more than determined. Choosing from among the interested companies was there made with reference to their assessed willing to provide data and entertain process related queries. Villacrusis funeral services were selected by the researcher-proponents.

Analysis Phase

In this phase, The researcher-proponents processed data and information that were collected and gathered from the company. To validate the result, another interview and observation were conducted. During this time, a final listing of the desired needs wit report to process is determined.

Design Phase

Design Phase

Incremental Waterfall Model Villacrusis Online Funeral Services

Figure 2.0: Incremental Waterfall Model

System design includes the decisions on the organization of the system into subsystems, the subsystems to hardware and software components and major conceptual and policy decisions that form the framework for detailed design.

In this phase, software requirement specification (SRS) is the reference of the system architects to come up with the best architecture or design for the system.

After analyzing all the data and information gathered it is now readied for a database program. The proponents by them were able to plan the interfaces and begin with its design.

Development Phase

The information to analyzed and initial design is forwarded to this phase, create which is the working part of the system through coding, and create databases, hardware construction, and overall system development.

After coding and development, the system is being tested and checked for any errors. Especially the administrator and the customer accounts are run for this purpose.

Testing Phase

This stage or phase refers to the testing stage of the system where defects are identified, reported, fired and retested, until if achieves the quality standard required.

Maintenance Phase

The system requires maintenance and support. In this phase, comments and suggestions made by the customers and administrators of the system are considered for its enhancement. For this purpose, maintenance of the system is scheduled every five months in order to maintain system’s functionality and its updating.

User’s Acceptance Survey

The system developed underwent user acceptance testing by its identified users, the management or the administration of the company, and the customers.

Requirement Specifications

Operational Feasibility

The goals of this system study are to develop the following functionalities:

  1. An online web-based and mobile application that can be accessed anywhere through an internet connection.
  2. Provide an organized system which allows the company to monitor their income.
  3. Generate monthly and yearly sales reports.
  4. View products and services of the companies.

Program Environment

Front End

CSS or Cascading Style Sheets was first developed in 1997 as a way for web developers to define the look and feel of their web pages. It was intended to allow developers to separate content from design so that HTML could perform more of the function that it was originally based on the markup of content, without worry about the design and layout. This programming language will be responsible for placing the data being uploaded to the website in their proper places.

Bootstrap is the most popular HTML, CSS, and JS framework for developing responsive, mobile first projects on the web. Bootstrapping usually refers to the starting of a self-sustaining process that is supposed to proceed without external input.

HTML or HyperText Markup Language is the standard markup language used to create web pages. XHTML or Extensible HyperText Markup Language is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely used HTML, the language in which Web pages are written. These are the programming languages that are going to be used for the development of the front end of the system.

Back End

          PHP is a server-side scripting language designed for web development but also used as a general-purpose programming language. PHP code can be simply mixed with. HTML code or it can be used in combination with various emplacing engines and web frameworks. The PHP code is usually processed by a PHP interpreter, which is usually implemented as a web server native module or Common Gateway Interface (CGI) executable.

MySQL is the most popular database system used with PHP. MySQL is a database system used on the web. It is a database system that runs on a server. It is ideal for both small and large applications. MySQL is very fast, reliable, and easy to use. It supports standard SQL. It compiles on a number of platforms, it is also free to download and use. MySQL is developed, distributed, and supported by Oracle Corporation.

Technical Feasibility

          Hardware specification (maximum requirement)

Client

  • Dual-Core Processor
  • 1 GB Ram
  • 256 Video Card
  • Android 4.2 version up to latest version

Server

  • Quad Core Processor
  • 4GB Ram (Internal Memory)
  • 500GB Hard Drive
  • 4GB Video Card

Software specifications (maximum requirement)

Client

  • Google Chrome Version 6.3.2
  • Mozilla Firefox 17.6
  • Windows XP Operating System

Server

  • Parallels B Plesk management software
  • XAMPP

System Architecture

System Architecture

System Architecture Villacrusis Online Funeral Services

Figure 3.0: System Architecture

Figure 3.0 displays the network design for the system. It is shown that the system users need to access it through an internet connection and the mobile application to be able to operate and communicate with the company for the desired products and services.

Feasibility Schedule

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.0: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.1: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.2: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.3: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.4: Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

Figure 4.5: Gantt Chart

Cost Benefits Analysis

Cost Benefit Analysis or CBA estimates and sums up the equivalent money value of the benefits & costs of the system in order to determine its profitability or investment’s worth.

Table 2.0: Developmental Cost

Developmental Cost       Duration        Monthly Cost       Total Amount

Programmer                   5 months       Php 7,500.00                 37,500.00

System Analyst              5 months               8,580.00                 42,900.00

Project Manager             5 months              9100.00                 45,500.00

Internet Connection       5 months              1,200.00(1Mbps)    6,000.00

(Globe Home Broadband)

Electricity                       5 months              250.00                     1,250.00

TOTAL                                                Php 133,150.00

This table shows the developmental cost of the system. The developmental cost includes the above-detailed costs relating human power utility expenses.

Table 2.1: Operational Cost

Operational Cost            Duration     Monthly Cost        Total Amount

Electricity                       12 months  Php 650.00           7,800.00

Maintenance                  12 months  1,500.00               18,000.00

Internet Connection       12 months  1,999.00 (3Mbps) 23,988.00

TOTAL                                              Php 49,788.00

This table shows the operational cost of the system when used in the operation. This operational cost includes the maintenance cost and expenditures in a year.

Table 2.2: Total Developmental and Operational Cost

  Total Amount
Total Developmental Cost Php 133,150.00
Total Operational Cost 49,788.00
Total Php 182,938

This table sums up the total cost of the development and operation of the system.

Table 2.3: Benefits of the System

Benefits of the System (Annually) Amount/Value
Efficiency of work/output of Employee Php 61,560.00
Security of Data 8,000.00
Back up of data 8,000.00
Work management of Employee 42,440.00
Total Php 120,000.00

         

This table shows the computed benefits of the system to the company. The proponents have assigned presumed amounts or value of each item representing the system’s benefit.

Table 2.4: Cost Benefit Analysis

Cost Benefit Analysis

Cost Benefit Analysis

Database Model

Database Model

Entity Relationship Diagram Villacrusis Online Funeral Services

Figure 5.0: Entity Relationship Diagram

This figure shows the entities of the system and how it relates or connects with the other entities. As shown in figure 5.0, to created and information to be stored are described.

Data Flow Diagram

Admin

Dataflow Diagram

Figure 6.0: Data Flow Diagram (The Gane & Sarson)

This figure shows the data flow for the system. The Villacrusis Online Funeral Services manages and updates the reports and marketing sales of the company.

Customer

Dataflow Diagram

Figure 6.1: Data Flow Diagram (The Gane & Sarson)

This figure shows the data flow of the system. The Villacrusis Online Funeral Services manages on how to buy or reserve products and services for its costumers or clients.

Data Dictionary

Table 3.0: Data Dictionary of the System

Data Field Type Description
Administrator
Id int(22) Id number of student
username varchar(22) Unique name to  access administrator
password varchar(22) Unique key to access administrator
Register
Id int(11) Refers to the number ID of customer to registered
firstname varchar(255) Refers to the firstname of customer
lastname varchar(255) refers to the lastname of customer
middlename varchar(255) Refers to the middlename of customer
birthday birthdate(255) Refers to the age of customer whether she/he a customer citizen
Age age(255) Refers to the age of customer
Email varchar(255) Refers to a valid email address of customer
Address varchar(255) Private address for customer
contact_no int(255) Needed for sms notify whether approved/denied
username varchar(255) Name to log in the website
password varchar(255)  Key to access a registered account
Payment
payment_id int(11) Customers payment id
payment_date date(255) Refers to the Date of customers pay
Tid int(255) Refers to transaction id of customer
Invoice_no int(255) Refers to the unique invoice number of the customer
Amount int(255) Amount to pay of the  customer
Discount int(255) Offers to senior citizen only
Balance Int(222) Refers to the remaining amount/balance of the customer
payment2
Payment_id int(11) Refers to the payment id number of customer
firstname varchar(255) Refers to the firstname of customer to pay
lastname varchar(255) Refers to the lastname of customer to pay
Address varchar(255) Refers to the address for customer
Date date(255) Refers to the date of customer pay
Time date(255) Refers to the time of customer pay
Amount int(255) Refers to the Amount to pay of customer
 

Product

Item_name varchar(255) Refers to the name of product
Item_id int(255) Refers to the number of product
Description varchar(255) Refers to the details of a product
Cost

Quantity

Picture

int(44)

Int(11)

Varchar(250)

Refers to the cost/amount of a product

Refers to the quantity of a product

Refers to the image of customer

 

Product_images

Img_id int(11) Refers to the other view of a product
Item_id varchar(255) Refers to the number of a product
description Text Refers to the details of a main product
picture varchar(255) Refers to the other view of a main product
Transaction_tbl
Tid int(11) Refers to the number of  transactions
Trdate varchar(255) Refers to the transaction date
Key varchar(255) Refers to the key
Userid varchar(255) Refers to the user identity
Fname

Lname

Birthday

Email

Contact

Location

varchar(255)

varchar(255)

date(22)

varchar(255)

int(20)

varchar(255)

Refers to the firstname

Refers to the lastname

Refers to the birthday or birthdate

Refers to a valid email address to the transaction

Refers to the contact number

Fname                       varchar(255)

Lname                       varchar(255)

Birthday                   date(22)

Email                         varchar(255)

Contact                      int(20)

Location                   varchar(255)

Productname          varchar(255)

Quantity                   int(255)

Price                          int(255)

Stock                          int(255)

Orderstat                 varchar(255)

This table shows the database details of the system. The first column shows the data field; the second column shows the data type, and the third column shows a short description of each data field.

Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data

This chapter presents the result of the system studied and designed for Online Funeral Services System which will be implemented as an online system.

Presentation

The researcher proponents selected the user-respondents randomly and were oriented on the use of the system. The proponents also observed the subjects based on their interest in technology, honesty and understanding of the system.

Data Analysis

This section presents the analysis of the data collected.

Characteristics of the Subject

The subject population is comprised of the administrators and customers of the Online Funeral Services System. The proponents obtained thirty (30) subjects including the administrators of a company.

Table 4.0: Frequency of Respondents

Respondents Frequency
Administrator 1
Customer 29
Total 30

This table shows the respondents and their corresponding frequency to who have answered the User-Acceptability Survey. The researchers used a total of 30 respondents.

Table 5.0: Reliability Test Result

  Cronbach’s Alpha
Acceptable 0.700
Data Gathered 0.986

This table shows the result of reliability testing undergone by the data gathered from the User-Acceptance Survey. A Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.986 shows that the data gathered is reliable.

Interpretation of Data

The instrument aimed to determine the perception of the users in terms of five (5) categories namely: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Quality, Timeliness and Productivity. The first category was composed of four (4) items, the second category was composed of three (3) items, and the third, fourth and last categories were composed of four (4) items. The rating scale was 1 to 5 with 1 as very dissatisfied, 2 as dissatisfied, 3 as neutral, 4 as satisfied and 5 as very satisfied.

Table 6.0: Rating Scale

Range of Mean Verbal Interpretation
4.21 – 5.00 Very Satisfied
3.41 – 4.20 Satisfied
2.61 – 3.40 Neutral
1.81 – 2.60 Dissatisfied
1.00 – 1.80 Very Dissatisfied

This table shows the range of mean and its verbal interpretation.

 Table 7.0 Survey Result

CATEGORIES MEAN RATING
Effectiveness 4.225 Very Satisfied
Efficiency 4.2 Very Satisfied
Quality 4.208333 Very Satisfied
Timeliness 4.25 Very Satisfied
Productivity 4.283333 Very Satisfied

Table 7 shows the survey result in the respective categories with which the mean scores were determined. It can be gleaned over that in all categories, the mean scores obtained is interpreted to be very satisfactory. Specifically, on an area of effectiveness it obtained 4.225; on efficiency, 4.20; on quality, 4.21; on timeliness, 4.25; and on productivity, 4.28.

Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations

This chapter presents the summary of the research work undertaken, the conclusions drawn and the recommendations for the study.

Summary of Findings

This study was conducted for the purpose of crafting an easier, faster and more efficient casket reservation. The descriptive method of research was used and the survey technique was used for gathering data. A standard questionnaire served as an instrument for collecting data.   The proponents conducted the survey focusing the end users and adult customers. There were three users, and ten adults who were administered the survey. The survey was conducted after the system had all the requirements designed readied for development.

Recommendation

Based on the findings of this study, the proponents recommend for future researchers to enhance the features of the system. It is recommended to use android version 4.2 or SDK15 in order for the mobile application to work better. It is recommended the administrator should study the system for him to familiarize the other features of the system.

Conclusion

The online system is essential to the Online Funeral Services System on keeping the accounts of its customers; for generating reports; and for the inventory of the company.

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