From street stalls to digital sales: the development of anystall mobile app

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted Malaysia’s economy, leading to higher unemployment, income instability, and increased dependence on informal employment. Vulnerable populations, including single mothers, retirees, and individuals in the B40 income group, face persistent challenges in achieving financial independence due to limited access to stable and flexible income opportunities. This project presents the development of AnyStall, a mobile application aimed at empowering low- income communities by enabling side income generation through online selling and shared rental spaces. The application integrates core functionalities inspired by existing digital marketplace and delivery platforms, allowing users to register as sellers, participate in shared stalls, and market products via an online marketplace. Buyers can browse products from local sellers, place and track orders, while registered riders facilitate product delivery between sellers and buyers. An admin panel supports seller verification to enhance platform trust and security. AnyStall is developed using Flutter for cross-platform mobile deployment and Firebase for backend services, including authentication, real-time data management, and cloud storage. The proposed system consolidates space-sharing, e-commerce, and delivery services into a single digital platform. The project demonstrates the potential of mobile technology to promote micro-entrepreneurship, improve income accessibility, and support financial resilience among vulnerable communities in Malaysia, contributing to sustainable economic participation and improved work-life balance.