ShelfWise
AI-Powered Pantry Management System
Overview
ShelfWise is a comprehensive pantry management application that revolutionizes how households track and manage their food inventory. By combining computer vision for receipt scanning, AI-powered assistance, and intelligent recipe suggestions, ShelfWise helps reduce food waste while making meal planning effortless.
The platform features hands-free interaction through natural language processing, allowing users to update their inventory, get recipe suggestions, and track expiration dates through voice commands - perfect for busy kitchens.
Key Features
Smart Receipt Scanning
OCR technology with 95% accuracy for automatic inventory updates
AI Recipe Suggestions
Personalized recipes based on available ingredients and preferences
Voice-Controlled Updates
Hands-free inventory management with NLP integration
Expiration Tracking
Smart notifications to prevent food waste
Shopping List Generation
Automatic lists based on consumption patterns
Nutritional Analytics
Track nutritional intake and dietary goals
Technical Architecture
Computer Vision & OCR
Implemented Python-based receipt scanning using OpenCV for image preprocessing and Tesseract OCR for text extraction. Custom algorithms handle various receipt formats with 95% accuracy.
Backend API
FastAPI backend with Prisma ORM for efficient database operations. RESTful endpoints handle inventory management, recipe generation, and real-time updates with optimized query performance.
Frontend & AI Integration
React/TypeScript frontend with real-time updates. Integrated OpenAI GPT for natural language processing, enabling conversational inventory management and intelligent recipe suggestions.
Impact & Metrics
OCR accuracy for receipt scanning
Reduction in food waste
Average receipt processing time
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Receipt Format Variability
Developed adaptive parsing algorithms that learn from user corrections, improving accuracy over time. Implemented fallback mechanisms for manual entry when OCR confidence is low.
Challenge: Real-time Voice Processing
Integrated speech-to-text with contextual understanding, allowing natural commands like "I just used two eggs" to automatically update inventory counts.
Challenge: Scalable Recipe Matching
Built efficient indexing system with Redis caching for instant recipe suggestions based on available ingredients, dietary restrictions, and user preferences.
Future Enhancements
- ▸Barcode scanning for faster product entry
- ▸Integration with grocery delivery services
- ▸Multi-household sharing for families
- ▸Meal prep planning with batch cooking support