LightSheet

Inspiration

The inspiration behind LightSheet came from the need to address the daily challenges faced by small business owners who rely on outdated methods like paper records to manage sales, debts, and supplier transactions. These manual processes are error-prone, time-consuming, and can lead to data loss. Existing digital tools, such as spreadsheets, were either too complex or lacked mobile-friendliness, leaving business owners with few practical solutions. We wanted to create an easy-to-use, mobile-first solution that simplifies business management and helps owners focus on growth, rather than administrative work.

What it does

LightSheet allows small business owners to easily track sales, expenses, debts, and supplier transactions in one streamlined platform. It automates tedious tasks like total calculations and generates professional PDF invoices. The app is designed for simplicity, making it accessible to users with minimal technical experience, while also ensuring flexibility for more advanced needs. Users can access and manage their data on the go, helping them stay organized and efficient at all times.

How we built it We built LightSheet using Flutter for its ability to provide a seamless cross-platform experience for both Android and iOS users. Firebase was used for authentication and secure data storage, while Hive provided fast local storage for offline functionality. We implemented features like secure storage using the flutter_secure_storage package to protect user credentials. The app’s UI was designed with a focus on simplicity, ensuring that even non-technical users could navigate easily.

In terms of architecture, we utilized Isolate.run() to offload heavy tasks like PDF generation and data processing, ensuring the app remains responsive.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was designing an interface that balanced simplicity with functionality. We needed to make LightSheet intuitive for small business owners, many of whom may not be familiar with digital tools, while still offering powerful features like automated calculations and invoice generation.

Another challenge was optimizing performance to handle larger datasets without slowing down the app. Ensuring the app worked smoothly on older mobile devices and under low internet connectivity conditions also required thoughtful optimization.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud to have developed an app that solves real problems for small business owners by making business management simpler and more efficient. We successfully created an intuitive user experience that makes it easy for anyone to track sales and expenses, while also building secure and reliable functionality. Another accomplishment was the seamless integration of PDF invoice generation and efficient data handling, making the app feel lightweight yet powerful.

What we learned

This project helped us understand the importance of user-centric design, especially when building for an audience that may not be familiar with digital tools. We also learned how crucial it is to balance performance with functionality, particularly in mobile environments where resources can be limited. Optimizing for both user experience and technical efficiency was a valuable lesson.

What's next for LightSheet

Next, we plan to introduce full customization options for tables, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their tables to better match their business branding. Additionally, we’ll be adding more invoice templates to offer greater flexibility and personalization when generating invoices.

We also aim to enhance reporting capabilities, providing users with in-depth insights into their sales and financial data. Integrating third-party tools for accounting or tax management is another avenue we’re exploring, along with support for multi-currency transactions to cater to a wider user base.

Lastly, we’re considering leveraging AI to provide intelligent business insights, helping users identify trends and make data-driven decisions to optimize their operations.

Built With

• dart
• flutter
• google-cloud
• google-drive
• revenuecat
• sqlite