Sera | Devpost

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Inspiration

Our inspiration came from seeing how overwhelming managing finances can be, especially for students and young professionals. Many struggle to track spending, stick to budgets, and plan for the future, often due to a lack of accessible tools or financial literacy.

So, we decided to build a solution that isn't just another financial app, but a tool that empowers individuals, especially students, to take control of their finances with simplicity, clarity, and efficiency. We believe that managing finances should not be a luxury or a skill learned through trial and error, but something that is accessible and intuitive for everyone

What it does

Sera simplifies financial management by providing users with an intuitive dashboard where they can track their recent transactions, bills, budgets, and overall balances - all in one place. What truly sets it apart is the personalization, AI-powered guidance that goes beyond simple tracking. Users receive actionable recommendations like "manage your budget" or "plan for retirement" based on their financial activity

With features like scanning receipts via QR code and automatic budget updates, we ensure users never miss a detail. The AI chatbot, SeraAI, offers tailored financial advice and can even handle tasks like adding transactions or adjusting budgets - making complex financial decisions easy and stress-free. With a focus on accessibility, Sera makes financial literacy approachable and actionable for everyone.

How we built it

We used Next.js with TailwindCSS for a responsive, dynamic UI, leveraging server-side rendering for performance. The backend is powered by Express and Node.js, with MongoDB Atlas for scalable, secure data storage.

For advanced functionality, we integrated Roboflow for OCR, enabling users to scan receipts via QR codes, automatically updating their transactions, Cerebras handles AI processing, powering SeraAI, our chatbot that offers personalized financial advice and automates various tasks on our platform. In addition, we used Tune to provide users with customized financial insights, ensuring a proactive and intuitive financial management experience

Challenges we ran into

Integrating OCR with our app posed several challenges, especially when using Cerebras for real-time processing. Achieving high accuracy was tricky due to the varying layouts and qualities of receipts, which often led to misrecognized data.

Preprocessing images was essential; we had to adjust brightness and contrast to help the OCR perform better, which took considerable experimentation. Handling edge cases, like crumpled or poorly printed receipts, also required robust error-checking mechanisms to ensure accuracy.

While Cerebras provided the speed we needed for real-time data extraction, we had to ensure seamless integration with our user interface. Overall, combining OCR with Cerebras added complexity but ultimately enhanced our app’s functionality and user experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re especially proud of developing our QR OCR system, which showcases our resilience and capabilities despite challenges. Integrating OCR for real-time receipt scanning was tough, as we faced issues with accuracy and image preprocessing.

By leveraging Cerebras for fast processing, we overcame initial speed limitations while ensuring a responsive user experience. This accomplishment is a testament to our problem-solving skills and teamwork, demonstrating our ability to turn obstacles into opportunities. Ultimately, it enhances our app’s functionality and empowers users to manage their finances effectively.

What we learned

We learned that financial education isn’t enough, people need ongoing support to make lasting changes. It’s not just about telling users how to budget; it’s about providing the tools, guidance, and nudges to help them stick to their goals. We also learned the value of making technology feel human and approachable, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics like money.

What's next for Sera

The next steps for Sera include expanding its capabilities to integrate with more financial platforms and further personalizing the user experience to provide everyone with guidance and support that fits their needs. Ultimately, we want Sera to be a trusted financial companion for everyone, from those just starting their financial journey to experienced users looking for better insights.