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  web app logomark

Barter: interactive map-based distribution & analytics for hyperlocal market transactions

Solution

We are leveraging the economic transactions of a local community by recording them on a interactive, consumer-friendly map utilizing the Quipu ledger that allows anyone to log into and contribute to — as easily as they log into WhatsApp & Facebook in these communities. We believe that economic transactions should be as easy as socializing has been made for these communities.

By distributing records of these transactions, I believe that "bartering" for goods in multiple communities of underdeveloped countries can truly become decentralized in their conduct of business.

How it works

Workers in the Global South are empowered by their ability to create business profiles on Barter, regardless of their background.

On the Barter platform, they have access to the following features:

• Map-based events to view transaction recording
• See a public list of available goods/services and past sales
• Vote for a new head of market, at anytime

And the workers as a whole possess the ability to do collective bargains, with a head of market who is delegated to conduct deals for the entire community, with these features:

• Export analytic data directly to an Alibaba manufacturer
• Track trends of product demand and order supplies based on that value
• Leverage the sum of a communities' business value for individual loans

Utilizing the open availability of the Quipu ledger, merchants are not judged on their existing prestige but rather their ability exchange goods and services repeatedly, with good rating.

Our understanding

Assets on the digital ledger are reminiscent of medieval times where the centuries-old predecessor to blockchain was merely a shop's bookkeeping.

I like to think of it as a decentralized administration of consensus, and thus, a hyper-local map of mutual credit.

By distributing all of a communities' records and providing evidence of healthy business transactions, we hope to leverage value to manufacturers who may have not produced demanded goods for these communities otherwise.

What's next?

Our next steps will be exploring different options of incorporating more blockchain technology into Barter, finishing up full integrations with the Quipu blockchain and possibly an iOS/Android mobile client.

[1] https://phys.org/news/2017-11-blockchain-technology-medieval-roots.html

Apis used:

1. Blockstack for the blockchain component (decentralized apps)
2. Mapbox for digital cartography in the product
3. Alibaba to bridge the connection between merchants and manufacturers