Cutting Edge '25

ChoonPaan OptimAI – Optimising Operations and Improving Profitability in Sri Lanka’s Mobile Bakeries

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"Sri Lanka’s mobile bakery sector is an essential part of the informal economy, however, it faces growing challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and long-term profitability. These businesses often rely on outdated manual processes and intuition-based decision- making, leading to inefficiencies that hinder sustainability and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. To address these concerns, the project ChoonPaan OptimAI was initiated to explore how digital transformation can enhance business outcomes for mobile bakery vendors in this niche industry. The project began with extensive research, including stakeholder interviews and surveys, to uncover the operational pain points and technology gaps within the mobile bakery ecosystem. The system design was driven by these insights, leading to the development of a prototype platform that integrates AI-powered features and a user-friendly interface tailored to vendor needs. The primary objective was to explore how data-informed route planning and inventory suggestions could improve decision-making and overall profitability. ChoonPaan OptimAI offers a holistic solution by embedding intelligence into the daily operations of mobile vendors, replacing inefficiency with adaptability and insight. Rather than simply digitising existing routines, the solution envisions how vendors interact with their business data, transforming informal decision-making into a structured, insight-driven process. It introduces a framework where operational patterns, environmental factors, and past business performance are synthesised to support more responsive and resilient choices. This transition towards proactive management equips vendors to better navigate uncertainties, optimise limited resources, and incrementally build towards long-term sustainability. By promoting smarter resource use and sustainable practices, this project not only supports business resilience but also reflects a broader shift towards digital empowerment in micro-enterprise sectors. Keywords: Mobile Bakeries, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, Route Optimisation, Inventory Forecasting, Micro-enterprises, Digital Transformation, Profitability"

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