Recharge Wallet / SIM-Bank Platform Architecture

Role Fit

This work is best aligned with system architecture, business workflow planning, infrastructure design, and technical decision-making.

It demonstrates the ability to look at a business idea as a complete system rather than only an app screen. The project involves users, merchants, wallet balances, admin validation, telecom recharge execution, hardware, servers, VPN access, auditability, and operational risk.

The value of the work is not in claiming that the entire platform is already deployed. The value is in converting a complex business process into a realistic architecture that can be discussed, priced, documented, and implemented in phases.

Project Summary

The project is a planned recharge wallet platform for merchants.

The idea is to allow merchants to use an app to perform mobile recharges for customers. Merchants would have a wallet balance inside the system. When they request a recharge, the platform would validate balance and route the operation through controlled recharge infrastructure.

The first architecture direction relied on SIM-bank/SIM-pool infrastructure instead of depending on a direct operator API at the beginning. This means the platform is not just software. It requires mobile app flows, admin operations, backend logic, telecom hardware, network setup, VPN access, monitoring direction, and clear operating rules.

The system was planned as a phased project because several parts need to be validated carefully: business rules, operator authorization, SIM-bank reliability, wallet accounting, recharge status handling, security, and daily operations.

What This Project Is Meant To Prove

a recharge platform is an operational system, not only a mobile app
wallet balance logic must be designed before recharge automation becomes useful
SIM-bank infrastructure creates hardware, network, monitoring, and compliance constraints
admin workflows matter because funding validation and recharge exceptions need control
technical architecture should define responsibilities between apps, backend, hardware, and operators
a phased architecture is safer than trying to build every automation layer immediately
business-facing documentation is important when the system mixes software, hardware, and telecom operations

Stack and Tools Used

This project is architecture and planning focused. The exact production stack can still be finalized during implementation, but the architecture direction includes these areas.

Application Layer

Merchant mobile app planning
Customer app concept where needed
Admin dashboard planning
Authentication and role separation direction
Wallet balance views
Recharge request flow
Transaction history direction
Error/status handling direction

Backend and Data Layer

Backend/API planning
Database planning
Wallet ledger direction
Merchant account structure
Recharge request records
Funding validation records
Admin action records
Audit trail direction
Operator/SIM routing logic direction

Telecom and Hardware Layer

SIM-bank/SIM-pool infrastructure
SIM cards grouped by operator
Orange / IAM / Inwi recharge direction
SIM credit/load planning
SIM-bank connectivity requirements
Antenna/SIM-related hardware planning
Hardware reliability considerations

Documentation and Planning

client-facing PDFs
equipment lists
architecture diagrams
simple stack explanation
hardware recommendation notes
deployment phases
pricing/scope justification direction

Intended Build

The intended build is a merchant recharge platform with three major sides:

1. Merchant Side

Merchants use an app to:

view wallet balance
request a recharge
select operator/service type
enter customer number
see request status
view transaction history
receive clear errors when a recharge cannot continue

2. Admin Side

Admins use a dashboard to:

create and manage merchants
validate merchant funding
adjust or approve wallet balance updates
track recharge requests
review failed or pending operations
monitor SIM-bank related status
inspect logs and transaction history
handle disputes or manual corrections

3. Infrastructure Side

The platform uses controlled infrastructure to execute or support recharge operations:

backend services
database and wallet records
SIM-bank/SIM-pool hardware
operator SIM cards
router/network setup
VPN access for remote administration
server/mini PC hardware where needed
monitoring and operational procedures

Delivery Scope

1. Business Workflow Architecture

Define how money and recharge requests move through the system.

The important workflow is:

merchant receives or requests balance
admin validates funding
wallet balance is updated
merchant requests a recharge
system checks available balance
recharge request is created
operation is routed through the correct operator path
status is updated
history and audit records are kept

This flow matters because recharge systems are sensitive to balance mistakes, failed operations, and unclear responsibility.

2. Wallet Logic Direction

Plan the wallet as a controlled accounting layer, not just a number displayed in the app.

The wallet needs transaction records, balance changes, funding records, recharge deductions, failed-operation handling, and admin traceability.

A strong wallet design should make it possible to explain why a balance changed at any time.

3. SIM-Bank Infrastructure Direction

Plan how the SIM-bank/SIM-pool hardware fits into the system.

This includes:

number of SIMs per operator
operator grouping
credit/load planning
hardware connectivity
remote access
failure handling
monitoring direction
physical placement
security and maintenance considerations

The SIM-bank is treated as an operational dependency, not as a simple plug-in device.

4. Merchant App Direction

Define the merchant app as a simple operational tool, not a full consumer marketplace.

The merchant app should focus on:

wallet balance
recharge request creation
transaction history
status visibility
clear error messages
simple daily usability

The app should avoid unnecessary features in the first version.

5. Admin Dashboard Direction

Define the admin dashboard as the control point of the system.

The admin dashboard needs to support funding validation, merchant management, recharge monitoring, wallet corrections, and operational review.

This is important because not every edge case should be pushed to the merchant app.

6. Server and Network Direction

Plan the infrastructure needed to run and maintain the system.

This includes:

server or mini PC role
router role
VPN access
device separation
network access control
remote maintenance path
physical hardware planning

The architecture assumes the platform has both software and on-site infrastructure responsibilities.

7. Client Documentation Direction

Prepare client-facing explanations, diagrams, and equipment lists so the client can understand the project before implementation.

The documentation had to stay understandable without exposing unnecessary implementation detail.

Practical Decisions

Start with controlled funding validation

Automatic funding validation can be added later, but the first safer direction is manual or admin-approved funding validation.

This reduces the risk of incorrect wallet balances while the business process is still being finalized.

Treat wallet balance as an auditable ledger

Wallet balance should not be treated as a simple editable number.

Every increase, deduction, correction, failed operation, and admin adjustment should have a reason and traceable record.

Keep the merchant app focused

The merchant app should focus on the daily recharge workflow.

Adding too many features early would make the system harder to test, explain, and operate.

Separate admin control from merchant actions

Merchants should be able to request operations, but admins need visibility and control over funding, exceptions, and operational corrections.

Treat SIM-bank hardware as a real infrastructure dependency

SIM-bank hardware affects reliability, capacity, operator separation, maintenance, monitoring, and remote access.

It should be planned like infrastructure, not like a small accessory.

Use VPN for controlled remote access

Remote access to servers and infrastructure should be handled through VPN rather than exposing sensitive services directly.

This keeps maintenance access more controlled.

What A Finished Version Should Show

A strong finished version of this architecture should show:

merchant app flow for recharge requests
admin dashboard flow for funding and monitoring
wallet ledger model
recharge request lifecycle
SIM-bank/SIM-pool hardware role
operator grouping direction
backend/API responsibilities
database responsibilities
infrastructure diagram
network and VPN access diagram
hardware list
operational procedures for failed or pending recharges
audit trail for balance changes and recharge actions
clear separation between app, backend, admin, and hardware responsibilities

Evidence Worth Capturing

Useful evidence for this project would include:

architecture diagrams
wallet flow diagrams
admin flow diagrams
merchant app wireframes
database/entity sketches
equipment list
SIM-bank hardware notes
VPN/network diagram
client-facing PDF exports
scope documents
pricing/scope justification notes
implementation phase plan
screenshots of prototypes or admin screens when available
test logs once recharge execution is implemented

Technical Assumptions

The platform assumes that the client has or will obtain the required authorization to perform recharge operations through the chosen operator paths.

The first version assumes manual or admin-controlled funding validation rather than fully automated banking/payment reconciliation.

The architecture assumes that SIM-bank execution is possible only if the hardware, SIM cards, operator rules, and operational procedures are properly validated.

The platform also assumes that a recharge request must be treated as a financial/operational event, not just a normal app action.

Key Risks

legal or operator compliance issues if recharge operations are not properly authorized
wallet balance mistakes if accounting is not traceable
SIM-bank hardware instability or capacity limits
failed recharge operations without clear status handling
unclear responsibility between merchant, admin, and system
exposing infrastructure without secure remote access controls
over-automating before business rules are stable
underestimating monitoring, logs, and operational support
assuming all operators behave the same way
making the mobile app polished before the backend and wallet logic are reliable

Current State

The project is in the architecture and planning stage.

The main value produced so far is a clearer technical direction: the platform is not only an app, but a combined business, software, network, and telecom infrastructure system.

The current work defines what needs to exist before implementation can be trusted: wallet logic, merchant flow, admin controls, SIM-bank planning, network access, hardware selection, documentation, and phased delivery.

What This Project Does Not Claim

This project does not claim that the complete production platform is already deployed.

It does not claim that all recharge operations are automated.

It does not claim that every operator path has been validated in production.

It does not claim that SIM-bank infrastructure removes the need for operator authorization or compliance review.

The project is best understood as architecture and planning for a real operational system, with the technical and business boundaries made explicit before full implementation.

Interview / Client Talking Point

A useful explanation for this project is:

I treated the recharge platform as an operational system rather than just a mobile app. The important parts were wallet accounting, admin validation, recharge request lifecycle, SIM-bank infrastructure, secure remote access, and clear failure handling. The architecture was designed so the client could understand what needed to be built before committing to a full implementation.

Client-Facing Technical Documentation
GOPC Business Website
Odoo Product & Inventory Integration

Problem

Constraints

Approach

Outcome

Secondary details