Please review this URS and ensure that it is realistic and can be used to guide the development of a financial app within 2 months. We aim to ship it as an MVP and does not need to include or meet all specifications. The app is meant to be used by myself: A recent graduate starting my first year of corporate work. I consider myself an upper middle class South African citizen with relatively healthy financial habits despite my limited income.

Here's an updated **User Requirements Specification (URS)** document for SmartFinance with the addition of the **Loyalty Card Storage** feature. This document provides an overview of all user requirements, including loyalty card management alongside core financial features.

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## **User Requirements Specification (URS) for SmartFinance**

### **1. Introduction**

   - **Application Name**: SmartFinance
   - **Purpose**: SmartFinance is a personal finance app designed to help users manage budgets, track expenses, set savings goals, and gain insights into spending habits while avoiding regulated financial advice. The app will also enable users to store loyalty cards, enhancing convenience and helping users maximize rewards.

### **2. User Requirements**

#### **2.1 User Management**
   - **2.1.1 Registration and Login**
     - Users must be able to create an account using an email and password or social login options (Google, Apple).
     - Users should be able to securely reset their passwords.

   - **2.1.2 User Profile Management**
     - Users must be able to update profile details and manage notification preferences.

#### **2.2 Budgeting and Expense Tracking**
   - **2.2.1 Expense Input and Categorization**
     - Users should be able to input expenses manually or by linking bank accounts for automatic transaction import.
     - The app should automatically categorize expenses using machine learning, with users able to modify categories if needed.

   - **2.2.2 Budget Creation and Monitoring**
     - Users must be able to create monthly budgets by category (e.g., groceries, transportation).
     - Users should receive notifications or alerts as they approach or exceed category budgets.

#### **2.3 Savings Goals**
   - **2.3.1 Goal Creation**
     - Users should be able to set specific savings goals with target amounts and timelines.
     - Users should have the option to set micro-saving preferences (e.g., rounding up transactions to the nearest dollar and saving the difference).

   - **2.3.2 Goal Progress Tracking**
     - Users should be able to monitor progress toward savings goals and see estimated timelines based on current savings rates.

#### **2.4 AI-Driven Financial Insights**
   - **2.4.1 Personalized Spending Insights**
     - Users should receive informational insights about spending patterns based on past data, labeled with disclaimers to clarify they are not financial advice.

   - **2.4.2 Predictive Analytics**
     - Users should be able to see spending forecasts for future periods based on historical patterns, with notifications if predicted expenses may exceed typical spending.

#### **2.5 Loyalty Card Storage**

   - **2.5.1 Add and Manage Loyalty Cards**
     - Users must be able to add loyalty cards by manually entering details or by scanning a barcode or QR code using the phone’s camera.
     - Required fields include card name, membership ID, and barcode/QR code (with optional fields for expiration date, notes, and points balance).

   - **2.5.2 Organize and Access Loyalty Cards**
     - Users must be able to view stored loyalty cards in an organized list by category (e.g., groceries, fuel, dining) or by most recently used.
     - Users should have a search function to locate specific cards quickly.

   - **2.5.3 Display Scannable Digital Cards**
     - Users must be able to display loyalty cards with a digital barcode or QR code for scanning in-store.

   - **2.5.4 Expiration and Rewards Alerts**
     - Users should receive alerts when loyalty cards are nearing expiration or if points/rewards are close to expiration, helping them maximize rewards.

#### **2.6 Virtual Assistant and Financial Education**
   - **2.6.1 Financial Query Support**
     - Users must be able to ask financial questions and receive general, educational responses from the virtual assistant.
     - The virtual assistant should avoid offering specific financial recommendations or advice.

   - **2.6.2 Access to Educational Content**
     - Users must be able to access articles, tips, and resources on basic financial concepts (e.g., budgeting, saving, and general investment education).

#### **2.7 Notifications and Alerts**
   - **2.7.1 Budget and Expense Notifications**
     - Users must receive notifications when approaching or exceeding their budget in any category.

   - **2.7.2 Goal Milestone Alerts**
     - Users should receive notifications when they reach milestones in their savings goals.

   - **2.7.3 Predictive Spending Notifications**
     - Users should be notified of predicted upcoming expenses based on historical trends, labeled as informational.

#### **2.8 Security and Privacy**

   - **2.8.1 Data Encryption**
     - All user data, including financial and loyalty card information, must be encrypted at rest and in transit.

   - **2.8.2 Privacy Controls**
     - Users must be able to view, modify, or delete their data according to privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
     - Users should have options for additional security on loyalty cards, such as biometric or password-based access control.

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### **3. Non-Functional Requirements**

#### **3.1 Usability**
   - The app must provide a user-friendly interface with clear labels, intuitive navigation, and a simple layout suitable for users with limited financial knowledge.
   - Instructions and definitions should be available for complex features, such as financial insights or predictive analytics.

#### **3.2 Performance**
   - The app should load key features (e.g., expense tracking, loyalty card display) within two seconds under typical use conditions.
   - Scanning and displaying loyalty cards for in-store use must be quick and seamless to avoid delays at checkout.

#### **3.3 Scalability**
   - The app must be scalable to accommodate additional features, such as integration with more loyalty programs via API or advanced predictive analytics models.

#### **3.4 Security**
   - User data must be encrypted, and sensitive areas of the app (e.g., loyalty cards and financial data) must be protected by optional multi-factor authentication (MFA).

#### **3.5 Compliance**
   - Disclaimers must be visible on all insights and predictions, clarifying that the information provided is educational and not financial advice.
   - The app must follow applicable data privacy regulations, allowing users control over their personal data.

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### **4. User Stories**

#### **Budgeting and Expense Tracking**
   - **As a user**, I want to input my expenses easily and have them categorized automatically, so I can track my spending without hassle.
   - **As a user**, I want to set budget limits for specific categories and receive alerts when I am close to exceeding them.

#### **Savings Goals**
   - **As a user**, I want to set clear savings goals with target amounts and track my progress so that I stay motivated to save.

#### **AI-Driven Financial Insights**
   - **As a user**, I want to see insights about my spending habits so I can better understand where my money goes each month.

#### **Loyalty Card Storage**
   - **As a user**, I want to store my loyalty cards in the app, so I don’t have to carry physical copies.
   - **As a user**, I want to quickly access a scannable version of my loyalty card so I can use it in stores.
   - **As a user**, I want to receive notifications before my loyalty card expires so I can use any remaining points or rewards.

#### **Virtual Assistant and Educational Resources**
   - **As a user**, I want to ask questions about financial concepts and receive general information so that I can learn about personal finance without seeking external sources.

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### **5. Additional Notes**

- **Compliance Language**: Ensure consistent language that communicates the app's informational role and avoids prescriptive financial recommendations.
- **Data Privacy**: Maintain transparency with users about data usage, especially for data linked to loyalty cards and any transaction data pulled from linked accounts.
- **Expansion Potential**: Loyalty card features could be expanded in future phases to include specific integration with major loyalty programs if APIs are available, allowing the app to pull real-time rewards balances or provide exclusive offers.

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This updated URS provides a detailed, user-centered view of requirements for SmartFinance, including the new loyalty card storage feature. Let me know if you need further details or additional features!