Cortex: A Role-Based Transaction Traceability System for High-Volume Walk-In Barbershops

High-volume walk-in barbershops operate in dynamic environments where multiple workers serve clients simultaneously, payments are processed through different channels, and decisions must be made in real-time. In many of these businesses, service execution and transaction control are still managed through informal practices, fragmented communication, and cashier-centered workflows. This creates limited visibility over service progress, weak auditability, and increased exposure to errors, revenue leakage, and transactional disputes.

This project presents Cortex, a web-based transaction traceability system designed to improve internal control in high-volume walk-in barbershops. Rather than centralizing the full workflow in a single actor, typically the cashier, Cortex distributes responsibilities across the principal roles of the business, including barbers, cashiers, clients, and managers through role-specific interfaces and a shared ticket-centered workflow that supports the creation, validation, updating, and traceability of service execution and payment transitions.

The system was developed in partnership with Lima 7 Barbershop, a multi-branch Peruvian SME barbershop chain that contributed to requirements elicitation and continuous feedback throughout the project. Cortex was deployed and evaluated in one of its branches during a normal business day involving 15 barbers, 2 cashiers, 3 managers, and 15 clients who provided feedback through role-specific questionnaires. The evaluation results highlighted improvements in transaction traceability, financial visibility, and workflow transparency.