🧠 CRM - Customer Relationship Management System

This is a full-stack CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system built as part of a project assignment. It allows vendors to manage campaigns, customers, orders, and communications in a centralized dashboard...

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🚀 Local Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/Harsh1428rao/CRM.git
cd CRM

2. Backend Setup

cd backend
npm install

Create a .env file in the backend folder with the following content:

PORT=5000
MONGODB_URI=<Your MongoDB Atlas URI>
SESSION_SECRET=your-secret-key

Start the backend server:

npm start

3. Frontend Setup

cd ../frontend/xenocrm-frontend
npm install
npm start

This will launch the frontend on http://localhost:3000

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🏗️ Architecture Diagram

┌───────────────────────┐     ┌───────────────────────────────┐
│     Frontend (React)  │     │     Backend (Express.js)      │
│    Vercel Deployment  │ <--►│  Render Deployment (Node.js)  │
└───────────────────────┘     └──────────────┬────────────────┘
                                             │
                                    ┌────────▼────────┐
                                    │  MongoDB Atlas   │
                                    └──────────────────┘
                                             │
                                    ┌────────▼───────┐
                                    │     Redis      │
                                    └────────────────┘

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🧠 Summary of AI Tools and Technologies Used

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Frontend: React.js, Axios, Bootstrap

• Backend: Node.js, Express.js, Passport.js

• Database: MongoDB Atlas (Cloud-hosted)

• Session Handling: express-session + Redis

• Deployment:

  • Frontend: Vercel
  • Backend: Render

• Authentication: Google OAuth 2.0

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🧠 AI Tools Used

• ChatGPT (OpenAI): For code debugging, architectural planning, and solving deployment issues.
• YouTube Tutorials & Blogs: For understanding CRM concepts and MongoDB integration.

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🗃️ Redis in the Project

• Purpose: Redis is used to manage session storage for authenticated users. This enhances performance and ensures persistent user sessions.
• Local Development: Redis runs on your local machine (default port 6379). Make sure Redis is installed and running when working locally.
• Production: Render doesn’t natively support Redis instances. To use Redis in production, a hosted Redis service like Redis Cloud, Upstash, or Render Private Services can be configured and connected using a secure Redis URL.
• Integration: Integrated via the connect-redis package to store Express session data.

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🚧 Known Limitations & Assumptions

• ❗ MongoDB Connection Issues: During the demo, MongoDB Atlas wasn't accessible due to IP whitelisting and SSL issues, affecting dynamic functionality like login and dashboard data.
• ❗ Redis Configuration: Redis works locally, but additional steps are required to make it functional in production environments.
• ❗ Single Role Focus: The CRM is currently vendor-focused. Multi-role (admin, customer, etc.) support can be added in future versions.
• ⚠️ Not Fully Responsive: The UI is optimized for desktop use; mobile responsiveness is minimal.
• ✅ Assumes a stable internet connection and modern browser (latest Chrome/Edge/Firefox).

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💬 Acknowledgment

This project was built under tight deadlines during academic schedules. From battling deployment issues to connecting distributed services, it offered a complete practical view of web development. As a student with 2 years of web development experience, this project pushed me further and gave me real-world insight into building and deploying full-stack applications. Most of the learning came from online sources, especially YouTube and documentation.

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📬 Contact

Harsh Rao – GitHub Feel free to reach out for suggestions, improvements, or collaborations!

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