Rice weighing in village-scale rice industries is generally still performed manually, resulting in dependence on operators, potential recording errors, and limited access to real-time weighing information. This study aims to formulate and develop the initial concept of SMART RICE-WS (Smart Rice Weighing System), an Internet of Things (IoT)-based digital rice weighing system designed to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and traceability of the weighing process. The research employs a Design-Based Research Methodology (DBR) through iterative stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The research activities include existing process analysis, literature review and state-of-the-art analysis, user requirement identification, system architecture design, algorithm development, simulation module implementation, and initial testing. The proposed system integrates a Load Cell, HX711, ESP32, actuator, LCD, IoT communication, database/cloud storage, and monitoring dashboard. Initial testing was conducted through ten measurements using reference loads of 1 kg and 2 kg. The results showed that the system was able to measure both loads, with an average absolute error of 1.55%. These initial findings indicate that the Load Cell–HX711–ESP32 module can serve as a foundation for further system development. Subsequent development will focus on calibration, repeated testing, actuator integration, and IoT-based monitoring.