Auto Parts Marketplace for ifndautoparts
Learn how Codica provided a full development cycle to deliver an intuitive online marketplace to transform the way people buy and sell auto parts by making the process easier, faster, and smarter.
Domain:Automotive Parts
Location:The United Kingdom
Timeline:May 2022 - Present
Team:2 Frontend Developers, 2 Backend Developers, 2 QA Engineers, 1 DevOps, 1 UX/UI Designer, 2 Tech Leads, 1 Project Manager
Core Technologies:NextJS, React, Expo, React Native, Ruby, Rails, Redis, Sidekiq
Background
Our client, ifndautoparts strived to have a platform that unites car enthusiasts and provides fast and efficient ways for them to buy and sell auto parts. The platform transforms how car enthusiasts buy and sell auto parts online by uniting them into a community, optimizing the process, simplifying it, and avoiding redundant ecommerce practices.
For the duration of our cooperation, the client requested a variety of features, all focused on bringing valuable quality-of-life improvements to the auto parts trade. They include multiple payment and authorization options, a robust search system, address verification and geolocation services, shipping automation, and more.
Project challenges
- Develop and release a full-fledged, feature-rich marketplace without the MVP stage, skipping early feedback gathering and iteration.
- Design and build separate apps for iOS and Android platforms to elevate the experience for mobile users, making it seamless and fast.
- Implement multiple payment systems at once and make them equally accessible, user-friendly, and interchangeable, adding a layer of complexity to the checkout process from the development standpoint.
- Create a cohesive, user-friendly, and thoughtful UI/UX design system considering the cross-platform nature of the marketplace.
- Integrate and regularly refine a plethora of features based on iterative feedback during the collaboration between the client and the Codica team.
Value delivered
- Developed and launched a feature-rich marketplace without an MVP stage, thanks to rigorous testing and despite the lack of early feedback cycles.
- Integrated multiple seamless payment systems, ensuring a smooth, user-friendly, and interchangeable checkout experience while overcoming technical complexities.
- Created comprehensive design documentation outlining UI/UX design solutions and their implementation for each particular platform.
- Implemented a full set of features within deadlines thanks to iterative collaboration and an Agile development approach.
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Smart search system
Our fascination with robust modern search systems led us to implement Elasticsearch. Simply, it is an ideal choice for marketplaces as it provides fast and scalable full-text search and supports complex queries and filtering. In ifndautoparts it does precisely that-powers product search, filtering, and auto-suggestions.
Advanced storefront
For buyers, storefronts bring business to a whole new level. Each storefront features a product display with images, prices, and descriptions, supported by an intuitive filter and sorting system that helps buyers search by category, rating, and price.Another honorable mention goes to the customization options we developed to create a branded shopping experience that enhances credibility and customer engagement. This feature elevates sellers’ product presentations and also makes sure buyers enjoy a seamless browsing experience.
Multiple payment options
We know how important fast payment in marketplaces is. Often, it is a crucial factor that dictates whether users stick with the platform or leave in search of alternatives. Recognizing this importance, we implemented a pair of payment gateways, Stripe and PayPal. In combination, they provide flexibility and freedom of choice, allowing users to pay with credit or debit cards and Google or Apple Pay.
Inventory management for business
Managing a vast inventory is never easy without proper tools. Recognizing that, we developed inventory management tools specifically for business sellers.A centralized inventory table is a nexus where sellers view, edit, filter, and manage their stock efficiently. Automated stock control ensures real-time inventory updates, reducing the risk of overselling. Sellers can also export inventory data, duplicate listings for faster product creation, and generate and scan inventory labels for seamless tracking.Needless to say how this functionality simplifies stock management, minimizes errors, enhances day-to-day operations and grants better control over inventory on the platform.
Auctions and offers
To improve pricing flexibility and engagement, we developed a dynamic Offers and Auctions system.With Offers, sellers can enable negotiations, set a minimum price, and respond to buyer proposals within a set timeframe. Buyers submit offers, which can be accepted, declined, or countered, ensuring seamless transactions. Accepted offers automatically reserve the item for checkout, while below-minimum offers are instantly rejected to prevent lowballing.The Auction feature enables competitive bidding, with real-time price updates and a transparent reserve system. Buyers can track bids, receive notifications, and view bid history, while sellers can adjust pricing, lower the reserve price mid-auction, or re-list items if unsold. If the reserve isn’t met, sellers and highest bidders can still negotiate a deal.
Cross-platform support
The cross-platform nature of the marketplace was vital to implement. Thanks to this decision, the marketplace is usable and friendly to users browsing from all kinds of platforms. Along with a web version, our team developed separate Android and iOS apps. Notably, both are perfectly adapted to their respective platforms, featuring high loading times and working seamlessly across all devices and platforms.
“Working on ifndautoparts proved a challenge I am glad to have overcome. Throughout our cooperation, we implemented a plethora of features, each of which was a unique and curious task. Although some were straightforward, others required us to think outside the box to make the feature top-notch.
Overall, working with so many technologies only expanded and strengthened our team’s ability to build robust modern marketplaces. It is surely thrilling to see how marketplaces grow, adapt, and require novelty each year, which our team is definitely ready for.”
Maksym
Tech Lead & Rails expert at Codica
Technologies
Ruby
Ruby on Rails
React Native
PostgreSQL
Expo
Redis
Sidekiq
Next.js
Puma
RSpec
Swagger
AWS
Integrations
Elasticsearch
Stripe
PayPal
Easyship
Car2DB
Sendgrid
Loqate
Twilio
Apple OAuth
Facebook OAuth
Google cloud console
“Truthfully, ifndautoparts clearly showed the importance of competent project management. This marketplace, although it has a simple design, is riddled with minute details, all to improve customer experience.
Thus, it required thorough management, and we successfully delivered. After all, our flexible Agile approach made it possible to deliver the product in full, within agreed deadlines and budget.”
Arpi
Project Manager at Codica
Let’s build a great custom product together!
What’s next?
- 1. Our Sales Manager Taya will be in touch with you within 1 business day.
- 2. We will sign the NDA if required, and start the project discussion.
- 3. Our custom software development experts will analyze your requirements and suggest the best ways to bring your idea to life.
