Maintenance and development of an e-commerce platform connecting customers and service providers
We provide technological support to the operator of a platform that connects users with local experts and service providers, helping them save time and money.
WWW
Backend
Frontend
Client description
LocalMarket.no is a platform that connects individuals and businesses in Norway with local experts, products, and services. It offers a wide range of categories, including real estate, loans, insurance, finance, specialists, telecommunications, energy, and various services.
The platform simplifies decision-making by matching users with trusted providers' offers, helping them save time and money. Users can easily specify their needs and receive the best local offers directly in their email inbox.
The technologies we used
PHP
SCSS
jQuery
Angular
Project goal
The primary goal of the project and our task is to provide technological support to the client, including the ongoing maintenance and development of the Localmarket.no platform. We assist the client in responding to user requests, resolving any technical issues, and performing necessary work related to re-engineering the source code.
One of the project's objectives was also to refresh the platform's graphical layer, including simplifying contact forms and improving responsiveness on mobile devices.
Throughout the entire collaboration, a key focus is providing continuous consulting and technical advice to the client on the platform's development opportunities.
Challenges
The Localmarket.no project presents the development team with a range of complex challenges that require not only high technical skills but also creativity, flexibility, and strategic thinking for the long-term growth of the platform.
- Managing technical debt: the platform operates on a system created a long time ago by another development company, using an outdated technology stack.
- Limited budget: there is no option for a complete overhaul of the platform, requiring a creative approach to problem-solving and implementing improvements.
- Balancing maintenance and development: the need to optimize work and balance the time spent on introducing new features with fixing existing issues and refactoring the source code to avoid increasing technical debt.
- Impact analysis of changes: before each update or implementation of a new feature, a thorough analysis of the changes' impact on the platform's performance and stability is necessary.
- Maintaining performance: when introducing new features, it's crucial to maintain optimal platform performance, which is challenging due to technological limitations.
- Data security: given the platform's technical nature, special attention must be paid to security, considering the existing system architecture, as well as appropriate strategies and solutions for regular backups.
- SEO optimization and UX improvements: solutions that support increased search engine visibility and efforts to improve user experience must be implemented within the existing technical limitations.
- Operational continuity: all work must be carried out without disrupting the ongoing functionality of the platform, which is actively used by customers.
Solution
The solution is based on a comprehensive approach to maintaining and developing the platform with the philosophy of "evolution, not revolution." We provide ongoing technical support and consulting, focusing on systematic debugging and refactoring of the existing technical solutions. At the same time, we carefully introduce new functionalities, ensuring that, as much as possible, we do not increase technical debt.
We have implemented several improvements, optimizations, and security measures. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, Localmarket.no can gradually modernize its platform while maintaining stability and functionality, all within a budget that doesn't allow for building a modern system from scratch.
Key tasks within the project
- Graphic layer refresh and UX improvements: Including simplifying forms and enhancing mobile responsiveness.
- SEO optimization: Implementing a range of improvements across the platform to increase visibility in search engines.
- Security audit and enhancements: Including anti-spam solutions to protect the platform.
- Implementation of regular backup solutions: Ensuring data is safely stored with periodic backups.
- Data management features: Introducing new functionalities for better data handling and control.
Want to create a project for your industry?
Make an appointment for a free consultation on your project.
Project team
The project team consisted of 5 members: a full-stack developer, a front-end developer, a designer, a tester, and a project manager.
Project outcomes
BEFORE
- Limited functionality and outdated platform design
- Declining user numbers due to performance and security issues
- Low search engine visibility and limited SEO capabilities
- Reduced accessibility due to poorly optimized responsiveness on mobile devices
- Risk of data loss due to the lack of systematic data backups
AFTER
- Refreshed, more intuitive user interface
- Stabilization and retention of users due to improved platform performance and security
- Improved search engine visibility, resulting in increased platform popularity and user base
- Greater accessibility and user satisfaction thanks to enhanced mobile responsiveness
- Risk reduction and full automation of regular backups
What the company gained?
The completed work and our ongoing support have contributed to the growth of the client's business. At the same time, the company has gained increased stability and mitigated many risks that previously posed significant threats.
A systematic approach to managing technical debt allows for more predictable platform development in the future, leading to long-term benefits and the ability to delay the investment in a new system.
Localmarket.no can now offer its customers an improved shopping experience while strengthening its position in the Norwegian market.
See also
Marketplace platform for selling new and used cars with financing
At the company, which sells cars and vans along with financing, we have cut sales costs by 60% by creating a new sales channel in the form of a dedicated marketplace platform. The platform allows new and used cars to be purchased online in four simple steps.
