Technical Case Study
EZTOOLS.BIZ
Technologies Used: HTML, PHP, MYSQL, Java Script, Flash Video
Situation
Eztools.biz is a leading online shopping service.
The administrator must be able to manage all functionalities of the online shop through the admin control panel. He must be able to monitor the customers of the site, configure the whole store etc. The Administrator must have access to the customers’ list, orders made, most viewed products, etc. He must be able to take the full backup of database and restore it too. He also must be able to manage the newsletters and send newsletters to the customers of the site. He must be able to download the list of customers in an excel format, based on the profession of the customers.
Users of the site must be able to browse the products category-wise, pick the products they wish to purchase, place the order and process the payment through credit card by creating an account in eztools. They must be able to view the details of the orders made. Users also must have the option of maintaining an address book that they can use for quick filling of shipping addresses or payment addresses in the site while they make orders.
Solution
PHP has been used as the server side scripting language to develop the site. MySQL has been used as the database and Java Script has been used for client side validations. The site was initially designed using PhotoShop and then converted to HTML using Dream weaver.
User Side
The site has been fully secured using HTTPS.
In the home page of the site, the main product of eztools - neat receipts scannalizer - is shown, followed by the featured products of the site that are selected by the admin.
Visitors of the site can register in the site through the create account link and the users can login through the login link. Users can view the details, images and video of the products by selecting them and add them to the shopping cart. There is also an "Info site" for each of the product that gives detailed descriptions about that product. They can also view the ratings of the product and rate it themselves.
After adding products to the cart, users can place an order and set the shipping address and payment option from their address book. They can also select the shipping method and payment method and add comments about the order. The payment is made online
Site Administrator
The administrator can access the backup of the database and restore it later. He manages the newsletters and sends it to customers based on the profession of the customers. He will get a view of online visitors and customers of the site too. He can export a list of details of the either all customers or based on the profession of the customers.
The administrator can manage the files in the site too. He can view reports of the ‘most viewed’, ‘most purchased’ products and orders of each customer.
The administrator can fix the localization settings for a list of currencies and set one as a default one. From a list of ‘Order Status’, he can set one as a default one. (This will be the initial status of the order when an order is placed.)
The administrator can manage the countries and zones where they intend to ship the products. He can also manage the tax zones and tax classes, and tax rates for each pair of tax zones and tax classes based on which of the taxes are applicable.
The administrator can manage the payment methods and shipping methods they offer for the customers too.
Administrator can browse through the categories, view the products in them and can manage both the categories and products. He can manage the product options and option values. After adding a product, he can assign a pair of option and option values to a product and set that as that product’s attribute. He can also post a video (flash video file) of the product.
The administrator can manage the ‘minisite’ of the products too. These ‘minisites’ should have left and top menus called the ‘minisite menus’ that can be managed by the admin. While adding a ‘minisite’ for a product, admin can use these menus and enter the content for the menu using a content manager.
The administrator can view the list of the customers and can edit/delete them. He can view the orders placed by individual customers and can process them accordingly. He also has the option to send mails to each customer separately. Administrator can view the list of the full orders placed, can search for the customers by name and can search for the orders too by order id or order status.
Screen Shots
User Side
HomePage
Admin Side
Key Features
- Category / Product Browsing
- Different types of user reports
- User list report in Excel format
- Payment / Shipping methods management
- Product Attributes, product video and Info site management
- DB backup
- Tax classes and tax zones management
- Configuration of the entire store
Benefits
- Higher security
- Easy to browse through products, their info site and reviews
- Easy and reliable payment methods
- Easy and reliable shipping methods
- Easy to prepare reports like performance, inventory, etc.
Conclusion
In the client’s own words,” The response was overwhelming…amazing website design…[they] did a wonderful job on my new website...The end result exceeded my expectations and I greatly appreciate the work the ISPG team did on the release of the site.”.
