Custom E-Commerce App
The custom e-commerce app was developed for a client who wished to use Larvel and integrate into Zoho Booking API. The app allows companies to register and invite users to join their company. The company can then purchase products from the catalog, and the app will sync the products with Zoho Books API.
Features Include
- CSV Imports of Products and categories.
- Users Invite, Registration and Company Registration.
- Company Credit system, Only a linked user to company can order.
- Order confirmation system (Must approve order on email link).
- Integration with Zoho Books Accounting System API.
- Cart system that saves per company.
- Re-ordering feature to duplicate existing order.
- Discount system per category.
Future Features
Future features include the implementation of a tracking system to
guide customers through frequently bought catalog items, as well as
establishing discount systems for specific companies.
As the client continues to uncover new requirements, the platform will
incorporate adaptive features to meet these evolving needs.
This may include enhanced analytics for company purchases, improved
user interface designs for easier navigation, or advanced reporting
tools for better decision-making. Developing a mobile application version of
the platform could significantly enhance accessibility for users.
Challenges
The primary challenge encountered was the synchronization of products with Zoho, complicated by API rate limits and the constraint that a Zoho authentication token remains valid for only one hour. To address this, a cron job was implemented, scheduled to periodically sync new and updated products with Zoho. Additionally, implementing discounts on a per-category basis for each company presented its own set of difficulties. This was further compounded by the requirement to apply the cart system at the company level, rather than to individual users, necessitating a tailored approach to the system's design.