E-commerce for Plant Industry

CLAIRE AUSTIN

https://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/

Claire Austin Hardy Plants is an award-winning Nursery for different plants/flowers collections. The website allows customers to buy various plants that bloom based on season and throughout the year in the UK. The platform offers many plant options and some excellent gift options you can choose from within the website. What makes the platform special is how easy it is to buy from them, as their checkout process is simple and hassle-free, making shopping easier.

claire case study

Project Overview

It is an online nursery owned by a British husband and wife and tech part supported by Bluebash. Thanks to Clair's vision, Bluebash helps make it possible to sell plants online.

We worked on major upgrades on the platform and made it ready for production. The goal was to improve the website for buying plants that bloom at different times of the year.

Our main goals were to make the website look nicer, improve its functionality, maintain the existing features, and add new features. We also made it easier to manage inventory, support multiple domains, and implement an email verification system, among various other key features.

A Glance

Challenges

Clients faced many challenges with their website. The older versions of Spree and Ruby on Rails lacked the latest features of Spree. Limited functionality hindered their online store's potential. There was no test coverage of the application, and pages were not properly indexed and took too much time to load, which affected the customer experience. Clients also faced challenges finding a reliable Ruby on Rails & Spree team with the experience, skills, and direction to help them grow.

claire challenges

Solutions

With an extensive background in developing custom e-commerce solutions, we seamlessly guided the Claire Austin website project in the right direction, surpassing client expectations. In an impressive turnaround time of just 4 months, we delivered a comprehensive solution – a feat that other companies have not been able to do for over a year.
Our main contribution was robust project management and effective communication strategies that kept all stakeholders well-informed throughout the project lifecycle. By adhering to deadlines without a single failure, we demonstrated our commitment to delivering results that meet and exceed client requirements.

  • Project Maintenance And New Features Implementation: Leveraging our expertise, we introduced innovative features that enhanced the functionality and user experience of the Claire Austin website. These additions addressed current needs and positioned the website for future growth. We also provided support for the maintenance of the website's existing features.
  • Cloud Infrastructure Setup: We optimized and set up a cloud infrastructure for the Claire Austin website. We ensure scalability, reliability, and optimal performance, laying a foundation for sustained success.
  • Issue Resolution: Our team proactively identified and resolved existing issues within the system. Through a thorough analysis of roadblocks, we applied effective solutions, eliminating obstacles that hindered the project's progress.
  • Technical Consultancy: As experts in the Spree framework, we provided technical consultancy to improve decision-making. Our guidance and recommendations helped us make informed choices aligned with industry best practices and standards.

Our approach involved a comprehensive brainstorming session to identify major roadblocks and strategically solve them to ensure successful launches.

claire soluctions

Services we provided

  • Development Support

Our team of experienced front-end and back-end developers follows an agile methodology. We participate in iterative sprints and provide daily progress reports, which promote rapid development and facilitate quick adjustment to changing requirements.

  • Ensuring Quality Standards

Our dedicated QA team diligently performs thorough smoke testing and automation testing. We also create detailed feature specifications and documentation. Our dedication to quality assurance guarantees the excellence of the product.

  • Effective Project Management

Our dedicated PMOs efficiently manage project operations, using Trello to create project dashboards. It promotes smooth communication, efficient task tracking, and streamlined project execution.

  • Continuous Production Support

From managing urgent issues to launching groundbreaking products, we offer ongoing production support and guidance. Our extended assistance helps your global teams collaborate effortlessly, ensuring smooth communication and efficient project delivery.

AppModules

Admin Dashboard:

1. Manage Invoices & Packaging Slips

2. Shipment Handling

3. Returns Processing

4. Product Administration

5. Inventory Management

6. Reports

7. Configurations

8. Blogging

9. Promotional Activitiest

10. Inquiries Management

11. Gift Card Handling

User Dashboard:

1. Account Management

2. Order Tracking

3. Manage Wishlists

4. Product Purchases

5. Newsletter Subscription

50+ More Features

Advanced Features & Integration

1. Partner Nursery Order Management

Clair is partnered with multiple offline nurseries, and they buy plants when there are high orders. We built a module to manage the orders we place on offline nurseries. It saves staff a lot of time and helps ensure error-free deliveries.

2. Advance Order

Standard e-commerce checkout is not suitable for the plant industry. We manage and track orders on a seasonal basis because plants grow seasonally. The advance order feature allows customers to order in advance, and we provide live tracking of plant delivery. The plant delivery date is automatically calculated based on plant growth.

Our Process & Approach

Our success is driven by a flexible and customized approach that caters to the specific needs of each project. Our approach utilizes a strategic combination of cutting-edge technologies, such as RAILS, SPREE, RUBY, and AWS, to ensure unparalleled efficiency and ultimate client satisfaction.

  • Effective Communication & Reporting

We prioritize transparency, task organization, and collaboration by leveraging Trello and Slack. We keep stakeholders informed with detailed daily reports on project progress on Slack.

  • Daily Scrum

We conduct daily Scrum meetings to discuss updates, challenges, and align priorities.

  • Documentation

Rigorously recording minutes of meetings (MOM) to capture crucial decisions and discussions; maintaining comprehensive project documentation for clarity and reference; and employing development methodologies.

  • Development Methodologies

Spiral Model: Utilizing the Spiral Model for iterative development, accommodating evolving project requirements.
Agile Methodology: Embracing Agile practices for flexibility and responsiveness to client feedback.

  • Research and Issue Resolution

Continuous Research: Staying ahead through ongoing research to integrate the latest industry trends.
24/7 Issue Resolution: Providing round-the-clock support to address and resolve issues promptly.

  • Server Monitoring

Constant Monitoring: Vigilantly monitoring servers to ensure optimal performance and address any potential issues proactively.

  • Client-Centric Approach

Alignment with Project Goals: Aligning our mindset with the project owner's vision, ensuring a unified direction for success.
Collaborative Decision-Making: Engaging in collaborative decision-making to deliver solutions that precisely meet client expectations.

Our agile and adaptive approach, combined with a meticulous process that incorporates industry-leading technologies, results in the successful delivery of projects that not only meet but exceed client objectives. Through constant communication, transparent project management, and a commitment to innovation, we ensure that our clients' visions are realized effectively and efficiently.

Tech Stack

aws
digital_ocean
spree
ruby
github
sendgrid
stripe
rails
rollbar
mysql

Project Status

Bluebash continues to focus on improving this application while it is currently in use. We continue to work on the application to provide the desired outcome to the client and the students.

claire report

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