Trading Platform

The following overview is based on the front and backend management that the site user and site administrator will enjoy.

(NB: The following is the system standard and will be tailored to the specific client requirement)

.: TRADING PLATFORM - Frontend User area

Site users have the ability to use a dynamic search facility which enables the user to search by (plus additional search criteria as discussed):

• Part Number
• Part – Part Number Search
• Category Search
• Keyword

Once a site user has chosen their preferred search choice the system will direct the user through to the search results page. This page generally consists of a google style pagination facility, page numbers that are available to click as well as a next and previous.

The search results page shows a thumbnail image, title, brief description, cost, more info button and add to cart.

If the user chooses the more information option they will be taken through to the product details page where the user will be able to see the full information regarding the product. The information displayed would be:

• Main Product Image
• Product Code
• Product Title
• Product Description
• Product Price (Specific price if user logged in)
• PDF Document (Subject to client being logged in)
• Current Stock Level (if required)
• Associated Products  (The associated products enables the system to display other products that should be of interest to the client based on their initial product choice)

From this point the user will have the ability to add the product to their shopping cart and or go back to the search results page. If the user chooses to return to the search results they will be taken back to the results of the previous search.

If the user chooses the ‘add to cart’ option the product will be added to the shopping cart and enable the user to specify the quantity required. From this point the user can continue shopping or checkout.

If the user chooses the ‘checkout’ option the system will direct them through to the customer detail screen, if the person is an existing client they will have the ability to login (if not previously done) or if the user has not yet registered they will be required to complete the signup form and once complete they will be directed to:

A/ Online Payment Servers - New Accounts / Pro-Forma Accounts
For New Accounts / Pro Forma Accounts the user will be directed through to the secure payment servers where they will be required to enter their credit card information for real-time validation.

Based on the users card details being approved they will be directed through to the order confirmation page where the system will display for them their order number and the products they have purchased / enquired about. From this point the customer will have the ability to ‘print’ their order / enquiry for their records.

B/ Order Confirmation Page - Account Customers
If the customer has a credit account the system will enable the user to place their order without the need to input their card details and make their payment online.

Once the user has completed the above they will be directed through to the order confirmation page where the system will display for them their order number and the products they have purchased / enquired about. From this point the customer will have the ability to ‘print’ their order / enquiry for their records.

In addition the customer will receive an email again confirming their order number and thanking them for their purchase.

.: CUSTOMER HOMEPAGE MANAGEMENT AREA

The client homepage management facility enables registered users only to enter the client homepage area where the system will display for the user product alerts based on their profile settings where the system will display the latest products that have been added to the site since they last logged in and also their user management area where they will have the following options:

• Manage Orders

Registered users will have the ability to browse through all orders placed via the trading platform. User will have the ability to open a previously placed order and if required select the repeat order status which will move the order back to the shopping cart and enable the user to specify quantities and then place the order. The order management facility will show the current order status.

• Manage Details

The user will have the ability to manage their contact information and their password.

• - Manage Profile

The manage profile area enables the user to manage the product and news email and website alerts received.
The profile options are generally structure as follows:

• Email Alerts
• Website Alerts
• Product Profile

.: GENERAL CONTACT FORM

Site users will have the ability to complete the online contact us form which once complete will be sent through to admin as a formatted email. If a user is logged in the system will automatically complete the users details and they will simply be required to enter the comments / request(s).

.: TRADING PLATFORM - Backend Site Administration Area

The software is designed to ensure all aspects of the management of the website are able to be handled in house by the site administrator. The private area of the website is called Site Manager and requires a username and password to gain entry.

The system is broken down to the following areas:

• Product Manager
• Order Manager
• Customer Manager
• User Manager
• Stats Manager

.: PRODUCT MANAGER

Product Manager enables the site administrator to manage all aspects of their product management in real-time. Admin has the ability to Add / Remove and Update product information as and when required. Admin has the ability to browse all products or search for a product using a keyword and or a category search.

Whether a new product needs adding to the website, or for example an existing product description needs changing admin simply uses Product Manager to perform these requirements.

When new products are added to the website admin is required to complete the product form which generally includes the product title, description, product code, product category / sub category. Once admin has added the information they will then have the ability to add the product images and associated files.

Category Management
Within Product Manager is category management, this ensures that admin can create and manage product categories and sub categories. This ensures that if the website wishes to launch a new range of products admin simply creates the new product category / sub category to assign the new products to. Once admin has created the new product category / sub category it will be displayed at the front end of the website to enable site users to search by it.

Image / File Management
Regarding image / file management for products, to ensure ease of use the system gives admin a browse option of their computer, this enables them to locate the image / file they require and once located they simply press the upload option which places the image / file directly on the server. This process caters for thumbnail and preview images as well as files and ensures FTP is not required.

Associated Products
The product manager software enables the site administrator to fully manage the product association within the system. As admin requires an association to be created the system will display a products dropdown which will they will simply select the required product from.

Price List Management
Admin will have the ability to create price lists within the system based on either a specific country or client. As new price lists are required admin will have the ability to create them. Admin will enter the title of the price list and then specify whether the template is country or client specific. Once complete admin will have the ability to manage the product pricing. Admin will also be required to specify the currency of each list, the system will enable the management of the exchange rates.

.: ORDER MANAGER

To ensure all orders are managed properly the system includes a full order management facility. All orders that are approved are instantly written to the orders management database and are available to browse on a monthly basis.

All orders received are given a unique order number which is confirmed to the client on their thank you email.

As mentioned admin receives an email notifying them there has been an order, this email includes the order number for ease of location.

Once admin has entered Order Manager the system defaults the display to the current month and shows all orders received on a line format. Once admin clicks the order number the full order information is displayed including the customers details and also the order information.

Within the order screen on a per order level is shipping management, this enables admin to input the shipping information for a product eg/ Name of carrier, consignment note number etc.

It is recommended that this process is done on the day of dispatch as the system can automate an email to the customer notifying them their order has been shipped and to expect to receive it in ‘X’ days.

Once an order is set as shipped the colour status changes which enables admin at a glance to see the orders that still require fulfillment.

On an ongoing basis the system enables admin to browse through all months the system has been trading for. The information the system gives as standard is the number of orders and the total sales within a particular month.

.: CUSTOMER MANAGER

Customer manager enables all the customers of the system to be housed within their own database. This enables admin to view and review the information on the users that have shopped within the website.

From the customer detail page admin has the ability to view all the orders the client has placed with the website. The system will display the number of orders and the average and total spend per order.

Customers details are shown in a basic format and if clicked the system will display all the information held on that particular customer.

.: USER MANAGER

User Manager enables the site administrator to fully manage user access to the website. Admin creates trade users within the system specifying all the company details together with a username and password.

• Name
• Address
• Town
• County
• Country
• Email Address
• Telephone
• Password
• Confirm Password
• Specify Price List
• Accounts Reference Number

In addition their will also be the ability to manage customer discounts, for example this would be done on a global percentage decrease. Admin will specify for example that a particular user gets a standard 5% discount across all products.

User Signup
From the front end of the website site users will have the ability to request a account is opened. The site user will be required to enter their full information including email address, password and confirm password.

Once the user has completed the form they will press the submit button and at this point the user details will be written to the user database in a ‘pending’ status.

The users account will await admin approval, once admin approves the account an email is sent to the user notifying them they have been given access to the website pricing and order management area.

 .: STATS MANAGER

The stats management software enables the site administrator to monitor site usage. The stats software is a bespoke software package and would be written to manage the following areas:

• Site Usage

Daily Usage
Weekly Usage
Monthly Usage

• Referrer Information

Where traffic is coming from
Where traffic is going to

• Page Count

Which pages are being viewed
How often they are viewed within a time period

• User Usage

How often users are logging in
Date last logged in
Products viewed
Products ordered

• Order Stats

Orders Placed Per Month
Products ordered

All stats information has the ability to be printed. Within the above report options is the ability for admin to date range the stats information.

For more information on the Trading Platform software please call us: +44(0)161 643 2876