CASE STUDIES : RatedLocalServices - Online Directory

RatedLocalServices is the start-up that provides people with the opportunity to find a local contractor not in the traditional directory book or online directory but on the directory rated by real people just like you. Moreover the services are sorted and rated locally which brings additional level of trust in the system.

Challenge

The challenge at this project was to implement classified solution with easy navigation and quick search. There were a number of other challenges that we faced as we started work on the project:

Multiple levels of categories for classifieds and listings;

Search for business by distance from entered ZIP;

Search for business and classifieds by many criteria or by using simple (quick) search.

Solution

Solution has powerful and easy to use administrator back-end. Administrator is able to manage all the categories on the web site listing (multiple levels), manage businesses within categories, manage classifieds (administrator can approve or decline posted classifieds).

One of the most useful features of the front-end is search for business by distance. User just needs to enter zip code and select miles (distance) and system will show him all business within selected distance from ZIP. Second feature it is performance. System should search for any business in not more than 10 seconds within 10 million records.

Technologies Utilized

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (C#);

ASP.Net;

JavaScript (AJAX);

XML.

Results

All backend features was implemented, performance was reached and average search time for any business is no more than 5-6 seconds (with the database incorporating more 10+MLN business records). We implemented good navigation according hundreds categories with 4-5 levels of depth.

Customer benefits

Cost Advantage. The system was developed fully offshore and total costs of the project are 5-6 times lower compared with the onsite model;

Maintenance and Further Development. New features can be implemented and added to the current website without re-implementation other parts and don’t affect on site work;

Great architecture (3 application layers: Business Logic Layer (BLL), Data Access Layer (DAL) and User Interface Layer (UIL).

Categories: Offshore Development Center, Web Development, Small Business, Microsoft.NET, Web 2.0