Another capability our webshop has is the generation of product feeds, specific to various comparison platforms. The way it works, is like a reverse import process, it is technically an export of data in a specific format, that permits the formatting of relevant product information to be packed in a platform specific data format and then sent for processing to their open data entry points. Depending on the hosting platforms, the exports can contain any type of information ranging from product information to prices and even media. This can be automated and done on a strict schedule to ensure precise and direct integration.

Moreover, we have also developed a tool that permits the indexing of information from the websites of competitors on very strict searching criteria such as specific product identification article numbers, product titles or even product series, our tool taking into account all of these aspects in order to ensure that only results that match all searching criteria return a definitive result, the price. After the process is performed it is stored inside the database as a form of continuous price evidence and evolution which can be compared amongst competitors to identify trends and potentially sales in order to permit our platform to plan reactive marketing campaigns, if needed.

Another smart integration we have introduced in our webshop is dynamic price comparison among various sources: our suppliers, our competition, our own processing costs (transportation or payment) and the dynamic allocation of prices while also taking into account our minimum profitability. As mentioned, this takes into account a specific desired minimum profitability per item or even item category/brand, fixed product costs such as logistic costs and payment processing costs

Another aspect that concerns interconnectivity between our platform and external entities is our ability to integrate specific partner requirements as well as quality assurance aspects. For instance, certain partners require us to send them incoming orders in a specific format which is not used by any of our other partners so we created an export flow which allows orders to self generate that specific order format and have it shipped to their communication gateway in the required format so that each order we receive arrives to the proper information to their order handling and department. Another customisability we have achieved here is the ability to tweak our order processing beyond just information export but even allow special and specific rules for each aspect of the order processing steps, to perfectly fit the demands of the partners and/or shipping companies.

Our webshop runs on modules rather than hard-set information or fixed information flows which allows for greater modularity and customisability. This is achieved through a very tightly controlled architecture which allows for great diversity in terms of capabilities while having very hard set rules for the interdependencies of the each of its components, this ensures that each of the plugged-in components have the required components but everything else can be stopped/disabled without any backlash. Furthermore, developments done on the core of the platform can easily be shared with all the business that employ our webshop, allowing for further, continuous development and innovation.

The last aspect to complete the cycle of information between our platform and external stakeholders is the Key based REST API, which is an encrypted channel on which our webshop can leave certain communication ports on which partners who have our opened keys can communicate with the business, be it by requesting information or even schedule periodic updates through that channel. Furthermore, this API gateway can be integrated with external services that facilitate serverless architecture which basically means that certain functionalities can be processed on different services and then the end result being sent to us. A good example of this would be using one of the tech giants’ functions platform for intermediary data processing at a lower cost than what would cost us to have that processing power and the receiving the processed information through the API in the format/form we desire, having all the benefits and none of the drawbacks.